Correction to: Melatonin as an alternative sedation method during magnetic resonance imaging in preschool children with musculoskeletal problems

Excerpt

MRI is an important diagnostic tool in pediatric rheumatology, enabling early detection of synovial membrane inflammation and bone marrow edema, findings that precede joint erosions [2]. As excessive motion in the MRI scanner hinder the accurate diagnosis, the examinees are required to lay still, which is difficult for preschool children due to the claustrophobic environment, acoustic noise and the length of the exam. To avoid motion artifacts, sedation or general anesthesia are commonly used. These interventions in children have a well described risk and also and incur substantial costs. Melatonin, a natural sleep cycle regulator that can induce sleep in children when administered orally, is discussed for over 10 years as an attractive alternative to conventional sedation due to its low cost and excellent safety profile. We wanted to examine whether the level of sedation with melatonin is adequate to perform a successful MRI scan of joints in order to avoid sedation/GA and thus reduce health costs and waiting lists. …