Volume 4 Supplement 1

5th International Conference on Conservative Management of Spinal Deformities

Oral presentation
Open Access

The geometry of the spine in the sagittal profile: a comparison of girls with and without scoliosis

  • Manuel Rigo1,
  • M Villagrasa1 and
  • G Quera-Salvá1
Scoliosis20094(Suppl 1):O51

https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-7161-4-S1-O51

©  Rigo et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2009

Published: 15 January 2009

Background

Using the Formetric® system, we observed a high incidence of abnormal sagittal configurations in both scoliotic and non scoliotic patients. Those abnormal configurations could be described by using terms like Hyper- or Hypo- but not all of them. Changes in the location of the thoracic apex, lordotic apex, transitional point as well as segmental rectifications of the profile were observed with the formetric. This data is used to define a specific scale and to measure harmony of the spine (HDSS). This new, simplified scale is clinically valid and is reliable. The HDSS ranges from 0 (harmonic) to 16 (disharmonic).

Goal

The purpose of the study is to compare the sagittal configuration of scoliotic patients and normal subjects.

Materials and methods

We have studied the sagittal profile with the Formetric® system in 157 consecutive girls with non-treated IS and 39 age matched non scoliotic girls (NIS).

Results

The HDSS showed no differences in both groups (IS = 5.6; NIS = 5.4). The angle of the regional kyphosis was no different in scoliotic (43.1°) and non scoliotic (43.7°) girls. The angle of the regional lordosis was significantly lower in scoliotic girls (34.9°) compared with non scoliotic (35.4°). Harmonic/disharmonic features are similar for both scoliotic and non scoliotic girls.

Conclusion

The sagittal geometry of the spine is highly variable in both scoliotic and non scoliotic girls. The angle of thoracic kyphosis is not different between the groups. Lordosis is slightly lower in the scoliotic group.

Authors’ Affiliations

(1)
E. Salvá Institute

References

  1. Duval Beaupere G, Taussing G, Mouilleseaux B, Pries P, Mounier C: Pronostic Factors for Idiopathic Scoliosis. In: Dr Jean Dansereau Scientific editor: International Symposium on 3D Scoliotic Deformities joined with the VIIth International Symposium on Spinal Deformity and Surface Topography. Éditions de l'École Polytechnique de Montréal. 1992, Gustav Fisher Verlag, 211-216.Google Scholar
  2. Singer KP, Goh S, Leedman P, Price RI: Reliability of Rasterstereography of Thoracic Kyphosis. Stud Health Technol Inform. 1999, 59: 29-32.Google Scholar
  3. Rigo M, Quera-Salva G, Villagrasa M: Sagittal configuration of the spine in girls with idiopathic scoliosis: Progressing rather than initiating factor. Stud Health Technol Inform. 2006, 123: 90-94.PubMedGoogle Scholar

Copyright

© Rigo et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2009

This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd.

Advertisement