Validation of a generally applicable method for the characterization of scoliotic deformities and sagittal spinal curvatures

Abstract

The oldest and most precise way to determine the curvatures of the spine is two directional X-ray measurement from the sagittal and coronal planes. By using X-ray, patients are exposed to radiation, which limits the repeatability of the measurements even in serious deformities, thus X-ray is not applicable for frequent monitoring. Therefore new alternative non-invasive radiation-free measurement systems appeared, which measure the external shape of the spine on the back surface. The goal of the present study is to validate the new tangential calculation method by Cobb method based radiographic analysis and by two other alternative calculation methods. In the study 22 young patients suffering from scoliotic deformities are examined. Thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis and scoliotic deformity, as the three characterizing angles of spinal curvatures, are calculated by four different methods. The results show that the newly developed tangent line method could be applicable for the evaluation of spinal curvatures.