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Vertebral wedging present in early stages of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
According to researchers, vertebral wedging was present in patients at the early stages of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, which could influence body brace fitting during treatment.
The researchers measured the pelvic and spine geometries from simultaneous biplanar radiographs of patients in the observational cohort study. A total of 19 girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and a mean age of 12.6 years were included in the study.
At the beginning of the study, patients had a Cobb angle of 13.9°, and at the end of the average 11-month observation period, the angle had progressed to 20.5°. Using biplanar radiographs, the researchers were able to reconstruct bone 3-D geometry. The researchers also calculated sagittal and frontal wedgings for five vertebral levels.
The researchers found vertebral wedging typically did not progress until brace prescription, but at diagnosis was found to be in the range of 1.76° to 5.92°.
At the final examination, vertebral wedging and pelvic asymmetries were evenly present, but when first presented, the vertebral wedging was present in seven out of eight parameters of the first three principal components.
The researchers concluded trunk muscle imbalances could be a result of the pelvic asymmetries and may lead to reduced neuromuscular control in the patients, in addition to having influence on body brace fitting. – by Robert Linnehan
Disclosures: Begon reports no relevant financial disclosure. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.