Curve severity and apical vertebral rotation and their association with curve flexibility in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Musculoskeletal Surgery

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the association between coronal Cobb’s angle and Nash–Moe index in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. We also attempted to determine whether apical vertebral derotation depended upon the curve flexibility. Overview of literature: The three-dimensional nature of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is well established. Knowledge of all components of this complex deformity is essential to formulate effective treatment strategies. Though the importance of quantifying all the components of the deformity, in AIS, has been analysed in detail, very few studies have been done to ascertain the relationship between the coronal plane deformity and apical vertebral rotation. Methods: Digitalised standing and supine stretch anteroposterior (AP) radiographs of 158 patients with AIS were analysed. The standing and supine stretch AP radiographs were compared to calculate the percentage reduction of Cobb’s angle to determine curve flexibility. The derotation of the apical vertebra on application of traction was also noted. The one-way repeated ANOVA was used to determine the association between Cobb’s angle and Nash–Moe index. The independent sample t test was used to determine whether a statistically significant difference was present, in the age of the patient, severity of the curve and percentage reduction of Cobb’s angle between those curves that derotated and those that did not, when stretched. Results: The one-way repeated ANOVA revealed an association between Cobb’s angle and Nash–Moe index on the standing and supine AP stretch radiographs (P < 0.01). The Independent sample t-test showed a statistically significant difference in percentage reduction of Cobb’s angle between those curves that derotated compared to those that did not, on stretch (P < 0.01). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that there is an association between apical vertebral rotation and the coronal plane deformity. It also demonstrates that flexible curves derotate to a greater extent compared to rigid curves, when stretched.

First Page

303

Last Page

308

DOI

10.1007/s12306-020-00660-0

Publication Date

12-1-2021

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS