SOSORT 2012 consensus paper: reducing x-ray exposure in pediatric patients with scoliosis

This 2012 Consensus paper reviews the literature on side effects of x-ray exposure in the pediatric population as it relates to scoliosis evaluation and treatment. Alternative methods of spinal assessment and imaging are reviewed, and strategies for reducing the number of radiographs are developed. Using the Delphi technique, SOSORT members developed consensus statements that describe how often radiographs should be taken in each of the pediatric and adolescent sub-populations

Back surface measurements by rasterstereography for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: from reproducibility to data reduction analyses

Purpose: Aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the reproducibility of back surface measurements obtained by rasterstereography (RS) in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), and to identify the most informative RS parameters through a multi-step reduction analysis approach. Methods: Sixty-six AIS were assessed with a RS scanner. The assessment was repeated in the same day 15 min after the first scan and after 1 week. Intraclass-correlation analyses were conducted to verify the consistency of the measurements. A multi-step reduction technique including correlation, principal component analysis (PCA) and regression was employed to extract a core-set of key RS parameters. Results: Back surface measures were obtained from 66 AIS aged 10–17 years (median 13), with a mild Scoliosis angle < 25 (median 20). The reliability over the 3 sessions proved high to very high, with all the intraclass correlation coefficients ≥ 0.8 and 32 out of 48 coefficients ≥ 0.9. Only 8 of the 12 parameters provided by the RS device showed significant inter-item correlations and were therefore considered for further analyses. PCA extracted 4 of them, which entered the final regression analysis. High beta coefficients were found for 2 predictors: “Surface rotation-rms” and “Side deviation-rms,” which were found to be significantly associated with the dependent variable “Scoliosis angle.” Conclusions: Data showed that RS measurements are reliable in AIS with mild severity of scoliosis. “Surface rotation” and “Side deviation” were the best descriptors of the Scoliosis angle and should be considered as key parameters when surveilling AIS with mild curves by RS surface topography. Graphical abstract: These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Facial landmark localization by curvature maps and profile analysis

INTRODUCTION: Three-dimensional landmarks of the face are important for orthodontic examination, harmony assessment and treatment planning. Currently, facial landmarks are often measured by orthodontists via direct observation and manual soft tissue image analysis. This study wants to evaluate and present an objective method for measuring selected facial landmarks based on an analysis of curvature maps and of sagittal profile obtained by a laser-scanning method. METHODS: The faces of 15 people were scanned in 3D by means of the laser scanner FastSCAN™. It allowed the recording of a curvature map of the face in under a minute, which depicted the distribution of Gaussian and mean curvatures. The median-sagittal profile line of the face was localized in this map, and a mathematical analysis comprising its first and second derivatives was performed. Anatomical landmarks were identified and facial measurements performed. To assess validity the obtained data were compared with manual measurements by orthodontists by means of Lin’s concordance correlation CCC coefficient and reliability was determined by consecutive measurements. RESULTS: Facial landmarks, such as the soft tissue glabella and nasal tip, could be easily and accurately identified and located. Lin’s CCC showed substantial agreement between digital and manual measurements for 4 of the 7 distances evaluated. Larger discrepancies were due to inadequate image quality and scanning errors. Reliability of consecutive measurements by the same operator was excellent. CONCLUSIONS: In our pilot study the three-dimensional laser-scanning method FastSCAN™ allowed a reliable and accurate identification of anatomical landmarks of the face. The obtained distances between certain landmarks, such as the intercanthal distance, were largely consistent with those from manual measurements. Due to its easy and rapid implementation, the method facilitates facial analysis and could be a clinically valid alternative to manual measurements, when remaining problems in scanning accuracy can be resolved