Correlation between pelvic tilt and the sacro-femoral-pubic angle in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, patients with congenital scoliosis, and healthy individuals

Purpose: To examine whether the sacro-femoral-pubic (SFP) angle could estimate pelvic tilt (PT) in scoliotic and normal subjects. Methods: One hundred nine subjects including 38 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), 35 patients with congenital scoliosis (CS), and 36 healthy individuals were studied. PT, as the angle between the lines connecting the midpoint of the sacral plate to the centroid of one acetabulum and the vertical plane, and the SFP angle, as the angle between the midpoint of the upper sacral endplate, the centroid of one acetabulum, and the upper midpoint of the pubic symphysis, were calculated on full-length lateral and anteroposterior radiographs, respectively. Correlations between PT and the SFP angle were investigated in each group. Results: The three groups were comparable in terms of age, sex, and the mean SFP angle. The mean PT, however, was significantly lower in healthy subjects compared to that in patients with AIS and CS. Significant and reverse correlations were present between PT and the SFP angle in all three groups (AIS: r = �0.32, p = 0.04, PT = 82.5 � average SFP angle; CS: r = �0.48, p = 0.003, PT = 95.41 � average SFP angle; healthy: r = �0.33, p = 0.04, PT = 88.95 � average SFP angle). Conclusions: Unlike two previous reports, the SFP angle correlated poorly to PT in this study, limiting its use as a suitable surrogate for PT in scoliotic and healthy subjects. © 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

Vertebral, rib, and intraspinal anomalies in congenital scoliosis: a study on 202 Caucasians

Purpose: To investigate vertebral, rib and intraspinal anomalies in patients with congenital scoliosis and their association with each other Methods: Clinical data and preoperative imaging studies of 202 Caucasians with congenital scoliosis operated on at an educational hospital within 6 years were reviewed for vertebral, rib, and intraspinal anomalies. Results: Rib and intraspinal anomalies were present in 57.4 and 21.8 of patients, respectively. Most vertebral anomalies were located in the middle�lower thorax. Being the most common vertebral defect (53.5 ), failure of segmentation was significantly more common in males, whereas mixed defects were more frequent in females. Formation and mixed defects were associated with rib changes. Vertebral anomalies were more extensive in males than in females. The presence of multiple hemivertebrae was associated with rib deformity and intraspinal anomaly. Location of the vertebral anomalies varied with gender and rib involvement. Majority of rib changes were of simple type (70.7 ), significantly more common in males. Conversely, females had significantly more fused and bifid ribs. Two most common intraspinal anomalies were diastematomyelia (36.4 ) and syringomyelia (18.2 ). Intraspinal anomalies were located most frequently in the upper and lower thoracic regions. Syringomyelia and low conus were associated with female gender, and patients with rib changes suffered from intraspinal anomalies more frequently. No significant association was found between vertebral and intraspinal anomalies. Conclusions: The incidences of rib and intraspinal anomalies were 57.4 and 21.8 in surgical Caucasians with congenital scoliosis, respectively. Unlike vertebral and intraspinal anomalies, rib and intraspinal anomalies were significantly associated. Male gender and intraspinal anomaly were associated with some previously suggested risk factors of curve progression. © 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

The effect of Cobb angle correction on spinal length gain in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

The relationship between curve correction and spinal length gain in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis was examined. A total of 102 patients who underwent posterior spinal correction and fusion alone or in combination with anterior spinal correction and fusion (ASF) were studied. The Cobb angle correction, increase in the main thoracic length, T1-L5 spinal length gain, and T1-L5 spinal length gain/Cobb angle correction were reported. The length gain/Cobb angle correction value was not significantly associated with sex, fusion approach, and the number of fused levels. Surgical T1-L5 spinal length gain (mm) equaled (70.20)-(3.51)�(degrees of Cobb angle correction)+(0.08)�(degrees of Cobb angle correction) 2. © 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved