STUDY DESIGN: Optical cross-sectional study. PURPOSE: To study the correlation between asymmetry of the back (measured by means of surface topography) and deformity of the spine (quantified by the Cobb angle). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The Cobb angle is considered the gold standard in diagnosis and follow-up of scoliosis but does not correctly characterize the three-dimensional deformity of scoliosis. Furthermore, the exposure to ionizing radiation may cause harmful effects particularly during the growth stage, including breast cancer and other tumors. METHODS: Patients aged 13.15±1.96 years (range, 7–17 years; n=88) with Cobb angle greater than 10° were evaluated with X-rays and our back surface topography method through three variables: axial plane (DHOPI), coronal plane (POTSI), and profile plane (PC). Pearson's correlation was applied to determine the correlation between topographic and radiographic variables. One-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni correction were used to compare groups with different grades of scoliosis. Significance was set at p<0.01 and, in some cases, at p<0.05. RESULTS: We detected a positive, statistically significant correlation between Cobb angle with DHOPI (r=0.810) and POTSI (r=0.629) and between PC variables with thoracic kyphosis angle (r=0.453) and lordosis lumbar angle (r=0.275). In addition, we found statistically significant differences for DHOPI and POTSI variables according to the grade of scoliosis. CONCLUSIONS: Although the back surface topography method cannot substitute for radiographs in the diagnosis of scoliosis, correlations between radiographic and topographic parameters suggest that it offers additional quantitative data that may complement radiologic study.
Animals ; Breast Neoplasms ; Complement System Proteins ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Lordosis ; Methods ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Scoliosis* ; Spinal Curvatures ; Spine

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the body shape molded inner system on attenuation of spinal curvature and pelvic obliquity in cerebral palsy (CP) with scoliosis. METHOD: Fifteen patients with CP who had fixed or non-fixed scoliosis were recruited. By radiographic studies, Cobb's angle and pelvic obliquity were measured with or without sitting in the body shape molded inner system. RESULTS: Spinal curvature assessed by Cobb's angle was significantly reduced when CP patients were seated in the body shape molded inner system rather than in conventional seats. Although pelvic obliquity was not improved in patients with fixed scoliosis, it was significantly ameliorated in patients with non-fixed scoliosis when seated in the body shape molded inner system. CONCLUSION: The body shape molded inner system attenuated spinal curvature and pelvic obliquity in CP patients with non-fixed scoliosis which had a flexible spinal curve.
Cerebral Palsy ; Fungi ; Humans ; Scoliosis ; Spinal Curvatures

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the peripubertal development of spinal curvature of a minimum of 10°. AIS is thought to be attributable to genetic factors, nutrition, early exposure to toxins, and hormonal dysregulation. Recent literature suggests these factors may compound to determine both disease onset and severity. Currently, treatment is limited to observation, bracing, and surgical intervention. Intervention is presently determined by severity and risk of curve progression. As they emerge, new therapies may target specific etiologies of AIS.
Adolescent ; Braces ; Humans ; Scoliosis ; Spinal Curvatures

STUDY DESIGN: Data of 22 patients with congenital scoliosis who underwent single stage posterior hemivertebrectomies and short segment fixation with a minimum follow-up of 2 years in our centre were studied retrospectively. PURPOSE: To report the efficacy of posterior hemivertebrectomy in single vs multiple level hemivertebra and compare their results. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Single stage hemivertebrectomy is a standard procedure for single level hemivertebra. Results of multiple level hemivertebrectomies have not been reported. METHODS: Twenty-two patients (9 male and 13 female) with the mean age of 11.2 years (range, 2 years 4 months to 24 years 10 months) and a mean follow up of 32 months (range, 4 to 73 months) were studied retrospectively and their results were compared. RESULTS: Average number of hemivertebrae removed was 1.46 (range, 1 to 3). Mean preoperative and postoperative coronal cob angle was 48.7° (range, 22° to 80°) and 24.2° (range, 7° to 41°), respectively (p<0.001). Mean preoperative and postoperative sagittal cobb angle was 32.1° (range, 7° to 76°) and 13.6° (range, 0° to 23°), respectively (p<0.005). Mean coronal and sagittal cob correction percentage achieved was 50.2% and 51.8% respectively. Mean follow-up was 49 months (range, 30 to 84 months). Mean loss of coronal and sagittal correction at final follow-up was 4% (0% to 13.6%) degrees and 3.5% (0% to 20%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior hemivertebrectomy in congenital scoliosis is a safe treatment option for up to 3-level hemivertebrae. Excision of thoracolumbar hemivertebrae results in better correction than thoracic and lumbar hemivertebrae.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; Spinal Curvatures ; Spine

STUDY DESIGN: Data of 22 patients with congenital scoliosis who underwent single stage posterior hemivertebrectomies and short segment fixation with a minimum follow-up of 2 years in our centre were studied retrospectively. PURPOSE: To report the efficacy of posterior hemivertebrectomy in single vs multiple level hemivertebra and compare their results. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Single stage hemivertebrectomy is a standard procedure for single level hemivertebra. Results of multiple level hemivertebrectomies have not been reported. METHODS: Twenty-two patients (9 male and 13 female) with the mean age of 11.2 years (range, 2 years 4 months to 24 years 10 months) and a mean follow up of 32 months (range, 4 to 73 months) were studied retrospectively and their results were compared. RESULTS: Average number of hemivertebrae removed was 1.46 (range, 1 to 3). Mean preoperative and postoperative coronal cob angle was 48.7° (range, 22° to 80°) and 24.2° (range, 7° to 41°), respectively (p<0.001). Mean preoperative and postoperative sagittal cobb angle was 32.1° (range, 7° to 76°) and 13.6° (range, 0° to 23°), respectively (p<0.005). Mean coronal and sagittal cob correction percentage achieved was 50.2% and 51.8% respectively. Mean follow-up was 49 months (range, 30 to 84 months). Mean loss of coronal and sagittal correction at final follow-up was 4% (0% to 13.6%) degrees and 3.5% (0% to 20%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior hemivertebrectomy in congenital scoliosis is a safe treatment option for up to 3-level hemivertebrae. Excision of thoracolumbar hemivertebrae results in better correction than thoracic and lumbar hemivertebrae.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; Spinal Curvatures ; Spine

Congenital kyphoscoliosis is an abnormal curvature of spine that is due to presence of vertebral anomalies which cause an imbalance in the longitudinal growth of the spine. Congenital kyphoscoliosis is often rigid and its correction can be difficult. It is often resistant to conservative treatment and more patients require surgical treatment than those with idiopathic curvature. The indication for the conservative treatment with Milwaukee brace is much limited. Largely Milwaukee brace is a delaying tactic to correct the spinal curvature until its growth is further advanced and it is more amenable for fusion. This paper was aimed to review our experience with 49 patients with congenital scoliosis, kyphosis and kyphoscoliosis who were treated surgically with various methods of preoperative correction, from Jan. 1968 to Dec. 1983, in special reference to new classification, proposed for common application to both kyphosis and scoliosis, and following results were obtained. 1.The average age when scoliosis was observed was 6.9 years, but the average age of surgery was deferred until 15.2 years. 2. The distribution of curve pattems were 1 cervicothoracic, 24 thoracic, 12 thoracolumbar, 7 lumbar and 1 lumbosacral curve in 45 scoliotic curves and 13 thoracic, 13 thoracolumbar and 4 lumbar curves in 30 kyphotic curves. The average degrees of deformity were most severe in thoracolumbar curves both in kyphosis and scoliosis. 3. The new morphological classification, which could be applicable to both kyphosis and scoliosis, was proposed. The type of unsegmented bar with contralateral hemivertebra was most common both in kyphosis and scoliosis. 4. Preoperative average degrees of scoliosis was 58.7 degrees and final correction was 20.6 degrees (35.1%) with loss of comection of 3.7 degrees (6.3%). Preoperative average degrees of kyphosis was 63.7 degrees and final correction was 20.1 degrees (42.5%) with loss of correction of 7.0 degrees (11.0%). 5. The surgical method with anterior and posterior fusion was the best treatment of severe kyphoscoliossis, in the aspect of final correction and loss of correction. 6. The lumbar curve was most amenable to treatment with the best final correction and the least loss of correction.
Braces ; Classification ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Methods ; Scoliosis ; Spinal Curvatures ; Spine

OBJECTVIE: The global sagittal postural patterns as characterized by Roussouly classification have been previously described in various ethnicities, there were no studies investigated in Koreans. To analyze the distribution of the global sagittal postural patterns in Korean adults using Roussouly classification, the author prospectively studied. METHODS: 252 asymptomatic Korean adults was recruited. Data was obtained by reviewing the films for each subject. Spinopelvic parameters were measured and sagittal postural patterns were then determined according to Roussouly classification. We compared the data across different ethnicities from our study and a previous study to further characterize Korean sagittal postures. RESULTS: The subject included 151 males and 101 females, with mean age of 33.2±8.2 years. The average descriptive results were as below: thoracic kyphosis 28.6±7.7°, lumbar lordosis 48.3±10.2°, sacral slope 37.8±5.8°, pelvic incidence 45.1±7.5°, pelvic tilt 9.4±6.7°, spinosacral angle 130.1±5.4°, and sagittal vertical axis 16.25±22.5 mm. 125 subjects among 252 (49.6%) belonged to Roussouly type 3 (namely neutral). There were also 58 (23%), 33 (13.1%), and 36 (14.3) subjects in type 1, 2, and 4 (namely non-neutral), respectively. CONCLUSION: Enrolling 252 asymptomatic Korean adults, this prospective study found that 49.6% of asymptomatic Korean adults possessed a sagittal posture of Roussouly type 3. All radiologic parameters follows general concept of spinal sagittal balance pattern. Overall, this study might be a basis for further investigation of spinal sagittal balance.
Adult* ; Animals ; Classification ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kyphosis ; Lordosis ; Male ; Postural Balance ; Posture ; Prospective Studies ; Spinal Curvatures ; Spine

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a devised posture management program based on the Theory of Planned Behavior in adolescents with mild idiopathic scoliosis. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was conducted. It involved a nonequivalent comparison group design with pretest and posttest. Forty-four female adolescents with mild idiopathic scoliosis participated; data from 35 participants (20 for the test group, 15 for the control group) were used for the final analyses. The devised posture management program ran for 6 weeks. Posture management behavioral determinants (attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intention) as cognitive outcomes and muscular strength and flexibility as physical outcomes were measured three times: at baseline, week 6 and week 8. Cobb's angle as another physical outcome was measured twice: at baseline and week 8. Descriptive analysis, repeated measures analysis of variance and t test were used for data analyses. RESULTS: Attitude, perceived control, and behavioral intention were consistently enhanced by the posture management program. The intervention increased flexibility and muscular strength and decreased Cobb's angle, which reduced spinal curvature. Frequency of posture management exercise showed a gradual increase in the test group. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the posture management program is effective in maintaining posture management behavior in adolescents with mild idiopathic scoliosis for both cognitive and physical outcomes. The posture management program should be helpful in expanding the role of school nurses in improving the health status of adolescents with mild idiopathic scoliosis.
Adolescent* ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Intention ; Pliability ; Posture* ; Scoliosis* ; Spinal Curvatures

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Scoliosis is more common in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) than in the general elderly population. We compared clinical characteristics between PD patients with and without scoliosis, to identify the relationship between the direction of scoliosis and the laterality of the dominant symptoms of PD. We also studied the associations between dopaminergic pharmacotherapy and scoliosis (defined by a spinal curvature deviation of 10 degrees or larger). METHODS: The study population comprised 97 patients (42 men and 55 women) with idiopathic PD. All of the patients submitted to a whole-spine scanograph to allow measurement of the degree of scoliosis by Cobb's method. RESULTS: True scoliosis was found in 32 of the 97 PD patients, and was observed more frequently in women than in men (28 vs. 4, respectively; p=0.006). The age of patients without scoliosis was significantly lower than that of those with scoliosis (66.5+/-9.2 years vs. 72.8+/-7.3 years, respectively, mean+/-SD, p<0.001). There was no correlation between PD symptom laterality and scoliosis. The rate of occurrence of scoliosis did not differ between de novo and levodopa (L-dopa)-treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that neither L-dopa treatment nor the laterality of the initial symptoms of PD is related to the appearance of scoliosis.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Levodopa ; Male ; Parkinson Disease ; Scoliosis ; Spinal Curvatures

Congenital scoliosis is a disease characterized by its rigid and progressive curve. It is usually resistant to conservative treatment and early surgical fusion has been reommended. The indication for conservative treatment with brace is much limited but present mainly as a delaying tactic to maintain the spinal curvature until its growth is further advanced and it is more amenable for fusion. This paper was aimed to review our experience with 17 patients (18 curves) with congenital scoliosis who were treated with brace with average follow-up of 4.3years (at least 2 years) from Jan. 1968 to Dec. 1983 and the following results were obtained. 1. The interval from the time when scoliosis was observed to the time of brace application was less than 1 year in 10 patients (58.8%). 2. The average age was 6.6 years ranging from 0.2 years to 14.1 years. The average initial curve was 40.5 degrees. 3. The average final amount of correction was 3.6 degrees (8.7%). 4. The lumbosacral curve gave the best correction. The correction effect of brace treatment was less effective in the thoracic curves. 5. The correction was more effective in the patients younger than 10 years. 6. The shorter the curve, the more correction was obtained. 7. The type of failure of formation gave much more correction than the type of failure of segmentation. 8. The brace treatment was more effective in the patients whose curves were less than 50 degrees in younger age and with the anomaly of failure of formation. Bracing would delay spine fusion until more ideal time even in severe curves or anomalies of failure of segmentation. 9. Spine fusion should be done early regardless of age for progressive curves even with brace treament.
Braces ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Scoliosis ; Spinal Curvatures ; Spine