Scoliosis among middle school students and the correlation between axial trunk rotation angle and Cobb angle
10.3760/cma.j.cn421666-20241106-00890
- VernacularTitle:武汉市汉阳区中学生脊柱侧凸现状及轴向躯干旋转角与Cobb角的相关性分析
- Author:
Kun LIU
1
;
Liu HU
1
;
Ting FANG
1
;
Yali WAN
1
;
Jialei GE
1
;
Yan MA
1
;
Jian XIONG
1
Author Information
1. 武汉市第一医院康复医学科，武汉 430000
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Scoliosis;
Axial trunk rotation angle;
Cobb angle;
Screening;
Middle school students
- From:
Chinese Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
2025;47(7):614-618
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the prevalence of scoliosis among middle school students through school-based screening, and to analyze the correlations between axial trunk rotation (ATR) angle and Cobb angle among those with scoliosis considering gender, age, body mass index (BMI) and curve type, so as to provide references for early prevention and treatment.Methods:Random cluster sampling was used to enroll 9501 middle school students from 11 schools in the Hanyang District of Wuhan. They underwent a six-step scoliosis screening with a forward bending test, scoliometer measurements, and confirmatory X-ray examinations. The students exhibiting scoliosis were stratified by gender, age, BMI, and curve type. The correlation between ATR angle and Cobb angle was subsequently analyzed within each subgroup.Results:Scoliosis was observed in 358 of the students (150 boys and 208 girls), a positive screening rate of 3.8%. Moreover, the positive screening rate was significantly higher among the girls (4.8%) than among the boys (2.9%). There was a moderate Spearman correlation ( r=0.69) between the ATR and Cobb angles in 358 of the students with scoliosis, both the boys ( r=0.69) and the girls ( r=0.70). When it came to age, there was a positive correlation between the ATR and Cobb angles for students aged 13 to 16 irrespective of their BMI classification, except that there was no significant correlation between the two angles for those classified as obese. In terms of Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) classification, there was a positive correlation for those in types Ia, Ib, Ic, IIa, IIb, IIc and IId, but there was no significant correlation between the two angles for those in type III. Conclusions:Scoliosis is prevalent among the group of adolescents studied. Society, schools and parents need to prioritize prevention, heightened awareness, timely diagnosis and early treatment, particularly for girls. The ATR angle may serve as a practical surrogate for estimating Cobb angle severity in scoliosis screening for single-curve or double-curve cases. However, ATR measurements may yield false-negative results among those with triple-curve deformities or the obese, underscoring the need for supplementary diagnostic methods among such populations.
