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PAPER 106: MONITORING SCOLIOSIS DEFORMITY WITH TORSO SURFACE TOPOGRAPHY – WHAT CONSTITUTES “NORMAL”?



Abstract

Purpose: Torso surface topography has reliably detected scoliosis severity. A quantification of torso shape patterns associated with healthy spines is important as a basis for scoliosis screening, monitoring progression, and evaluating treatment methods. The study objective was to examine differences in torso surface geometry associated with age and gender in healthy children.

Method: Seventy normal healthy adolescents were recruited into 3 age groups (8–11, 12–14, 15–18 years), with a goal of equal representation across groups. All consenting subjects met inclusion criterion of no history of back or neuromotor problems, and BMI ≤ 30. Torso surface topography was obtained with Inspeck optical digitizers (InSpeck Ltd., Montreal, PQ) using standard clinical protocols. Subject arm span, height, weight and activity level was recorded. Subjects stood within a positioning frame, while five scans (5s/scan) were acquired. Three-dimensional models of each torso scan were generated. Torso shape was quantified with indices based on established spine-torso shape relations in scoliosis patients. Statistical analyses (p=0.05) were performed for 4 indices: principal axis of orientation, back surface rotation (BSR), rib prominence and quarter area at S1; L3, T12& T7vertebral levels.

Results: Two groups based on gender resulted in similar age distributions with males (Group 1, n = 31) having mean age of 12.76 ± 0.07 years; and females (Group 2, n=39) having mean age 12.64±0.17 years. No statistically significant differences in torso indices were found between the entire female and male groups. When stratified by group, significant differences were obtained between the youngest male group (8–11, n=9) and both the youngest (8–11, n=8) and middle (12–14, n=18) aged females. The quarter surface areas at T7 for the youngest males were statistically significantly different from females of similar age (p=0.036), and from the next older age group (p=0.025). The BSR (p=0.033) and rib prominence (p=0.038) at the L3 level were also significantly different between the youngest males and middle aged females.

Conclusion: General torso shape indice curves can be developed for healthy children, based on a combined database of males and females. However, differences in several torso indices are present between the youngest males and the same and middle age group females.

Correspondence should be addressed to Meghan Corbeil, Meetings Coordinator Email: meghan@canorth.org