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. 2013 Feb;22(2):367-71.
doi: 10.1007/s00586-012-2564-9. Epub 2012 Nov 8.

Vertebral rotation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis calculated by radiograph and back surface analysis-based methods: correlation between the Raimondi method and rasterstereography

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Vertebral rotation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis calculated by radiograph and back surface analysis-based methods: correlation between the Raimondi method and rasterstereography

Massimiliano Mangone et al. Eur Spine J. 2013 Feb.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the present research is to evaluate the relationship between an X-ray-based method (i.e. the Raimondi method) and rasterstereography in the evaluation of vertebral rotation (VR) in a sample of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients.

Methods: A total of 25 patients (9 males; mean age 14 ± 3 years; mean height 160.7 ± 11.9 cm; mean weight 52.4 ± 10.7 kg) were considered for the present analysis. The mean Cobb angle was 30° ± 9°. The evaluation of VR on radiographs was made using the Raimondi method regolo (Marrapese Editore--Demi S.r.1., Rome). Rasterstereography was performed by means of Formetric 4D(®) (Diers International GmbH, Schlangenbad, Germany). Correlations between rasterstereographic and radiographic measurement of VR were calculated, both for the whole sample and for thoracic and lumbar spinal segments considered separately, as well as for subgroups of patients with a Cobb angle <30° and ≥ 30° using Spearman's correlation coefficient by rank (r (s)).

Results: When applied to the entire spine, measurement of VR by means of the two methods highlighted a significant correlation in the whole group (r = 0.52; p < 0.0001), as well as in the <30° Cobb (r = 0.47; p = 0.0001) and ≥ 30° Cobb (r = 0.42; p < 0.0001) subgroups. A significant correlation was found also when lumbar and thoracic VR were considered as separated groups (r = 0.30, p = 0.024 and r = 0.47, p = 0.002, respectively).

Conclusions: Rasterstereographic evaluation of VR shows a good correlation with the Raimondi method, thereby confirming the possibility to use this non-invasive method for deformity assessment in AIS patients.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Determination of vertebral rotation on plain radiographs using the Raimondi method. The vertebral waist is represented by the AB segment and the pedicle offset by the CB segment (see text)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The vertebral rotation (VR) is calculated by rasterstereography as the angle between the surface orientation (N) on spinous process line (the so-called symmetry line) and the normal (z) to the frontal plane of the reference system
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Diagram plot showing the correlation of vertebral rotation values as calculated by both methods for each patient

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