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. 2014:2014:721829.
doi: 10.1155/2014/721829. Epub 2014 Jul 17.

Evaluating the Reproducibility of Motion Analysis Scanning of the Spine during Walking

Aaron Gipsman  1 , Lisa Rauschert  1 , Michael Daneshvar  1 , Patrick Knott  1
Affiliations

Evaluating the Reproducibility of Motion Analysis Scanning of the Spine during Walking

Aaron Gipsman et al. Adv Med. 2014.

Abstract

The Formetric 4D dynamic system (Diers International GmbH, Schlangenbad, Germany) is a rasterstereography based imaging system designed to evaluate spinal deformity, providing radiation-free imaging of the position, rotation, and shape of the spine during the gait cycle. Purpose. This study was designed to evaluate whether repeated measurements with the Formetric 4D dynamic system would be reproducible with a standard deviation of less than +/- 3 degrees. This study looked at real-time segmental motion, measuring kyphosis, lordosis, trunk length, pelvic, and T4 and L1 vertebral body rotation. Methods. Twenty healthy volunteers each underwent 3 consecutive scans. Measurements for kyphosis, lordosis, trunk length, and rotations of T4, L1, and the pelvis were recorded for each trial. Results. The average standard deviations of same-day repeat measurements were within +/- 3 degrees with a range of 0.51 degrees to 2.3 degrees. Conclusions. The surface topography system calculated reproducible measurements with error ranges comparable to the current gold standard in dynamic spinal motion analysis. Therefore, this technique should be considered of high clinical value for reliably evaluating segmental motion and spinal curvatures and should further be evaluated in the setting of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Static mode mean curvature screen: the middle image is raster line projection; the far right image is a representation of spinal curvature based surface topography.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Adjustment of markers.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Formetric 4D device with raster line projection.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Raster lines projected onto the surface of subject's back (a) and reproduced computerized surface topography map (b).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Three-dimensional computerized representation of the subject's underlying spine based on surface topography.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Diers Formetric sample data collection screens.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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