Measurements

Question 1

Describe Risser-Ferguson scoliosis measurement:

Answer 1

Alternate to Cobb method.

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Question 2

Describe the thoracic kyphosis method:

Answer 2

Lateral thoracic.
Lines drawn parallel to the superior endplate to T1 and inferior endplate of T12. Add perpendicular lines. measure angle.

Question 3

Thoracic cage dimension:

Answer 3

Lateral chest.
Measure distance from posterior sternum to the anterior surface of the eighth thoracic vertebral body.
at least 11 cm in males.
at least 9 cm in females.

Question 4

Lumbar lordosis:

Answer 4

Lateral lumbar.
Parallel lines are drawn along the superior endplate of L1 and the base of the sacrum. Perpendiculars are drawn and the angle is then measured.
Normal is 50-60 degrees.

Question 5

Lumbosacral Angle (Sacral base angle, Ferguson’s angle):

Answer 5

Lateral lumbar.
Line it drawn along sacral base and then a horizontal line is drawn. The angle is then measured.
Normal is 26-57 degrees.

Question 6

Lumbosacral disc angle (sacrovertebral disc angle):

Answer 6

Lateral lumbar.
Line is drawn along the sacral base and another is drawn along the inferior endplate of L5. Angle is measured.
Normal is 10-15 degrees.

Question 7

Lumbar Gravity Line:

Answer 7

Lateral lumbar.
Center of the L3 body is the landmark. A vertical line is then constructed.
The line should intersect the anterior one third of the sacral base, and should not be more than 10 mm anterior to the base.

Question 8

Lumbar spine instability:

Answer 8

Lateral lumbar.
Gross assessment using George’s line should be no more than 4 mm of translation from flexion to extension or compression to traction.