Scoliosis Flashcards
Scoliosis definition
- axial deviation of the spine in the frontal plane
- defines a spatial deformity due to the additional rotation of the vertebrae with the presence of a hump and hypokyphosis (in the sagittal plane)
Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS)
- Onset after the age of 10 years
- Most frequent entity (1- 4% incidence/ 0,1% with a curve more than 40 degrees)
- More frequent in females(10 vs. 1)
May present an evolutive potential (progression + 10 degrees /year for curves ranged 10-20 degrees and +5 for 20-30 degrees). Curves above 60 degrees are evolving constantly during life span
AIS
clinics
- Posture
- Thoracic hypokyphosis
- Shoulder/pelvic imbalance (anterior prominence of the shoulder on the convex side)
- Abdominal and lower limb reflexes should be checked
- Adams test– thoracic hump on the convexe side
- LLD
AIS - imagistics
- X-rays (head- spine-pelvis – frontal, profile and lateral bending)
- IRM – possible associated medullary malformations
- CT-CT-3D – vertebral dimensions and shape/spatial view of the whole spine
- X-rays and CT – useful in preoperative planning and follow-up
Diagnosis is made with
- full-length standing PA
- lateral spine radiographs.
AIS - natural evolution
Curve progression
Risk factor Curve grade Before skeletal maturity : > 25° evolutive potential After skeletal maturity : Thoracic curves > 50° progress 1-2° / year Lumbar curves > 40° progress 1-2° / year
Risser sign
- Measures the progression risk related to skeletal age
- 4-5 at the end of skeletal growth
Risser Stage (0-1)
- Risser 0 covers 2/3 of the pubertys’ growth sprout
- It correlates to the accelerated height growth
peak growth velocity
- is the best predictor of curve progression
- in females it occurs just before menarche and before Risser 1 (girls usually reach skeletal maturity 1.5 yrs after menarche)
- most closely correlates with the Tanner-Whitehouse III RUS method of skeletal maturity determination
- if curve is >30° before peak height velocity there is a strong likelihood of the need for surgery
AIS – natural evolution
- Risser 0-1
- Risser 0 covers 2/3 of the pubertys’ growth sprout
- It correlates to the accelerated height growth - Open triradiate physis
- Curves >30° before the apex of the growth sprout – great evolutive potential – great probability of surgery
AIS - treatment : 1+2
- Observation – curves below 25 degrees – serial X-rays
- Orthotics (Bracing)
- Indications
Cobb - 25° - 45°
Flexible deformity with Risser 0-2
Aim – to stop curve progression NOT to correct
AIS - treatment : 3
Surgery Posterior spinal fusion indications - Cobb > 45° - All types of AIS - Golden standard for thoracic and thoracic-lumbar curves
Anterior spinal fusion
indication
- Effective in lumbar and thoracic-lumbar curves with thoracic kyphosis and normal lumbar lordsis
Double anterior and posterior approach indication - Curves above 75° or very stifff - Decreased bony age (Risser 0, girls <10 years, boys < 13 years) - To avoid crankshaft
AIS – surgical complications
- Neurologic lesions
- Paraplegia - 1:1000
- Higher risk in scolio with hyperkyphosis - Pseudarthrosis (1-2%)
- Late pain, hardware breakdown - Infection (1-2%)
- Late pain, late fistula
4.Crankshaft
Rotational deformity due to anterior restant growth potential
5.Flat back
Straight spine in the sagittal plane – NO lumbar lordosis – low back pain – requires re-intervention to correct the sagital plane
6.Hardware breakdown
Infantile Idiopathic Scoliosis (IIS)
- Onset before the age of 3 years
- Most curves are right sided
- Boys > Girls
4.Healthy child
May associate: DDH, mental impairment, heart malformations
5.Dg. clinical, X-rays, CT, CT-3D, MRI
IIS evolution
- Some of the curves regress spontaneously
- Progression established by Rib-Vertebra- angle difference (RVAD)
Phase 1
RVAD > 20 degrees – 80 % progression
RVAD < 20 degrees - < 15% progression
Phase 2
100 % progression