Scoliosis Terminology

Question 1

Adult scoliosis (1)

Answer 1

Scoliosis of any cause which is present after skeletal maturity

Question 2

Ankylosing spondylitis (3)

Answer 2

An inflammatory disease of the spine which gradually restricts spinal movement
Primarily occurs in young adults; they commonly have morning pain
Often called bamboo spine disease

Question 3

Adolescent scoliosis (1)

Answer 3

Lateral spinal curvature that appears before the onset of puberty and before skeletal maturity

Question 4

Apex of scoliosis (1)

Answer 4

Area of greatest curvature or displacement from the midline of the body

Question 5

Apical vertebra (1)

Answer 5

Vertebra with the greatest distance from the midline and has the most rotation

Question 6

Block vertebrae (1)

Answer 6

Congenital fusion of 2 or more vertebrae. The vertebrae do not have normal growth potential

Question 7

Cafe au lait spots (2)

Answer 7

Light brown irregular areas of skin pigmentation

If they are sufficient in nunber and have smooth margins thy usually suggest neurofibromatosis

Question 8

Cobb angle (4)

Answer 8

A method of determinint the size of the curve
On an xray the uppermost and lowermost vertebrae are identified
A perpindicular line is drawn from the upper edge of the uppermost vertebra and the lower end of the lowermost vertebra
The angle formed at their intersection is the cob angle which measures the severity of the curve
Note: if the vertebral and plates are poorly visualised, a line through the bottom or top of the pedicles can be used

Question 9

Compensatory curve (1)

Answer 9

In spinal deformity, a secondary curve locate above or below the structural curvature which develops in order to maintain normal body alignment

Question 10

Congenital scoliosis (2(

Answer 10

Scoliosis due to bony abnormalities of the spine present at birth
These anomalies are classified as failure of vertebral formation and/or failure of segmentation

Question 11

Decompensation (1)

Answer 11

In scoliosis this refers to loss of spinal balance when the thoracic cage is not centered over the pelvis

Question 12

Double curve (1)

Answer 12

Two lateral curves in the same spine

Question 13

Double major curve (1)

Answer 13

Deacribes a scoliosis in which there are 2 structural curves which are usually of equal size

Question 14

Double thoracic curve (1)

Answer 14

A scoliosis with a stuctural upper thoracic curve as well as a larger more deorning lower thoracic curve and a relatively bon structural lumbar curve

Question 15

Gibbus (1)

Answer 15

Sharply angular kyphosis

Question 16

Idiopathic (1)

Answer 16

Of unknown aetiology

Question 17

Kyphoscoliosis (1)

Answer 17

A structural scoliosis associated with increased kyphosis

Question 18

Lower end vertebrae (1)

Answer 18

Vertebra at the bottom of curve that maximally inclined to the concavity

Question 19

Major curve (1)

Answer 19

Term used to designate the largest structural curve

Question 20

Neuromuscular scoliosis (1)

Answer 20

Due to disease or anomaly of the nerve tissue of muscle

Question 21

Null point (1)

Answer 21

The level at which the degree values of the vertebrae change from being >90 to

Question 22

Vertebral rotation (1)

Answer 22

Is such that the spinous process will always rotate towards the midline

Question 23

Scoliosis (1)

Answer 23

Lateral deviation of spine more than 10 degrees

Question 24

Upper end vertebra (1)

Answer 24

Vertebra at the top of the curve that is maximally inclined to the concavity

Question 25

Compensatory curve (1)

Answer 25

In spinal deformity, a secondary curve locate above or below the structural curvature which develops in order to maintain normal body alignment

Question 26

Congenital scoliosis (2(

Answer 26

Scoliosis due to bony abnormalities of the spine present at birth
These anomalies are classified as failure of vertebral formation and/or failure of segmentation

Question 27

Decompensation (1)

Answer 27

In scoliosis this refers to loss of spinal balance when the thoracic cage is not centered over the pelvis

Question 28

Double curve (1)

Answer 28

Two lateral curves in the same spine

Question 29

Double major curve (1)

Answer 29

Deacribes a scoliosis in which there are 2 structural curves which are usually of equal size

Question 30

Double thoracic curve (1)

Answer 30

A scoliosis with a stuctural upper thoracic curve as well as a larger more deorning lower thoracic curve and a relatively bon structural lumbar curve

Question 31

Gibbus (1)

Answer 31

Sharply angular kyphosis

Question 32

Idiopathic (1)

Answer 32

Of unknown aetiology