[Correlation study between spinal curvatures and vertebral and disk deformities in idiopathic scoliosis]

Idiopathic scoliosis involves complex tridimensional (3D) deformations of the spine associated with intrinsic alterations (wedging) of vertebral bodies (VB) and intervertebral disks (ID). This study intends to evaluate analytically in vivo 2D and 3D scoliotic descriptors, based on clinical data from 40 thoracic curves of scoliotic adolescents, and to establish relationships between the regional curve deformations and the local VB and ID deformities. A multiplanar radiographic technique provided 3D positioning of vertebral landmarks. Cobb angle in the postero-anterior (PA) view, in the plane of maximum deformity (CobbP.Max) and the angular orientation of the plane of maximum deformity were used as regional descriptors. Vertebral body endplates were modeled as 3D oriented ellipses. Axial rotation, global PA and local frontal wedgings (inclinations of projected ellipses in the global and vertebral frontal planes), 3D maximum wedging (real inclination of adjacent ellipses) as well as the angular orientation of 3D wedging were calculated to characterize local deformations at the thoracic apex. Mean values for CobbPA, CobbP.Max and the angular orientation of the maximum deformity (with respect to the sagittal plane) reached 44 degrees, 48 degrees and 67 degrees respectively. On average, vertebral axial rotation, global PA, local frontal and 3D wedging angles were respectively 15 degrees, 8.3 degrees, 8.2 degrees and 9.7 degrees. Analyses indicated statistical correlation between: a) Cobb angles and vertebral wedging; b) the orientations of the maximum deformity and of 3D vertebral wedging; c) the axial rotation and CobbPA; d) the axial rotation and the angular orientation of 3D vertebral wedging. At the thoracic level, statistical analyses indicated that vertebral wedging and axial rotation increase with curve progression. Scoliosis severity, as measured by Cobb angles, evolves simultaneously to a coronalization of the plane of maximum deformity, revealing an hypokyphotic phenomenon, and to a real vertebral wedging shifting towards the frontal plane of the vertebra. These 3D in vivo analyses allowed interpretation of spatial relationships between regional and local scoliotic deformities. Compared to 2D in vivo or 3D in vitro analyses alone, this 3D in vivo study provides a more complete assessment of spinal curve progression to fully interpret the real 3D curvature and intrinsic deformations as well as their evolution processes.