Three-Dimensional Analysis of Hemimetameric Segmental Shift in Congenital Scoliosis

This is a retrospective cohort study.

Hemimetameric segmental shift (HMMS) is defined as a hemivertebral deformation in which 2 or more hemivertebrae exist on both sides of the spine and are separated by at least 1 normal vertebra. Reports of HMMS are rare and based on simple anterior x-ray images. No reports have used 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) to analyze both the anterior and posterior elements. The objective of this study was to analyze the morphology and clinical features of HMMS 3 dimensionally.

HMMS was confirmed in 32 (6.6%, 16 males and 16 females) of 483 patients diagnosed with congenital scoliosis at the study institution between 1998 and 2013. The average age at the first visit was 6 years and 3 months. 3D-CT imaging was performed for 30 patients older than 2 years (average age: 9 y and 8 mo) and used to classify cases according to posterior elements.

With regard to the number of hemivertebrae present, 21 patients had 2 hemivertebrae, 7 patients had 3 hemivertebrae, and 2 patients had 4 hemivertebrae. Patients with 2 hemivertebrae predominantly had hemivertebrae in the thoracolumbar spine. Patients were classified into 2 categories: malformation existing at an equal level in anterior and posterior sides (unison HMMS) and malformation existing at nonequal levels (discordant HMMS). Nine patients had unison HMMS and all of them had 2 hemivertebrae (average: 4.6 vertebrae). Twenty-one patients had discordant HMMS, with 12 having 2 hemivertebrae, 7 having 3 hemivertebrae, and 2 having 4 hemivertebrae.

Through 3D-CT analysis, HMMS was categorized as unison or discordant. Discordant HMMS was observed in 21 of 30 (70%) patients and in all patients with >3 hemivertebrae. Diagnosing HMMS, whether unison or discordant, is clinically important and should be done with careful analysis of bone models and/or radiologic images to determine the correct spinal levels.

Level IV-diagnostic study.