Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2025
Three and Four-Dimensional Visualization and Analysis Approaches to Study Vertebrate Axial Elongation and Segmentation
Published on: February 28, 2021
Quantifying a novel three-dimensional marker of scoliosis
Toren Arginteanu1,2,3, Ryan S Gallagher1, Austin J Borja1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3rd Floor Silverstein Pavilion, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
Background:
Scoliosis causes abnormal spinal curvature and torsional rotation of the vertebrae and has implications for human suffering and societal cost. In differential geometry, Writhe describes three-dimensional curvature. Differential geometric quantities can inform better diagnostic metrics of scoliotic deformity. This evaluation could help physicians and researchers study scoliosis and determine treatments.
Methods:
Eight adult lumbar spine CT scans were analyzed in custom MATLAB programs to estimate Writhe and Cobb angle. Five patients exhibited scoliotic curvature, and three controls were asymptomatic. Vertebral centroids in three-dimensional space were determined, and Writhe was approximated. A T-test determined whether the affected spines had greater Writhe than the controls. Cohen's D test was used to determine effect size.
Results:
Writhe of scoliotic spines (5.4E-4 ± 2.7E-4) was significantly higher than non-scoliotic spines (8.2E-5 ± 1.1E-4; p = 0.008).
Conclusion:
Writhe, a measure of curvature derived from 3D imaging, is significantly greater in scoliotic than in non-scoliotic spines. Future directions must include more subjects and examine writhe as a marker of scoliosis severity, progression, and response to treatment.
