Scoliosis and trunk asymmetry in upper limb transverse dysmelia

The incidence of scoliosis and trunk asymmetry were studied in 60 patients with upper limb dysmelia of the transverse type. The evaluations were based on radiographic measurements of the spine and scoliometer readings of the angle of trunk rotation (ATR), which were correlated with the side and level of the limb deficiency and also with leg length-inequality (LLI). Nineteen patients (31%) had a scoliosis between 10 and 19 degrees, whereas the curves were between 5 and 10 degrees in another 30 patients and the remainder had no measurable curve. The scoliosis seemed at least partly to be of postural origin as LLI significantly correlated with the direction of the curves, but there was no correlation between the Cobb angles and the magnitude of LLI. The scoliometer readings did not correlate with the scoliosis or LLI. Our findings indicate that most patients with upper limb transverse amputations do not develop a significant scoliosis. A scoliometer screen has a low positive predictive rate for scoliosis and the diagnosis of scoliosis requires a radiograph of the spine.