Disc and vertebral wedging and their clinical significance in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and neurological scoliosis

English Keywords:Scoliosis  Vertebrae  Disc  Wedging

English Abstract:

  【Abstract】 Objective：To investigate the disc and vertebral wedging and their clinical significance in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis（AIS） and neurological scoliosis（NS）.Method：35 AIS and 31 NS cases（all secondary to Chiari-Deformity） were reviewed radiographically.The percentage of single disc and vertebral wedging in the whole thoracic or lumbar curve was measured by Cobb′s method.The average wedging of 5 vertebrae and four discs was calculated which included apex and two superior and two inferior vertebrae as well as discs between these vertebrae.The statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 10.0 software.The comparison between groups was done by single factor variance analysis.Result：The study showed statistical difference between disc and vertebral wedging with regarding to the same curve location，same etiology and same Cobb angle（P<0.05），while no significant difference with respect to either disc wedging or vertebral wedging was found between AIS and NS with regarding to the same curve and same Cobb angle（P>0.05）.The significant difference of either the disc wedging or vertebral wedging was also not found between Cobb angle <60° and ≥60° with respect to the same curve and same etiology（P>0.05）.Conclusion：The pattern of vertebrae and discs wedging is similar between AIS and NS.AIS may be secondary to some extravertebral factors.In the treatment of scoliosis，the present of vertebral and disc wedging should be considered even in a small curve.