Don't forget the pelvis: accounting for pelvic rotation in the preoperative assessment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

BACKGROUND

Accurate radiographic assessment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is crucial to achieving surgical correction, yet pelvic rotation may alter measurements. In Lenke Type 1/2 AIS patients, we conducted a pilot study to assess how pelvic rotation (i.e., the patient's position in the X-ray scanner) affected sagittal, coronal, and rotational measurements.

METHODS

A retrospective, pilot study of Type 1/2 AIS patients was undertaken. Demographics and three-dimensional (3D) SterEOS imaging were obtained. Measurements were compared between two scenarios: (I) radio plane-patient's natural position in the scanner; and (II) patient plane-patient's position after correcting to the transverse plane. Sagittal, coronal, and rotational measurements were compared, including: thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), main thoracic (MT) and thoracolumbar/lumbar (TL-L) Cobb, and apical vertebral rotation (AVR) in the proximal thoracic (PT), MT, and TL/L regions.

RESULTS

Of 15 patients, average age was 15.7 years and 67% were female. Average baseline pelvic obliquity was 4.0 mm and pelvis rotation was 5.1°. Significant differences were seen between the radio vs. patient plane, respectively, in the following three measurements: TK, LL, and AVR: (I) TK (T1-12: 36.5° vs. 32.8°, P=0.003; T4-12: 28.4° vs. 22.7°, P<0.001); (II) LL (L1-5: 46.6° vs. 42.8°, P=0.002; L1-S1: 58.2° vs. 55.1°, P=0.003); (III) AVR (PT-AVR: 4.0° vs. 8.2°, P=0.003; MT-AVR: -14.8° vs. -10.5°, P=0.004; TL/L-AVR: (4.5° vs. 8.7°, P=0.003). No significant differences were seen in coronal cobb angles.

CONCLUSIONS

After accounting for pelvic rotation, sagittal and rotational measurements were significantly altered. These results have implications for measurement accuracy, surgical decision-making, and postoperative monitoring.