[Evaluation of the rotational deformity in scoliosis. II. Application of laser torsography to the follow-up of the clinical course of rotation deformity during treatment].

In the previous paper (part I), a new approach which makes it possible to evaluate the rotational deformity of scoliosis both qualitatively and quantitatively was proposed and named Laser Torsography. In the present paper this new method is applied to observation of clinical courses of scoliotic patients in order to demonstrate changeability of the rotational deformity during treatment. Thirty-five idiopathic scoliotic patients were treated conservatively (5 cases: observation only, 30 cases: brace treatment) and effects of the treatment were evaluated by means of roentgenographic examination (Cobb method) and Laser Torsography at average intervals of 15 months and the attitude of the rotation deformity was compared with that of the lateral flexion deformity. The results show that in more than half of the cases the prognosis of the rotation deformity differed from the lateral flexion deformity. Consequently the importance of measuring the rotation deformity separately should be emphasized. Seventeen scoliotic patients were treated surgically and correctability of the rotation deformity was assessed by comparing preoperative and postoperative Laser Torsography. Out of them there are 10 cases on which Harrington instrumentation with DTT were performed. The effects of this procedure on rotation were as follows: little improvement or adverse effect in 6 cases, moderate improvement in 3 cases and remarkable improvement in one case. It is expected from this investigation that Laser Torsography will play an important role in the therapeutic occasion of scoliosis as an indispensable diagnostic tool for the estimation of the rotational deformity.