Employing Shadow Moiré Topography to Register Spinopelvic Balance Parameters in Adolescents with Scoliosis.

BACKGROUND

The aim of the research is to develop a method of registering spinopelvic balance parameters employing shadow moiré topography (SMT) and to use this diagnostic method while clinical observation of adolescents with functional and spine disorders.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The subject of the study was a group of adolescents aged 12-17 (n = 50) with the symptoms of mild or moderate scoliosis (according to Cobb). SMT was employed as a clinical diagnostic method. The obtained values were compared with the values provided by the analysis of the standard thoracic and lumbar spine radiographs. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to evaluate the differences between the values provided by radiography and SMT (due to a small number of subjects). The differences were considered significant at the criterion level α = 0,05, α = 0,01. The data were processed using built-in functions and small self-documenting codes for the Microsoft Office Excel 2013 program.

RESULTS

Follow-up data analysis showed no significant differences with the probability of 95% (α = 0,05) in thoracolumbar kyphosis, pelvic incidence, and sagittal vertical axis values, whereas the differences are significant with the probability of 99% (α = 0,01) in the Cobb angle, Lumbar lordosis (LL1), and sacral slope values and with the probability of 95% (α = 0,05) in thoracic kyphosis values.

CONCLUSION

The research found that SMT employed as a diagnostic method in vertebrogenic pathology is reliable and valid and can be employed as a screening, diagnostic, and monitoring tool in the vertebral column state while medical rehabilitation of adolescents with scoliosis.