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A. Vertu Schmidt Andrade1,2, R. Mantelatto Andrade1,3, C.E. Gonçalves Barsotti4, G.G. Guilhermino1, M.E. Callegari Ferreira1, S.M. Amado João3, A.P. Ribeiro2,3
1Clinical Rehabilitation Center in Scoliosis, Campinas, Brazil, 2Orthopaedic Medicine Department, Health Science Post-Graduate, University Santo Amaro, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 3University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 4Member of the Spine Group, Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual (HSPE), Sao Paulo, Brazil
Background: Precise measurement tools are necessary for monitoring the progression of this spine deformity, including its progression in growing patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The gold standard measurement for sagittal spine parameters is the two-dimensional radiography (XR), which exposes patients to radiation. Alternative methods could be used to evaluate this thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis angles. Among all of the methods, the inclinometer is a simple, quick and low-cost system that received widespread attention by many authors and clinicians for the measurement and following of spinal posture progression in patients. However, no studies have measured the relation spine parameters between in AIS patients.
Purpose: To evaluate the relationship of the inclinometer (INCL) with the gold standard (XR) to assess the spinal sagittal angles in patients with AIS.
Methods: Thirty-five AIS patients girls (13.5±2.0 years, Cobb angle=29.8±8.2°) were included in this study. Three repeated measurements of thoracic kyphosis (TK) and lumbar lordosis (LL) were evaluated using the INCL and XR, by the same operator on the same day of the XR examination. Simple linear regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between the XR and INCL systems for assessing spinal sagittal angles, considering a 5% significance level.
Results: The angle of TK was a good predictor, showing a good relationship between the XR and INCL systems (r=0.80; r2=0.65, p <0.001). The angle of the LL also showed a positive and strong prediction, with a significant correlation between the gold standard XR and INCL systems (r=0.93; r2=0.87, p<0.001).
Conclusion(s): The inclinometer system showed a moderate to high correlation and good predictor with the the gold standard XR measurement for the TK and LL angles of adolescents with AIS, showing that it is an effective and low-cost instrument for monitoring and rehabilitation these patients.
Implications: Consider the validity of the inclinometer measurement in the growth phases in relation to radiography (gold standard).
Funding, acknowledgements: We had no financial support.
Keywords: Scoliosis
Topic: Musculoskeletal: spine
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: University Santo Amaro, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Committee: Research Ethics Committee of University Santo Amaro, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Ethics number: 4220330
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
