(ii) Scoliosis in children and teenagers

Model-Based Radiation-Free Assessment of Scoliosis: A Principle Validation Study

Purpose

Adolescent scoliosis is one of the common pediatric spinal diseases which has a high risk of progression due to the rapid growth of the skeleton during the growing stage therefore needs regular clinical monitoring including X-rays. Because X-rays could lead to ionizing radiation-related health problems, an ionizing radiation-free, non-invasive method is presented here to estimate the degree of scoliosis and to potentially support the medical assessment.

Methods

The radiation-free body scanner provides a 3D surface scan of the torso. A basic 3D structure of the human ribcage and vertebral column was modeled and simulated with computer-aided design software and finite element method calculation. For comparison with X-rays, courses of vertebral columns derived from 3D torso images and 3D models were analyzed with respect to their apex positions and angles.

Results

The methods show good results in the estimation of the apex positions of scoliosis. Strong correlations (R = 0.8924) were found between the apex and Cobb angle from X-rays. Similar correlations (R = 0.8087) was obtained between the apex angles extracted from X-rays and the combination of torso scan images with 3D model simulations. Promising agreement was obtained between the spinal trajectories extracted from X-ray and 3D torso images.

Conclusions

Very strong correlations suggest that the apex angle could potentially be used for scoliosis assessment in follow-up examinations in complement to the Cobb angle. However, further improvements of the methods and tests on a larger number of data set are necessary before their introduction into the clinical application.

Experiências de adolescentes e suas famílias a curto prazo após cirurgia para correção de escoliose

Resumo Objetivo O estudo foi realizado para revelar vivências de adolescentes e suas famílias a curto prazo após a cirurgia para correção de escoliose. Métodos Este estudo teve um delineamento descritivo qualitativo, e os dados foram coletados de adolescentes com história de cirurgia para correção de escoliose (n=17) e seus familiares (n=9), através de entrevistas em profundidade. Os dados assim obtidos foram analisados usando análise de conteúdo. Resultados Surgiram cinco temas principais: queixas físicas, ambiente desconhecido (centro cirúrgico e unidade de terapia intensiva), mudanças emocionais, querendo que seus pais fiquem com eles e preocupações com o futuro. Tanto os adolescentes como seus familiares relataram que os adolescentes experimentaram não só problemas físicos e emocionais mas também preocupações com o futuro após a cirurgia. Conclusão Os enfermeiros devem ficar junto com os adolescentes e suas famílias e permitir que eles expressem seus sentimentos antes da cirurgia. É importante informá-los antes da cirurgia para aliviar sua ansiedade e melhorar a adaptação. Criar um ambiente adequado em salas de recuperação e unidades de terapia intensiva, onde os adolescentes podem frequentemente ver seus pais, pode ajudá-los a ter um psiquismo melhor. Além disso, programas educacionais devem ser propostos para serem oferecidos no momento da alta e métodos interativos devem ser usados para permitir que eles compartilhem seus pensamentos sobre o futuro.

Semiautomated 3D Spine Reconstruction from Biplanar Radiographic Images: Prediction of Intervertebral Loading in Scoliotic Subjects

The present study proposes a semiautomatic software approach to reconstruct 3D subject-specific musculoskeletal model of thoracolumbar spine from radiographic digitized images acquired with EOS system. The approach is applied to evaluate the intervertebral loads in 38 standing adolescents with mild idiopathic scoliosis. For each vertebra, a set of landmarks was manually identified on radiographic images. The landmark coordinates were processed to calculate the following vertebral geometrical properties in the 3D space (i) location (ii) dimensions; and (iii) rotations. Spherical joints simulated disks, ligaments, and facet joints. Body weight distribution, muscles forces, and insertion points were placed according to physiological-anatomical values. Inverse static analysis, calculating joints' reactions in maintaining assigned spine configuration, was performed with AnyBody software. Reaction forces were computed to quantify intervertebral loads, and correlation with the patient anatomical parameters was then checked. Preliminary validation was performed comparing the model outcomes with that obtained from other authors in previous modeling works and from in vivo measurements. The comparison with previous modeling works and in vivo studies partially fulfilled the preliminary validation purpose. However, minor incongruities were pointed out that need further investigations. The subjects' intervertebral loads were found significantly correlated with the anatomical parameters in the sagittal and axial planes. Despite preliminary encouraging results that support model suitability, future investigations to consolidate the proposed approach are necessary. Nonetheless, the present method appears to be a promising tool that once fully validated could allow the subject-specific non-invasive evaluation of a deformed spine, providing supplementary information to the routine clinical examination and surgical intervention planning.