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Factors affecting curve flexibility in skeletally immature and mature idiopathic scoliosis

  • Original article
  • Published:
Journal of Orthopaedic Science

Abstract

Background

The determination of factors affecting curve flexibility is important in idiopathic scoliosis patients with regard to the Risser sign. The objective of this retrospective study was to identify factors affecting curve flexibility in patients with skeletally immature and mature idiopathic scoliosis.

Methods

The records of all patients with idiopathic scoliosis who received surgical treatment from July 2001 to August 2008 at our hospital were screened. The Risser sign was used to separate the patients into a skeletally mature group (Risser grade = 5) and skeletally immature group (Risser grade < 5). Data recorded and compared were flexibility (%), bending angle (°), apical vertebral rotation (°), Cobb angle (°), curve location, prior use of brace treatment, and number of vertebrae in the curve.

Results

The study cohort consisted of 217 patients (34 males, 183 females) in the Risser grade < 5 group and 124 (21 males, 103 females) in the Risser grade = 5 group. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the Cobb angle and the curve location significantly affected curve flexibility in the Risser grade < 5 group, whereas in the Risser grade = 5 group, Cobb angle and age significantly affected flexibility.

Conclusions

Cobb angle and curve location influence main curve flexibility in skeletally immature adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, and Cobb angle and age influence curve flexibility in skeletally mature adult scoliosis. Measurement of these values may aid in the evaluation of treatment options and preoperative planning.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest regarding this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Affiliated Changhai Hospital of the Second Military Medical University, No. 168, Changhai Rd., Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200433, China

    Zi-Qiang Chen, Yu-Shu Bai, Shi-Sheng He, Chuan-Feng Wang, Jing-Tao Zhang & Ming Li

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, General Hospital of PLA, No. 28, Fuxing Rd., Haidian District, Beijing, 100853, China

    Yong-Fei Zhao

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore

    Ka Po Gabriel Liu

Authors
  1. Zi-Qiang Chen
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  2. Yong-Fei Zhao
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  3. Yu-Shu Bai
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  4. Ka Po Gabriel Liu
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  5. Shi-Sheng He
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  6. Chuan-Feng Wang
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  7. Jing-Tao Zhang
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  8. Ming Li
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ming Li.

Additional information

Z.-Q. Chen and Y.-F. Zhao contributed equally to this work.

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Chen, ZQ., Zhao, YF., Bai, YS. et al. Factors affecting curve flexibility in skeletally immature and mature idiopathic scoliosis. J Orthop Sci 16, 133–138 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00776-011-0034-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00776-011-0034-6

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