Radio-morphometric evaluation of clinical and sub-clinical forms of scoliosis in postmenopausal women

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the age-dependent changes of the spine in postmenopausal women with adult scoliosis. Methods: We screened 180 postmenopausal women who presented within a year for an X-ray evaluation in our Radiology Department. Only postmenopausal women without previous surgery of the spine and with a Cobb’s angle of more than 10o were included in the analysis. The acquired X-rays were assessed with the ‘SCODIAC’ software - evaluating the Cobb’s angle, Ferguson’s angle, the vertebrae’s rotation and the overall torsion of the spinal cord. Results: 60/180 women met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in the analysis, in four age-groups (per decade of age) of equal number of subjects (N=15). Their mean age was 70,5 years and mean age of menopause was 50 years. 23% were classified as ‘obese’, 52% ‘overweight’ and 25% ‘normal’. Mean BMI was 27.45 Kgr/m2. 28% were not screened for osteoporosis. 22% of the evaluated subjects had osteoporosis, 38% osteopenia and 12% were normal. The percentage of individuals suffering from degenerative scoliosis, was 27% , 67%, 87% and 73% for each age group respectively. The average of the overall torsion was 23.9o, 19.5o,23.7o and 32,1o. Percentage of subjects without any participation in ‘exercise’ was 47%, 40%, 87% and 67% respectively. Conclusion: Postmenopausal women presenting primary or secondary osteoporosis alongside high ‘BMI’ index and/or low levels of physical activity, are prone to cumulative degeneration of the spine resulting in clinical and sub-clinical scoliosis.