Relationship Between Intervertebral Disc Morphology and Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Abstract

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is an abnormal 3-dimensional curvature of the spine that appears in youth. In progressive cases, a small curve may be augmented rapidly and leads the victim to a high-risk surgical operation. Recognition of the AIS in the early stage can help in treating it with noninvasive methods. The goal of the study was to examine the relationship between intervertebral disc morphology and AIS as an applicable index and useful method for developing the screening and recognition of AIS before the start of disease. Based on a biomechanical model, we examined the relationship between AIS and intervertebral disc morphology in the thoracic and lumbar region separately and comparatively. For this purpose, the mean disc height (MDH) in the thoracic (MDHT) and lumbar (MDHL) regions and mean ratio of disc height per vertebral radius (MDHPVR) in the thoracic (MDHPVRT) and lumbar (MDHPVRL) regions were compared between 20 girls with AIS and 20 normal girls as the control group by using magnetic resonance imaging. Although there was a significant difference between the AIS and control group in MDHT (P = .004) and MDHPVRT (P = .006), this difference was more significant in the lumbar region (MDHL, P < .0001, and MDHPVRL, P < .0001). According to obtained results, the relation of MDHPVR and scoliosis can be established and used to develop as a screening method for diagnosis and treatment of adolescents who are exposed to scoliosis disorder at an early stage.