The ability of surface topography postural measurements to detect cobb angle progression in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and a main thoracic curve: full torso scans compared to back only parameters

Abstract

Methods We assessed 42 adolescents (n=32F, age 13.9±1.7yrs) with AIS with a main thoracic curve, braced (n=22) or under observation (n=20), using a full-torso ST scan at baseline and 12±3months later. Subjects were scanned standing in a positioning frame using four laser scanners. One evaluator marked 11 landmarks. Thirty full-torso and 16 backonly parameters were extracted in Matlab by digitizing landmarks on anonymized scans presented randomly. The absolute value of the difference between visits was quantified for ST changes because surface improvement and deterioration can occur with worsening curvatures. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curves (AUC) was used to compare the accuracy in determining which curves did not progress.2 An AUC of 1 represents a perfect and .5 a worthless parameter.