Methods and Capabilities of Determination of Rotational-Torsional Changes in the Spine in Patients With Scoliotic Disease

Abstract

The article presents an unstructured review of publications that describe methods and technologies for determining the parameters of spinal deformity in the horizontal plane in patients with the scoliotic disease. Descriptiveness and clinical suitability of the most well-known and practically significant methods are investigated. At X-ray investigation, the character and parameters of curvature are studied in three planes. In the frontal plane, the magnitude of the lateral arcs of deformation is determined; in the sagittal plane, the state of the spine profile is assessed. When studying the parameters of spinal deformation in the horizontal plane, there are rotational displacement and torsional deformation. The authors noted that medical scientists often equal and confuse the two concepts. Determining the characteristics of spinal deformity in the horizontal plane is an important tool for preoperative planning, while in conservative treatment and dynamic monitoring, the main attention is paid to the parameters of lateral curvature in the frontal plane. The current trend of a comprehensive examination of patients with the scoliotic disease is the emergence of new, more informative methods for quantitative evaluation of the parameters of spinal deformity in the horizontal plane, which is primarily due to the development and improvement of technology. It should be noted that the study of the features of anatomical-structural, torsional changes is given insufficient attention. Further study of torsional changes of the vertebrae should lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms that cause scoliotic deformity, which will lead to the development of pathogenetic methods of treatment. Dynamic assessment of rotational-torsional changes of the spine can be used as a predictor of progression in various types of scoliotic deformities, an indicator of the outcome of conservative and surgical treatment.