Predicting Scoliosis Progression from Skeletal Maturity: A Simplified Classification During Adolescence

Abstract

The simplified skeletal maturity scoring system is reliable and correlates more strongly with the behavior of idiopathic scoliosis than the Risser sign or Greulich and Pyle skeletal ages do. The system has a modest learning curve but is easily used in a clinical setting and, in conjunction with curve type and magnitude, appears to be strongly prognostic of future scoliosis curve behavior.

A History of Bracing for Idiopathic Scoliosis in North America

“…Dimé-glio's modification of the Sauvegrain method and Sanders' modification of the Tanner-Whitehouse-III RUS system both identify characteristic radiographic changes in ossification centers occurring during the critically important period of peak growth velocity (skeletal ages 11-13 in girls and 13-15 in boys) and are only recently being utilized [15,55,56].…”

“…In 2007, Sanders and colleagues described a simplified method of determining skeletal age based on descriptors from the Tanner-Whitehouse-III RUS system [55]. Key features of the ossification centers of the hand on anteroposterior radiographs at different levels of skeletal maturity during the period of peak growth velocity were determined.…”

Progression or not progression? How to deal with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis during puberty

“…In 2008, Sanders et al [25] have introduced a new method for assessing digital skeletal age that was derived from the Tanner-Whitehouse 3 method, which is based on a radiographic analysis of metacarpals and fingers. Eight stages are identified.…”

“…Stage 3, and stage 4 corresponds to the acceleration phase. Stage 8 is the mature stage and corresponds to Risser grade 5 [25]. This method has been proven to be reliable, and it correlates more strongly with the behavior of idiopathic scoliosis than the Risser sign or Greulich and Pyle bone ages [11,16,[23][24][25].…”

Adult Lumbar Scoliosis: Underreported on Lumbar MR Scans

“…Under an institutional review board-approved and US Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant protocol, all consecutive lumbar MR imaging scans performed in skeletally mature patients (called "adults" hereafter), females Ն17 and males Ն19 -26 years old 26 presenting with low back pain during the period of November 1, 2008 through March 14, 2009, were prospectively reviewed.…”