European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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Current fusionless scoliosis surgical techniques span the intervertebral disc. This alters the spine stiffness, disc pressure equilibrium and possibly may lead to disc degeneration. A new fusionless physeal device was developed that locally modulates vertebral growth by compressing the physeal ring, while maintaining maximum segmental spinal mobility without spanning the intervertebral disc. ⋯ This study presents experimental evidence that the device induces a significant and controlled wedging of the vertebrae while maintaining regular flexibility. In most discs, there were no visible morphological alterations induced. Further analysis of the discs and testing of this device on a larger animal is recommended with the long-term objective of developing an early treatment of progressive idiopathic scoliosis.
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Sagittal imbalance is a significant factor in determining clinical treatment outcomes in patients with deformity. Measurement of sagittal alignment using the traditional Cobb technique is frequently hampered by difficulty in visualizing landmarks. This report compares traditional manual measurement techniques to a computer-assisted sagittal plane measurement program which uses a radius arc methodology. ⋯ A computer-assisted program produces a reliable measurement of the sagittal profile of the spine by eliminating the need for distinctly visible endplates. The use of a radial arc methodology allows for infinite data points to be used along the spine to determine sagittal measurements. The integration of this technique with digital radiography's ability to adjust image contrast and brightness will enable the superior identification of key anatomical parameters normally not available for measurement on traditional radiographs, improving the consistency of sagittal measurement.