Statistical shape analyses of pediatric patients with scoliosis after surgical correction

Abstract

AIM: To investigate the preoperative and postoperative differences in the upper-body and spinal shapes of patients with scoliosis. MATERIAL and METHODS: Digitized two-dimensional X-ray images were used to obtain the shapes of the upper-body and spine. The preoperative and postoperative mean shapes were compared by using a Generalized Procrustes analysis. The thin plate spline (TPS) method was used to evaluate the spinal shape deformation between the preoperative and postoperative periods.RESULTS: The pre-and postoperative upper-body and spinal shape differences were significant. The TPS graphics showed high-level deformations between the pre-and postoperative periods. The left superior border of the L4 spinous process showed the highest deformation.CONCLUSION: The preoperative and postoperative upper-body and spinal shape differences and structural deformations that correlated with scoliosis were shown to be significant.