Comparison Between Radiographic Methods of Measuring Flexibility in Scoliosis

Abstract

Objective: To determine the preoperative radiographic method for measuring the Cobb angle that is closest to the postoperative result in patients with scoliotic deformity. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of radiographic spinal evaluation (preoperative posteroanterior (PA), bending, traction, traction under anesthesia and immediate postoperative posteroanterior (PO)) of 26 patients treated surgically for scoliotic deformities during the period from January 2017 to September 2019. The final mean Cobb angle and its decrease in relation to the PA value were evaluated in the three curves in patients with idiopathic (IS) and non-idiopathic scoliosis. Results: All the mean curve values were statistically significant, except for bending in non-idiopathic scoliosis (non-IS). The mean traction under anesthesia values were closer to the PO values. Regarding the delta (decrease) of the maneuvers in relation to the PA, no statistical significance was observed in the non-IS group. The traction under anesthesia maneuver had a greater delta in all curves. Conclusions: The traction under anesthesia maneuver in patients with idiopathic scoliosis is the method with the greatest flexibility and which best predicts the postoperative result. Level of evidence III; Diagnostic study.