Normative 3D opto-electronic stereo-photogrammetric posture and spine morphology data in young healthy adult population

Abstract

Design: Observational cross-sectional study. The current study aims to yield normative data: i.e., the physiological standard for 30 selected quantitative 3D parameters that accurately capture and describe a full-skeleton, upright-standing attitude. Specific and exclusive consideration was given to three distinct categories: postural, spine morphology and pelvic parameters. To capture such 3D parameters, the authors selected a non-ionising 3D opto-electronic stereo-photogrammetric approach. This required the identification and measurement of 27 body landmarks, each specifically tagged with a skin marker. As subjects for the measurement of these parameters, a cohort of 124 asymptomatic young adult volunteers was recruited. All parameters were identified and measured within this group. Postural and spine morphology data have been compared between genders. In this regard, only five statistically significant differences were found: pelvis width, pelvis torsion, the “lumbar” lordosis angle value, the lumbar curve length, and the T12-L5 anatomically-bound lumbar angle value. The “thoracic” kyphosis mean angle value was the same in both sexes and, even if, derived from skin markers placed on spinous processes it resulted in perfect agreement with the X-ray based literature. As regards lordosis, a direct comparison was more difficult because methods proposed in the literature differ as to the number and position of vertebrae under consideration, and their related angle values. However, when the L1 superior–L5 inferior end plate Cobb angle was considered, these results aligned strongly with the existing literature. Asymmetry was a standard postural-spinal feature for both sexes. Each subject presented some degree of leg length discrepancy (LLD) with μ = 9.37mm. This was associated with four factors: unbalanced posture and/or underfoot loads, spinal curvature in the frontal plane, and pelvis torsion. This led to the additional study of the effect of LLD equalisation influence on upright posture, relying on a sub-sample of 100 subjects (51 males, 49 females). As a result of the equalisation, about 82% of this sub-sample showed improvement in standing posture, mainly in the frontal plane; while in the sagittal plane less than 1/3 of the sub-sample showed evidence of change in spinal angles. A significant variation was found in relation to pelvis torsion: 46% of subjects showed improvement, 49% worsening. The method described in study presents several advantages: non-invasive aspect; relatively short time for a complete postural evaluation with many clinically useful 3D and 2D anatomical/biomechanical/clinical parameters; analysis of real neutral unconstrained upright standing posture.

Normative 3D opto-electronic stereo-photogrammetric sagittal alignment parameters in a young healthy adult population

“…However, although indispensable, the radiological approach to evaluation of global skeleton posture might also be limiting in ways that could hinder full functional assessment and, most importantly, might not be considered optimal for continuous monitoring of the patient’s status. In this context, the opto-electronic stereo-photogrammetric measurement system as described in this paper offers a helpful and meaningful solution for the capture of functional information necessary for addressing clinical problems [ 21 ]. A more extensive review of the non-ionising methods presented in the literature is beyond the limit of the present paper; interested readers can find a thorough review of such an approach in D’Amico et al [ 21 ].…”

“…In this context, the opto-electronic stereo-photogrammetric measurement system as described in this paper offers a helpful and meaningful solution for the capture of functional information necessary for addressing clinical problems [ 21 ]. A more extensive review of the non-ionising methods presented in the literature is beyond the limit of the present paper; interested readers can find a thorough review of such an approach in D’Amico et al [ 21 ].…”

“…In this paper we focus on reconstruction of the full 3D skeleton using the stereo-photogrammetric approach originally introduced by D’Amico et al in 1995 [ 22 ]. The fully-developed final version of that approach was presented and described in a very recent paper [ 21 ]. In the same recent paper, a comprehensive set of normative data in a young healthy adult population was introduced.…”

3D sensing of back symmetry curve suited for dynamic analysis of spinal deformities

“…Optical surface scanning systems cannot directly reconstruct the 3D spine shape and therefore the 3D analysis is focused on the back shape morphology. Spinous processes are rarely visible on the surface of the back due to the skin and tissue that covers them and their detection can be achieved using direct methods by placing adhesive markers on spinous processes, typically 6-12 markers in total [8][9][10]. Alternatively, indirect methods are based on the approximation of the curve that connects spinous processes along the entire spinal column which is associated with the posterior median furrow 1 (Figure 1).…”

Photogrammetry vs CT Scan: Evaluation of Accuracy of a Low‐Cost Three‐Dimensional Acquisition Method for Forensic Facial Approximation

“…The qualities of photogrammetry are well known also in medicine due to radiation-free image acquisition (11)(12)(13)(14)(15). Variations in facial features between Italian and Egyptian people have been studied through 3D photogrammetric reproductions (16).…”