Measurement of postoperative apical vertebral rotation using radiographic images in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis - Quantitative evaluation using inverse trigonometric functions

Abstract

Introduction: Conventional methods for analyzing vertebral rotation are limited to postoperative patients who underwent posterior fusion. A previous methodology calculated vertebral rotation using inverse trigonometric functions based on the length of the pedicle screw (PS). Accordingly, this study evaluates rotational deformity in patients with postoperative adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) using inverse trigonometric functions.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study includes patients with AIS who underwent posterior fusion surgery. Postoperative radiography and computed tomography (CT) scans were retrospectively evaluated. The magnification ratio was calculated using the rod diameter (δ = lateral/frontal rod diameter), and the visible screw lengths were measured using radiographs. The rotation angle was calculated using the apex of the main curve and the lower instrumented vertebra (LIV) (rotation angle = arctan (lateral PS length/ (δ × frontal PS length) )) immediately following the surgery as well as two and five years postoperatively. The correlation between the direct CT measurement and postoperative rotation angle progression was investigated. The crankshaft phenomenon (CSP) and distal adding-on (DAO) were evaluated as postoperative deformities. CSP was defined as a 5° increase in rotation angle.

Results: Seventy-eight patients (age: 15.3±2.0 years, eight boys and seventy girls) were included. The rotation angle was strongly correlated with CT rotation measurements (r=0.87). The mean rotation angle at the apex and LIV did not change within five years postoperatively (mean: 0.5±3.6° and 0.4±3.4°, respectively). CSP and DAO were observed in 6.4% and 3.8% of patients, respectively.

Conclusion: The inverse trigonometric method is useful to quantitatively evaluate the postoperative rotation angle and identify CSP.