We have developed a new clinical evaluation of the human posture based
on 3D digitization with magnetic fields. This 3D postural evaluation
displays the relative position of the head, the shoulders and the pelv
is. The main purpose is to identify key morphological parameters in or
der to demonstrate significant differences between 2 goups of subjects
. Nineteen adolescent control subjects and 22 patients with AIS have b
een evaluated. The t-tests showed significant statistical differences
between the 2 groups for every measurements studied. The 2 most signif
icant were tilt of the shoulders in the postero-anterior plane and the
angle of the shoulder-blades vs the shoulders in the transverse plane
(p < 0.0005). These results support the value of the 3D postural eval
uation as a clinical tool for the evaluation of AIS. This technique is
non-invasive and could be used for the clinical follow-up in order to
evaluate the postural evolution in scoliotic patients.