SAGITTAL CONFIGURATION OF THE SPINE AND GROWTH OF THE POSTERIOR ELEMENTS IN EARLY SCOLIOSIS

The early changes of the sagittal alignment of the spine and the asymm etry between the posterior and anterior elements were determined on th e basis of 134 lateral and 167 anteroposterior radiographs obtained fr om a control group and from patients with early scoliosis. The radiogr aphs were allocated into four groups according to the degree of the Co bb angle. In thoracic curves with a Cobb angle of more than 8 degrees, the kyphosis and the vertebral sagittal wedge angle decreased in comp arison with the control group. The sagittal-wedge angle of the disc di d not change significantly with increasing Cobb angle. The pedicle hei ght in relation to the vertebral height, considered to represent the g rowth of the posterior element in relation to the growth of the anteri or element, was not significantly different in the scoliotic groups as compared with the control group. The results indicate that changes of the sagittal configuration of the spine occur early in idiopathic sco liosis and that they are associated with disturbed growth of the verte bral body but not of the posterior elements. These findings seem to re flect a simultaneous deformation in the coronal and sagittal planes ra ther than a single growth disturbance in any specific plane.