Measurement of vertebral rotation: A comparison of two methods based on CTscans

This study compared Ho's and Aaro's method to measure vertebral axial rotat ion in order to find the more accurate one. Two hundred fifty-nine CT scans were taken from 11 cadaver vertebrae. The scans were performed with verteb rae in neutral position and angulated up to 20 degrees in the sagittal and frontal plane to simulate kyphosis/lordosis and side bending. Axial rotatio n was measured according to both methods. The mean difference between true and measured values was 3.7 +/- 6.7 (95% confidence limit) (Ho's method) an d 2.3 +/- 3.7 (Aaro's method), respectively. Correlation with true axial ro tation was r(2) = 0.66 (Ho's method) and r(2) = 0.77 (Aaro's method). We re commend using Aaro's method as the more accurate measure of axial rotation in scoliotic vertebrae.