| Abstract: | Although there are various methods such as that of Nash and Moe, to measure the degree of vertebral rotation in patients with scoliosis, no decisive method has been established to date. In the present study, a formula for estimation of the pedicle rotation ratio (PRR) was obtained, based on the results of measurements of 5 dry cadaver vertebrae to establish a reasonably accurate quantitative determination of the degree of vertebral rotation on a routine antero-posterior roentgenogram of the spine. The formula could be written as: Y = AX - B(X: PRR, Y: a degree of vertebral rotation, A and B: variable according to the level of the vertebrae). The degree of vertebral rotation was obtained on antero-posterior roentgenograms of 150 vertebrae from 29 patients with idiopathic scoliosis, and was also measured on computerized tomograms of these patients for comparison. There was statistically significant relationship between the results of two methods. The present appears to be useful for clinical evaluation of scoliosis. |
