Abstract
To identify changes in curve magnitude in patients with degenerative scoliosis between the lying and standing positions.
Thirty five patients who underwent surgical correction of a degenerative scoliosis were identified. The pre-operative standing antero-posterior radiographs were compared with the coronal MRI images and Cobb angles measured.
The mean patient age was 64 years old. The mean increase in Cobb angle in the degenerative curve on standing was ten degrees. This was not associated with age or magnitude of curve.
A degenerative scoliosis is often considered inflexible. These results show that such curves do retain some flexibility and therefore patients may present with dynamic symptoms not represented on supine MRI images. Furthermore, pre-operative supine radiographs will identify the degree of flexibility that can be expected intra-operatively.
Ethics approval: none
Interest statement: none
Correspondence should be addressed to BSS c/o BOA, at the Royal College of Surgeons, 35–43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3PE, England.
