Monitoring for idiopathic scoliosis curve progression using surface topography asymmetry analysis of the torso in adolescents

Abstract Background context At first visit and each clinical follow-up session, patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) undergo radiographic examination, from which the Cobb angle is measured. The cumulative exposure to X-ray radiation justifies efforts in developing noninvasive methods for scoliosis monitoring. Purpose To determine the capability of the three-dimensional markerless surface topography (ST) asymmetry analysis to detect ≥5° progression in the spinal curvature in patients with AIS over 1-year follow-up interval. Study design/setting Cross-sectional study in a specialized scoliosis clinic. Patient sample In this study, baseline and 1-year follow-up full torso ST scans of 100 patients with AIS were analyzed using three-dimensional markerless asymmetry analysis. Outcome measures Patients with ΔCobb≥5° and ΔCobb