Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: is there a relationship between Risser staging and the proximal humerus ossification system?

Purpose To evaluate whether there is a mismatch between Risser staging and the proximal humerus ossification system (PHOS); and to analyze the correlation in the skeletal maturity stages between the two humeral epiphyses. Methods Data from patients aged 10 to 18 years with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) seen between 2018 to 2021 were analyzed. In an anteroposterior (AP) spine radiograph the ossification process was evaluated using the Risser classification method and bilateral PHOS (if both humeral epiphyses were visualized). A mismatch between methods was defined as a Risser 0–1 (relatively skeletally immature) with a PHOS 4–5 (skeletally mature), or a Risser 2–5 (relatively skeletally mature) with a PHOS 1–3 (skeletally immature). The McNemar test was used to calculate the significance of the mismatch. Results A mismatch between Risser and PHOS stages was observed in 28.5% of 105 patients, which was statistically significant (p