Can the Thoracic Kyphosis be Modeled with a Simple Geometric Shape? The Results of Circular and Elliptical Modeling in 80 Asymptomatic Subjects.
Can the Thoracic Kyphosis be Modeled with a Simple Geometric Shape? The Results of Circular and Elliptical Modeling in 80 Asymptomatic Subjects.
Authors
- Deed E. Harrison
- Tadeusz J. Janik
- Donald D. Harrison
- Rene Cailliet
- Stacy F. Harmon
Publication
Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques 2002; 15(3): 213-220.
Article Link
Abstract
Summary: Many Cobb measurements have been reported at various levels for the thoracic kyphosis, but geometric models of the shape of kyphosis are rare. Thoracic vertebral bodies were digitized on 80 normal lateral full-spine radiographs to obtain the mean thoracic kyphosis. Global and segmental angles were determined. Computer iteration processes passed geometric shapes through the posterior body coordinates of the mean thoracic kyphosis to determine the best fit model in the least squares sense. The kyphosis was closely modeled with ellipses. The T1 and T12 areas tended to be flatter in curvature when compared with T2–T11, indicating these are inflection points. Mean global angles were CobbT1–T12 44.2°, CobbT2–T11 39.9°, and CobbT3–T10 33.3°. The T2–T11 kyphotic region was closely modeled with approximately a 70° portion of an ellipse, with minor axis to major axis ratios of 0.6 to 0.72, and with major axis parallel to the posterior body margin of T11.
- Deed E. Harrison
- Tadeusz J. Janik
- Donald D. Harrison
- Rene Cailliet
- Stacy F. Harmon
Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques 2002; 15(3): 213-220.
Summary: Many Cobb measurements have been reported at various levels for the thoracic kyphosis, but geometric models of the shape of kyphosis are rare. Thoracic vertebral bodies were digitized on 80 normal lateral full-spine radiographs to obtain the mean thoracic kyphosis. Global and segmental angles were determined. Computer iteration processes passed geometric shapes through the posterior body coordinates of the mean thoracic kyphosis to determine the best fit model in the least squares sense. The kyphosis was closely modeled with ellipses. The T1 and T12 areas tended to be flatter in curvature when compared with T2–T11, indicating these are inflection points. Mean global angles were CobbT1–T12 44.2°, CobbT2–T11 39.9°, and CobbT3–T10 33.3°. The T2–T11 kyphotic region was closely modeled with approximately a 70° portion of an ellipse, with minor axis to major axis ratios of 0.6 to 0.72, and with major axis parallel to the posterior body margin of T11.
