Thoracic sagittal plane variations between patients with thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and healthy adolescents.

Purpose: To analyze the sagittal thoracic parameters of different types of progressive thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients and compare them with healthy adolescents.

Methods: 115 AIS patients with main thoracic curves (Cobb: 59.4 ± 12.7) were prospectively compared with 116 healthy adolescents. The AIS and control (C) groups were homogeneous in terms of age and gender. Standing sagittal radiographs were analyzed for differences in T5-T12 kyphosis, T5-T8 and T9-T12 segmental kyphosis, the change between these two angles, and the double rib contour sign. Statistical analyses were performed using the χ 2, one-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U and Student's t tests.

Results: The sagittal parameters of Lenke 1 curves did not differ from healthy adolescents (T5-T8: 17.1 ± 10 vs C: 16 ± 7; T9-T12: 6.3 ± 7 vs C: 7.9 ± 5; T5-T12: 23.9 ± 14 vs C: 23.9 ± 8). Compared with the controls, Lenke type 3 curves were globally more hypokyphotic (T5-T12: 18.9 ± 12 vs C: 23.9 ± 8, P = 0.027) due to a "lordosis" of the lower thoracic segment (T9-T12: 0.9 ± 10 vs C: 7.9 ± 5, P = 0.001). Type 2 curves tended to exhibit more pronounced upper thoracic kyphosis (T5-T8: 20.7 ± 12 vs C: 16 ± 7). Both types 2 and 3 require a marked TK changes in the transition between the upper and lower thoracic segments to compensate for global (T5-T12) kyphosis.

Conclusions: In this 2D analysis of moderate AIS, Lenke 1 curves exhibited normal thoracic sagittal parameters, which brings into question the effect of lordosis on the development of single thoracic curves. Lenke 3 curves exhibited lower thoracic segmental hypokyphosis, and the type 2 showed upper segmental hyperkyphosis. These results should be considered when planning a surgical strategy.