Scoliosis: Life, Support & Friends

ScoliosisJournal have just released a new white paper regarding The Trunk Appearance Perception Scale (TAPS): a new tool to evaluate subjective impression of trunk deformity in patients with idiopathic scoliosis Authors: Juan Bago Judith Sanchez-Raya, Franciso Javier Sanchez, Perez-Grueso, Jose Maria Climent Background Outcome assessment in idiopathic scoliosis should probably include patients' perception of their trunk deformity in addition to self-image. This can be accomplished with the Walter Reed Visual Assessment Scale (WRVAS). Nevertheless, this instrument has some shortcomings: the drawings are abstract and some figures do not relate to the corresponding radiological deformity. These considerations prompted us to design the Trunk Appearance Perception Scale (TAPS). Methods Patients with idiopathic scoliosis and no prior surgical treatment were included. Each patient completed the TAPS and SRS-22 questionnaire and underwent a complete radiographic study of the spine...

Spine Journal report about the methodology of evaluation of morphology of the spine and the trunk in idiopathic scoliosis and other spinal deformities - 6th SOSORT consensus paper Authors: Tomasz Kotwicki, Stefano Negrini, Theodoros B Grivas, Manuel Rigo, Toru Maruyama, Jacek Durmala, Fabio Zaina and the Members of the international Society on Scoliosis Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT) Published: 26 November 2009 Background Comprehensive evaluation of the morphology of the spine and of the whole body is essential in order to correctly manage patients suffering from progressive idiopathic scoliosis. Although methodology of clinical and radiological examination is well described in manuals of ortho-paedics, there is deficit of data which clinical and radiological parameters are considered in every-day practise. Recently, an increasing tendency to extend scoliosis examination beyond the measure of the Cobb angle can be observed, reflecting a more patient-oriented approach...

Scoliosis Journal posted about real time noninvasive assessment of external trunk geometry during surgical correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis Authors: Luc Duong, Jean-Marc Mac-Thiong and Hubert Labelle Published: 24 February 2009 Background The correction of trunk deformity is crucial in scoliosis surgery, especially for the patient's self-image. However, direct visualization of external scoliotic trunk deformity during surgical correction is difficult due to the covering draping sheets. Methods An optoelectronic camera system with 10 passive markers is used to track the trunk geometry of 5 scoliotic patients during corrective surgery. The position of 10 anatomical landmarks and 5 trunk indices computed from the position of the passive markers are compared during and after instrumentation of the spine. Results Internal validation of the accuracy of tracking was evaluated at 0.41+/- 0.05 mm RMS. Intra operative tracking during surgical maneuvers shows improvement of the...