title: Pattern of asymmetry of paraspinal muscle size in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis examined by real-time ultrasound imaging. A preliminary study.
abstract: The symmetry of lumbar multifidus size was examined in 20 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, aged 12-19 years. With the subject prone, bilateral real-time ultrasound images were obtained at the level of the 4th lumbar vertebra. Cross-sectional area and linear (horizontal and vertical) measurements were made using on-screen calipers. A pattern of asymmetry of lumbar multifidus cross-sectional area was shown to exist for the different curve types. The cross-sectional area was smaller (P < 0.0001) on the opposite side to the convexity of a primary thoracic curve, and on the convex side of a lumbar or thoracolumbar curve. The combined linear measurements (multiplied) correlated with cross-sectional area (r = 0.95) and could therefore be used for rapid clinical assessment of multifidus size. These preliminary findings provide a basis for further investigation of the role of the musculature in the pathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Kennelly
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Stokes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D009132:Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography