Relation between adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and morphologic somatotypes.
METHODS
A prospective and controlled comparative study.


OBJECTIVE
To verify the difference in morphologic appearance between a group of adolescents with progressive adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and a control group of normal adolescents.


BACKGROUND
In a previous retrospective study, the possibility of a relation between progressive adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and specific morphotypes was demonstrated.


METHODS
Fifty-two adolescent girls with progressive adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were compared with an age-matched control group of 62 unaffected girls using a classification technique based on morphologic somatotypes. Morphotypes were evaluated with standardized pre-established criteria based on Sheldon's technique.


RESULTS
Patients with progressive adolescent idiopathic scoliosis showed significantly less mesomorphism (mean value of 0.88 +/- 0.51) than control girls (mean value of 1.72 +/- 0.52).


CONCLUSIONS
Adolescent girls with progressive adolescent idiopathic scoliosis have a morphologic somatotype that is different from the normal adolescent population. Subjects with progressive adolescent idiopathic scoliosis are significantly less mesomorphic than control girls. This observation may be of value as a predictive factor for early identification of subjects with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis at greater risk of progression.
LeBlanc
R
R
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical Faculty, Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-Ville, Québec, Canada.
Labelle
H
H
Rivard
C H
CH
Poitras
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013008:Somatotypes