title: Morphometric analysis of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae in idiopathic scoliosis.
abstract: METHODS
  Prospective study on the morphometry of 337 pedicles in 29 patients with idiopathic scoliosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze by means of computed tomographic scans the vertebral morphometry in idiopathic scoliosis treated by pedicle screw instrumentation.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Although several studies exist on the vertebrae's morphometry in normal spines, little is known concerning the morphometry of scoliotic vertebrae.
  
  
  METHODS
  The pedicles' morphometry between T5 and L4 was analyzed by computed tomographic scans in 29 surgically treated patients with idiopathic right thoracic scoliosis. Measurements included chord length, endosteal transverse pedicle width, transverse pedicle angle, and pedicle length.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The endosteal transverse pedicle width was significantly smaller (P < 0.05) on the concavity in the apical region of the thoracic spine and measured between 2.5 and 4.2 mm in the middle thoracic spine (T5-T9) and between 4.2 and 5.9 mm in the lower thoracic spine (T10-T12). In the lumbar spine, the width varied between 4.8 and 9.5 mm without significant differences between the concave and convex sides (P > 0.05). The chord length was shortest at T5, measuring 37 mm and increased gradually to 50 mm at L3 with significantly larger dimensions in male patients and on the concavity of the apical region in the thoracic spine (P < 0.05). The pedicle length varied minimally, with a range of between 20 and 22 mm, and was relatively consistent throughout the thoracic and lumbar spine. The transverse pedicle angle varied between 6 degrees in the lower thoracic spine and 12 degrees in the upper thoracic and lower lumbar spine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The morphometry in scoliotic vertebrae is substantially different from that of vertebrae in normal spines, with an asymmetrical intravertebral deformity shown in scoliotic vertebrae. Pedicle screw instrumentation on the concavity in the apical region of thoracic curves appears critical because of the small endosteal pedicle width.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Clinical Radiology, Westphalian Wilhelms-University, Münster, Germany. liljenqv@uni-muenster.de
authors.forename: U R
authors.initials: UR
authors.lastname: Liljenqvist
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Link
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Halm
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed