[Digital skeletal age and histological evaluation for residual spine growth potential in idiopathic scoliosis].
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain the correlation between histological grades (HGs) of vertebral growth plates and Risser grades in idiopathic scoliosis (IS) patients; to identify whether digital skeletal age (DSA) is a reliable indicator for accurate evaluation of the spinal residual growth potential.


METHODS
Twenty eight Chinese female patients were available for this study. Superior and inferior growth plates were obtained at each level when anterior approach surgeries were performed. Histological examinations were conducted after the specimens were processed. The patients were evaluated by DSA stages in this study. Correlations between histological grades, menarchal status, and chronological age were analyzed.


RESULTS
There was a negative correlation between the following: HGs and DSA stages in 28 cases (r = -0.541, P = 0.003), and HGs and menarchal status in patients in DSA stage III (r = -0.591, P = 0.006). Statistical significance of growth activity of growth plates was found between patients in DSA-stage II and those in DSA-stage III (P = 0.014).


CONCLUSIONS
DSA may be a reliable indicator for predicting the spinal residual growth potential in IS patients, but it should be correlated with menarchal status and chronological ages.
Qiu
Yong
Y
Department of Spinal Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.
Wang
Shou-feng
SF
Zhu
Ze-zhang
ZZ
Zhu
Feng
F
Ma
Zhao-long
ZL
Xia
Cai-wei
CW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton; D005260:Female; D050278:Finger Phalanges / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008572:Menarche; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D013131:Spine / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery