title: Modelling the spine as a deformable body: Feasibility of reconstruction using an optoelectronic system.
abstract: The aims of this study were to develop a kinematic model of the spine, seen as a continuous deformable body and to identify the smallest set of surface markers allowing adequate measurements of spine motion. The spine is widely considered as a rigid body or as a kinematic chain made up of a smaller number of segments, thereby introducing an approximation. It would be useful to have at our disposal a technique ensuring accurate and repeatable measurement of the shape of the whole spine. Ten healthy subjects underwent a whole-spine radiographic assessment and, simultaneously, an optoelectronic recording. Polynomial interpolations of the vertebral centroids, of the whole set of markers were performed. The similarity of the resulting curves was assessed. Our findings indicate that spine shape can be reproduced by 5th order polynomial interpolation. The best approximating curves are obtained from either 10- or 9-marker sets. Sagittal angles are systematically underestimated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, INAIL, Via Fontana Candida 1, 00040 Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy. a.ranavolo@inail.it
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ranavolo
authors.forename: Romildo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Don
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Draicchio
authors.forename: Michelangelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bartolo
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serrao
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Padua
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cipolla
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pierelli
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iavicoli
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sandrini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D055615:Electrical Equipment and Supplies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008141:Lordosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D008875:Middle Aged; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D009068:Movement; D055096:Optical Devices; D010780:Photogrammetry; D011859:Radiography; D013131:Spine / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult