Hump height in idiopathic scoliosis measured using a humpmeter in growing subjects: relationship between the hump height and the Cobb angle and the effect of age on the hump height.
BACKGROUND
The comparison between Cobb angle and hump height measured using a humpmeter in idiopathic scoliosis have produced contradictory findings concerning the association between the two variables in growing subjects.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the relationship between the hump height and the Cobb angle and the effect of age on the first.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, descriptive analytical study.


METHODS
A tertiary university hospital.


METHODS
One thousand two-hundred forty-five subjects with diagnosed idiopathic scoliosis or with a hump without spine deformity, aged between 3-21.


METHODS
The hump was measured with subjects in a forward-bending position using a pocket humpmeter; the Cobb angle was determined on a traditional radiograph. A linear regression estimated the Cobb angle in relation to the hump height, and a multiple regression based on standardized regression coefficients (β) and coefficients of determination (R2) assessed the contribution of age and the Cobb angle to hump variations.


RESULTS
The hump height was between 0-50 mm and the Cobb angle was between 0-78°. Based on regression coefficients, every unit (1 mm) increase in the thoracic/thoracolumbar and lumbar humps corresponded to an average increase in the Cobb angle of 1.542° (SE 0.037°; P=0.000) and 1.857° (SE 0.095°; P=0.000), respectively. The 95% confidence intervals for the estimated mean Cobb angles and those for the individual angles with respect to a given hump height lead to various hypotheses regarding the interconnection between the two entities. β values for age were low with respect to β values for the Cobb angle both at the thoracic level (0.095 vs. 0.807) and at the lumbar one (0.138 vs. 0.651), and R2, after the age-variable was excluded, decreased slightly from 70.3% to 69.4% and from 48.5% to 46.7%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Humpmeter measurements can thus be considered reliable in diagnosed idiopathic scoliosis and in asymmetric children - having a hump without deformity in spine - regardless of age.


CONCLUSIONS
Hump severity can be considered the balance needle when children with idiopathic scoliosis and asymmetric children are being treated and/or monitored. The humpmeter technique, coupled with Cobb angle measurement, can facilitate the clinical evaluation.
University of Padua, Padua, Italy - claudio.ferraro@unipd.it.
Claudio
C
Ferraro
Orthopedic Rehabilitation Unit, General Hospital, University of Padua Medical Center, Padua, Italy.
Andrea
A
Venturin
Physical and Rehabilitation Unit, Local Health Unit 13 of Mirano, Mirano, Venice, Italy.
Marco
M
Ferraro
Sandro Agostini Spinal Surgery Unit, General Hospital, University of Padua Medical Center, Padua, Italy.
Daniele
D
Fabris Monterumici
Orthopedic Rehabilitation Unit, General Hospital, University of Padua Medical Center, Padua, Italy.
Stefano
S
Masiero
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D055815:Young Adult