Aim: The Zebris spine-examination system and the associated measurement control program determine the spatial coordinates of processus spinosuses. Our processing program calculates kyphosis, lordosis and scoliosis values from the measurement data similarly to Cobb method. The aim of our research is to clarify whether the angle values determined from the X-ray results of young schoolchildren suffering from scoliosis by Cobb method differ from the values calculated from the spatial coordinates of processus spinosuses.

Methods: In the case of 25 children suffering from scoliosis two-way full spine X-rays in standing position on 31 occasions were taken, in accordance with the professional standards. On the basis of the photographs the thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis and scoliosis values were determined with Cobb method. While the children were in standing position, ultrasound-based spine examinations was performed with a WINSPINE measuring software developed specially for the Zebris CMS-HS measuring system. 

From the spatial coordinates of processus spinosuses the same angle values with our self-developed Excel processing program according to the principles of Cobb method were calculated. The degree of scoliosis was evaluated in the dorsal and in the lumbar section separately. The relationship between the two measurements was indicated by the Pearson correlation.

Results: From the comparison of the results of the two different measurement methods it was concluded that the correlation was strong between the values of the dorsal kyphosis and the lumbar lordosis (r_kyphosis=0.80 r_lordosis=0.94) while the correlation between the scoliosis values of the dorsal and lumbar sections was moderate (r_{thoracic scoliosis}= 0.67 r_{lumbar scoliosis}= 0.73).

Conclusion: The sagittal curvatures calculated with our self-developed software from the spatial coordinates of processus spinosuses which were determined with the CMS-HS ultrasound-based motion analysing system, show a strong correlation with the values calculated from X-rays using Cobb technique. The accurate assessment of the degree of scoliosis can only be done with an X-ray. Values defined with motion analysing measurements without exposure to radiation in the terms between X-rays performed regularly as specified in the professional recommendations can give satisfactory information about the possible trend of changes. 

DOI: 10.17489/biohun/2013/1/04