[Functional rasterstereographic images. A new method for biomechanical analysis of skeletal geometry]

The rasterstereographic-dynamic analysis of posture in adolescents using a modified Matthiass test

The Matthiass posture test is a clinical test to detect posture changes in children and adolescents. Aim of this study was to objectify this test using a dynamic rasterstereographic measuring device. We examined 31 healthy athletes during a modified Matthiass test with a dynamic rasterstereographic measuring system. Hereby the trunk inclination, kyphosis and lordosis angle were measured. The trunk inclination decreased by about 50% of the basic value just by raising the arms. Additional weight loads of only 5% body weight (bw) resulted in significant changes of the posture (lordosis and kyphosis angle) during this test. With this rasterstereographic measuring device it seems to be possible to determine spinal posture changes under dynamic conditions. The results suggest that additional weights of 5% bw during the Matthias-test are enough to create significant deviations in posture parameters, even in healthy subjects.

Raster stereography versus radiography in the long-term follow-up of idiopathic scoliosis

STUDY DESIGN

Raster-stereographic and radiographic evaluation of idiopathic scoliosis without braces in a retrospective longitudinal long-term follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the reliability and accuracy of raster stereography in comparison with radiography as the gold standard, using a longitudinal long-term study design in idiopathic scoliosis, to reduce the number of radiographs required during follow-up in scoliosis patients.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

It has been confirmed that raster stereography produces reliable data in patients with conservatively and surgically treated idiopathic scoliosis, up to a Cobb angle of 80 degrees. This means that the method can be used to replace radiography during the follow-up in these patients. However, no data have yet been published on the use of raster stereography in a longitudinal setting during a long-term follow-up period in comparison with radiography as the gold standard.

METHODS

Raster stereographs and digitized anterior-posterior radiographs of 16 patients with idiopathic scoliosis were studied retrospectively in a longitudinal study design, with a mean follow-up period of 8 years (range 3 to 10 y). Lateral vertebral deviation and vertebral rotation were measured between C7 and L4 using raster stereography and radiography, compared with Cobb angles, and correlated.

RESULTS

During the follow-up period, the Cobb angle increased on average by 13 degrees. The progression of lateral vertebral deviation measured using both techniques, and that of vertebral rotation measured with radiography, was greater than that of the Cobb angle, whereas that of raster-stereographic vertebral rotation was lower. However, there was an excellent correlation between the raster-stereographic and radiographic progression of these parameters (R2 >or=0.5). The mean difference between raster stereographs and radiographs was 3.21 mm for lateral vertebral deviation and 2.45 degrees for vertebral rotation.

CONCLUSIONS

Using the parameters of lateral vertebral deviation and vertebral rotation, raster stereography accurately reflects the radiographically measured progression of idiopathic scoliosis during the long-term follow-up, but these parameters are not directly comparable with the Cobb angle. In the follow-up of scoliosis patients, the authors would recommend a raster-stereographic examination every 3 to 6 months and a radiographic examination every 12 to 18 months only, provided that raster stereography does not show rapid deterioration of the scoliosis. The patient's radiation exposure can be reduced using this approach.

[Peripheral pain syndrome]

The bases for peripheral pain syndromes of the musculoskeletal system, which are common and often difficult to treat, involve complex neurophysiologic changes. They are generally very troublesome for the patient and result in long-term disability and absence from work and sport activities. As all levels of the pain perception system are involved, evaluation has to take place at the peripheral, spinal and central nervous system levels. Treatment requires a concept including all affected structures. If this is not the case, an inefficient series of monotherapies often results, which increases the risk of pain chronification in these patients similar to the situation found for low back pain. The biomechanical-functional aspect is of great importance for the lower extremities. This point of view, which is familiar to the orthopedist, reveals a clear connection between pain and disturbed function, permitting a clear concept for a successful therapy.

[The influence of proprioceptive insoles (Bourdiol) on the sagittal curvature and inclination of the trunk]

Proprioceptive insoles rely on the concept of Réné-Jaques Bourdiol, a French neurologist. The aim is to modulate plantar surface sensibility and to influence posture and statics of patients: it is hypothesized that the effect of modified afferent sensory input through proprioceptive stimulation of terminal muscle chains will have either a relaxing or stimulating effect on the whole body, which may be realized by affecting the posture. Small pads with a thickness of typically 1-3 mm are embedded into the insole to provide a specific stimulation. In fitting the insoles selectively to the individual patient the effect of the insoles on the trunk posture is taken as a feedback. This study investigates the influence of proprioceptive insoles on the sagittal curve in 20 selected patients. The protocol used a repeated measures research design. The measures of the sagittal curve were obtained using raster stereography. The four different conditions were: (1) barefoot, (2) convenient shoes without the insoles, (3) the same shoes with a placebo insole, and (4) the same shoes with neurological insoles. Evaluation of raster stereographs provided the kyphotic angle between T4 and T12 and lordotic angle between T12 and S1. Statistical evaluation was performed with the t-test for paired measurements. No significant differences were found in the sagittal profile. Only trunk inclination in normal posture was found to yield a significant difference (0.38 degrees) between placebo and neurological insoles. However, no clear statement on the efficiency of neurological insoles can be made.

Spine biomechanics

Current trends in spine research are reviewed in order to suggest future opportunities for biomechanics. Recent studies show that psychosocial factors influence back pain behaviour but are not important causes of pain itself. Severe back pain most often arises from intervertebral discs, apophyseal joints and sacroiliac joints, and physical disruption of these structures is strongly but variably linked to pain. Typical forms of structural disruption can be reproduced by severe mechanical loading in-vitro, with genetic and age-related weakening sometimes leading to injury under moderate loading. Biomechanics can be used to quantify spinal loading and movements, to analyse load distributions and injury mechanisms, and to develop therapeutic interventions. The authors suggest that techniques for quantifying spinal loading should be capable of measurement "in the field" so that they can be used in epidemiological surveys and ergonomic interventions. Great accuracy is not required for this task, because injury risk depends on tissue weakness as much as peak loading. Biomechanical tissue testing and finite-element modelling should complement each other, with experiments establishing proof of concept, and models supplying detail and optimising designs. Suggested priority areas for future research include: understanding interactions between intervertebral discs and adjacent vertebrae; developing prosthetic and tissue-engineered discs; and quantifying spinal function during rehabilitation. "Mechanobiology" has perhaps the greatest future potential, because spinal degeneration and healing are both mediated by the activity of cells which are acutely sensitive to their local mechanical environment. Precise characterisation and manipulation of this environment will be a major challenge for spine biomechanics.