MRI-based morphological evidence of spinal cord tethering predicts curve progression in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
Abstract
Existing prognostic factors for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients have focused mainly on curve, maturity, and bone-related factors. Previous studies have shown significant associations between curve severity and morphological evidences of relative shorter spinal cord tethering in AIS, and increased prevalence of abnormal somatosensory cortical-evoked potentials and low-lying cerebellar tonsil in severe AIS. Earlier evidence suggests that there might be neural morphological predictors for curve progression. The purpose of this study was to identify any morphological predictors associated with cord tethering, as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), for curve progression in AIS patients. This is a prospective cohort study. A total of 81 female AIS subjects between 10 and 14 years were included, without surgical intervention during the follow-up period. Magnetic resonance imaging scans of hindbrain and whole spine and areal bone mineral density (BMD) at bilateral femoral necks were performed. All AIS patients were longitudinally followed up starting from initiation of bracing beyond skeletal maturity in 6-month intervals. Clinical and radiographic data were recorded at each clinic visit. Bone mineral density a...Continue Reading
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