Digital skeletal age and histological evaluation for residual spine growth potential in idiopathic scoliosis / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To ascertain the correlation between histological grades (HGs) of vertebral growth plates and Risser grades in idiopathic scoliosis (IS) patients; to identify whether digital skeletal age (DSA) is a reliable indicator for accurate evaluation of the spinal residual growth potential.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty eight Chinese female patients were available for this study. Superior and inferior growth plates were obtained at each level when anterior approach surgeries were performed. Histological examinations were conducted after the specimens were processed. The patients were evaluated by DSA stages in this study. Correlations between histological grades, menarchal status, and chronological age were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a negative correlation between the following: HGs and DSA stages in 28 cases (r = -0.541, P = 0.003), and HGs and menarchal status in patients in DSA stage III (r = -0.591, P = 0.006). Statistical significance of growth activity of growth plates was found between patients in DSA-stage II and those in DSA-stage III (P = 0.014).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>DSA may be a reliable indicator for predicting the spinal residual growth potential in IS patients, but it should be correlated with menarchal status and chronological ages.</p>

The value of parameters in predicting the growth peak height velocity of the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis girls: a histomorphological study on iliac crest cartilage / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the value of some parameters in predicting of growth peak height velocity (PHV) of the girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) by histomorphological studying on iliac crest cartilage.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Iliac crest cartilages were harvested during posterior surgery from girls with AIS. The samples were then paraffin embedded after stored in formalin solid over 24 hours, sectioned vertical to the calcification at the thickness of 5 microm, and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin. The histological grading of the proliferating activity of it was observed under the microscope. Parameters included chronologic age, menarche status, wrist skeletal age, digital skeletal age, elbow epiphysis and Risser sign were recorded. The histological grading data were compared with these parameters in terms of their accuracy in the prediction of PHV of the scoliosis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The specimens of 53 AIS patients with an average age 14.0 years were stained successfully. The proliferating activity of the iliac crest cartilage decreased when the AIS girl was over 13.0 years of chronologic age, 14.0 years of wrist skeletal age, post menarche or Risser sign was no less than grade 3.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>All the parameters evaluated can be used to show the end of PHV. Three parameters, including 11 years old of chronologic age, 12 years of the wrist skeletal age, unfusion of the elbow epiphysis and the thelarche, can be used in predicting the beginning of PHV.</p>

Computerized tomographic study about the effect of neurocentral cartilage on the etio-pathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analysis the potential effect of neurocentral cartilage (NCC) on the etiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty patients with AIS (Group A) and 30 control subject with normal spine (Group B) were included in this study. The age is matched. Both groups were divided into two subgroups according to the age and each subgroup has 15 patients. The younger patients were put into subgroup A1, B1 and the older patients put into subgroup A2, B2. Computed tomography (CT) scanning was carried and the pedicle length, the angle composed by pedicle and vertebral midline (alpha) and the angle composed by NCC and vertebral midline (beta) at periapical vertebrae (T7-T10) were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The pedicle length showed no significant difference between group A and group B or between subgroup A1 and A2 or between B1 and B2. In each subgroup, no significant difference was found in alpha angle or beta angle between left side and right side (concave side and convex side).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>No significant pedicle growth has been found during pubertal both in AIS and normal patients. Few affect of neurocentral cartilage on the etiology of AIS has been found, which might because of low growth activity of NCC during puberty.</p>