Purpose:
The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between Cobb angle and bone density, as well as the effect of brace treatment, on bone mineral density (BMD) in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients.
Method:
Bone density in the lumbar spines of AIS patients was measured using the DEXA method. Patients aged from 8 to 18 with a Cobb angle of >10° were included in the study. The relationships between the Cobb angle and age, gender, height and weight, BMI, BMD, and Z-score were determined. Patients who had used a brace and those who had not were evaluated.
Results:
Significant correlations were observed when the BMD values of the entire lumbar region were compared to BMI, age, and weight. There was no correlation between the Cobb angle degrees and these parameters. When the Z-scores were compared with the Cobb angles, no correlation was observed in the values obtained from the spinal axis except for those obtained from the proximal thoracic and lumbar/thoracolumbar regions. There was no significant difference between the two genders. A meaningful difference was found in terms of age and BMD between the group of 15 patients that had used a brace and the group who did not, but no meaningful differences related to BMI, height, weight, Z-score, or Cobb angle were obtained.
Conclusion:
No apparent relationship was detected between BMD and Cobb angle. Bracing reduced bone density significantly in AIS patients. We are of the opinion that more comprehensive studies are needed on the bone mineral metabolisms of patients with AIS.
Keywords: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, bone mineral density, brace, Cobb angle