Quantitative analysis of the 3-d morphology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with implications for surgical strategy

Objective AIS is a three-dimensional (3-D) spinal deformity, characterized by lateral deviation, axial rotation and apical lordosis of three individual curves. The 3-D morphology of the different areas of the scoliotic spine has not been quantified so far. This is the first study to accurately define the 3-D morphology of AIS and compare it to normal anatomy. This is important for understanding the true nature of the problem and for harmonious 3-D surgical correction to avoid complications such as thoracic hypokyphosis and junctional kyphosis.