Determining the correlation between Cobb angle severity and bone mineral density in women with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the correlation between Cobb angle severity and varying bone mineral density (BMD) and measure the prevalence of low BMD in women with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) in KSA.

Methods: The sample included 54 women with AIS between 10 and 20 years of age. Data regarding Cobb angles and femoral and lumbar Z-scores according to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans performed between 2008 and 2018 were reviewed.

Results: Of the 54 patients recruited, 41 exhibited Cobb angles of 40-70° and 13 had Cobb angles >70°. The mean lumbar bone, right femur, and left femur BMDs were markedly higher in those with Cobb angles ≤70° compared with BMDs in those with Cobb angles >70°. Of the group with Cobb angles ≤70°, six (14.6%) and nine (22.0%) exhibited low BMD according to their lumbar and femoral Z-scores, respectively. Of the group with Cobb angles >70°, eight (61.5%) and nine (69.2%) exhibited low BMD according to their lumbar and femoral Z-scores, respectively.

Conclusions: Female AIS patients with greater higher Cobb angles exhibited a significantly higher frequency of low BMDs.

Keywords: Adolescent; Bone mineral density; DXA scan; Scoliosis; Spine.