Background: Scoliosis is a complex three-dimensional deformity of the spine, which usually occurs during childhood and adolescence. Up to now, whole spine X-rays have been the therapeutic gold standard in the diagnosis and follow-up of scoliosis.
Aim: This review gives a brief overview of the history, technical background and possible fields of use for video-rasterstereography
Methods: Alternative measurement systems have been developed over the past few years for the treatment of scoliosis, because of the risk of radiation exposure of X-rays. The rasterstereographic system Formetric (Diers International GmbH, Schlagenbad) allows a radiation-free, three-dimensional analysis of the back surface and the spine.
Outlook: Even dynamic measurements can now be conducted with this rasterstereographic system, which will help to further understand and analyze the human spine.
Keywords: Posture; Spinal curvatures; Spine; Stereophotogrammetry; Three-dimensional imaging.