Three-dimensional analysis of right thoracic idiopathic scoliosis.

Three-dimensional spinal analysis was performed on thirty-one female patients with untreated right thoracic idiopathic scoliosis to determine the relationship between the degree of scoliosis and the degree of kyphosis, maximal curvature, and apical vertebral displacement. The degree of scoliosis did not correlate with the degree of thoracic kyphosis. Six patients had thoracic kyphosis over 50 degrees, 19 patients had a kyphosis between 20-50 degrees, and the last six patients had a thoracic kyphosis less than 20 degrees. The apex of the scoliosis was at or below the apex of the thoracic kyphosis in all patients except one. The degree of displacement of the apical vertebrae had a positive correlation (r = 0.732) with the degree of scoliosis. The maximal curvature of the spine was correlated (r = 0.613) with the degree of scoliosis.