Thoracic cage volume and dimension assessment by optoelectronic molding in normal children and adolescents during growth.

Purpose: The thoracic spine, the chondral and osseous ribs, and the sternum together make up the thoracic cage. These elements are strictly correlated, although their growth is not synchronous. The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive data set of thoracic dimensions and non-invasive volumetric assessment in a large cohort of males and females from early childhood to young adult age.

Three-dimensional and volumetric thoracic growth in children with moderate idiopathic scoliosis compared with normal.

We aimed to measure thoracic dimensions and volume in relation to growth and verify the influence of scoliosis on thoracic growth. A reference group of 294 healthy volunteers was compared with a group of 557 patients with idiopathic scoliosis ranging in age from 3 to 25 years. The optical ORTEN system for trunk surface data acquisition was used to calculate thoracic volume, perimeter, anterior-posterior and transversal diameters, T1-T12 length, and sternal length.

Influence of idiopathic scoliosis on three-dimensional thoracic growth.

Study Design: Prospective clinical study of three-dimensional thoracic growth in children with idiopathic scoliosis and a reference group.

Objective: To measure thoracic dimensions and volume in relation to growth and to verify the influence of scoliosis.

Summary Of Background Data: Scoliosis represents a three-dimensional spinal deformity leading to thoracic deformity.