A comparison of the somatometric measurements of adolescent males with and without idiopathic scoliosis.

ABSTRACT

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study comparing the somatometric measurements of young males with normal spinal curves and with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) with respect to the severity of AIS. OBJECTIVE: To assess the somatometric measurements of young males with normal spinal curves and with AIS using the conscription data. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA The progression of AIS is closely correlated with longitudinal growth during puberty. Although abnormal growth in female AIS patients has been well investigated, the growth of male AIS patients has not been well reported. METHODS: During Korean conscription, 409 adolescent males with a normal spinal curvature and 420 adolescent males with AIS were enrolled. Those with AIS were grouped according to the severity of scoliosis using Cobb angles, according to the guidelines issued by the Korean military directorate. Group somatometric measurements, such as body height, corrected body height (corrected using Bjure's equation), body weight, and body mass index (BMI) were compared. RESULTS: Uncorrected heights were insignificantly different (P=0.234), but corrected heights, body weights, and BMIs were all significantly different between the normal and all AIS groups (P<0.001) (in AIS, corrected height was greater and body weight and BMIs corrected or uncorrected for height were lower). Cobb angles were not related to corrected body height or BMI, but was related to weight. Body weight was significantly less in the severe AIS group (Cobb angle >40 degrees) than in the mild or moderate AIS group (P<0.042). CONCLUSIONS: In Korean male AIS patients, significantly different somatometric results were observed namely, a greater corrected height and a lower body weight and BMIs corrected or uncorrected for height. Furthermore, body weight was significantly lower in the severe group than in the moderate group. This study shows that abnormal growth is observed in male AIS patients and that body weight is closely correlated with AIS severity.