Journal of Clinical Medicine
The Significance of Lower Limb Asymmetry in the Assessment of Spinal Deformities in Individuals with Scoliotic Posture and Scoliosis
By Anna Puchalska-Sarna, Katarzyna Walicka-Cupryś, Jadwiga Trzeciak and 5 others.
Abstract
Background
Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) and scoliotic posture present complex three-dimensional interactions between pelvic obliquity and spinal alignment. Leg length discrepancy (LLD) is frequently observed in individuals presenting with scoliotic posture and is associated with pelvic obliquity and compensatory posture. This study evaluated the relationship between lower limb asymmetry and spinal curvature, incorporating age-restricted and curve-severity sensitivity analyses.
Methods
Out of 65 individuals screened for scoliotic posture, 38 participants were included in the final analysis (mean age 15.3 years; 19 with structural scoliosis [Cobb ≥ 10°] and 19 with non-structural postural asymmetry). Clinical evaluation included the angle of trunk rotation (ATR) using Bunnell’s scoliometer, the long-sitting test (Derbolovsky test), the standing flexion test, and the Gillet test. Radiological assessment (X-ray) was used to measure the Cobb angle, vertebral rotation (Nash–Moe scale), and LLD. Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman’s rank correlation and comparative tests (Student’s t-test, Welch’s test, and Mann–Whitney U test). Sensitivity analyses were conducted for pediatric participants aged < 18 years (n = 35) and structural scoliosis cases (Cobb ≥ 10°, n = 19) Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple testing (padj).