An MRI-based technique to assess progressive changes in 3D vertebral morphometry in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

While prior studies have assessed vertebral deformity in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) morphometrically using 2D imaging or 3D reconstructions, few have assessed the progressive change in 3D deformity longitudinally with increasing AIS curvature. This study proposes a technique to analyse 3D geometry for the apical vertebral body in the AIS spine, in order to assess growth and deformity progression quantitatively. The technique demonstrated in this study, showed the asymmetric changes in vertebral morphometry, permitting 3D AIS vertebral growth/deformity progression to be assessed. The low measurement variability compared to MRI voxel size suggested the technique could consistently reconstruct reliable vertebral anatomy. Once applied to a larger sequential series of AIS scans, linear measurements for vertebral dimensions will provide the basis for a new analytical model describing vertebral deformity progression.