Spine3d: Evaluation of Deformity in Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Case Series

Idiopathic scoliosis is a complex orthopedic condition marked by a lateral spinal curvature, typically affecting children and adolescents. The Cobb angle is a key metric for evaluating scoliosis severity through X-rays, but its measurement can suffer from variability due to imaging quality, positioning and physician experience, with an acceptable range of variation up to 5 degrees. LiDAR technology offers advantages over traditional methods, as it eliminates ionizing radiation and provides precise three-dimensional representations of the body. This study aims to assess the accuracy and reproducibility of Spine3D, a LiDAR-based tool, in measuring the Cobb angle in idiopathic scoliosis patients. This study, conducted at Sant’Andrea University Hospital in Rome from September 2022 to September 2024, focused on adolescents (ages 10-18) with idiopathic scoliosis, excluding those with secondary curves or relevant health issues. Informed consent was obtained and body metrics were recorded. The Spine3D system, utilizing infrared technology for non-invasive spine assessment, measured alignment and generated detailed reports on parameters such as the Cobb angle and spinal curvature. Out of 29 participants, 26 were analyzed, showing an average Cobb angle of 29.9 degrees. Results indicated measurements of shoulder asymmetry, pelvic tilt, kyphotic and lordotic angles, with no significant statistical variations observed. The measurement of the Cobb angle using Spine3D has demonstrated excellent reliability and efficiency. It is therefore suggested to promote the use of this method in clinical practice, alongside radiographic monitoring. Further studies will be needed to evaluate the spinal curvatures measured using Spine3D and traditional radiology.