CLASSIFICATION OF SAGITTAL PLANE POSTURE DISORDERS AS EVIDENCED BY COMPUTER OPTICAL TOPOGRAPHY

Abstract

Objective. To study possible combinations of severity of physiological spinal curvatures (lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis) evidenced by computer optical topography (COMOT), and to elaborate specified classification of sagittal plane posture disorders based on statistically valid topographic norms and criteria.

Material and Methods. Results of the COMOT screening of children and adolescents in six cities formed a clinical database including more than 33,000 patients approximately evenly distributed through ages: ranged from 4.5 to 17.5 years.

Results. A new classification of sagittal plane posture disorders was elaborated based on the COMOT method findings. This classification differentiates posture disorders on manifestation of deviations into mild, moderate, and marked considering all possible relations of severity of physiological curvatures. It contains 21 posture types: a harmonic, 8 types of mild disorders, 7 types of moderate disorders, and 5 types of marked disorders.

Conclusion. In 2011, the proposed classification of sagittal plane posture disorders was introduced into the TODP software system (WTOPO version 3.8-11), that would allow for more accurate differentiation of sagittal plane posture based on topography survey results. This is important for both clinical practice and scientific research.