Question
A patient presented with complain of pain in the back, shoulders, and neck;respiratory problem and limited mobility of spine.For assessment,the following measurement was done in the X ray spine.Identify this method.
A. Vertebral rotation
B. Vertebral fracture
C. Vertebral flexion
D. Severity of curve
Show Answer
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Correct Answer » D
Explanation
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Ans: D. Severity of curve
Method shown in the image is Cobb’s method(the patient is presenting with severe degree of scoliosis;Cobb angle is 58 degree)
Cobb’s method
- Used to measure and quantify the magnitude of spinal deformities, especially in the case of scoliosis,to determine the degree of curvature of the spine
- The measurement is made by drawing a perpendicular to a line drawn across the superior endplate of the upper-end (most tilted) vertebra and the inferior endplate of the lower-end vertebra; the angle formed by the intersection of the two perpendicular lines is the Cobb angle, which is the measure of the magnitude of the curve.
- A scoliosis is defined as a lateral spinal curvature with a Cobb angle of 10° or more.
- Cobb angle of 10 to 15 degrees : do not require any treatment except for regular check-ups .
- Cobb angle is 20 to 40 degrees: back brace to keep the spine from developing more of a curve.
- Cobb angle is 40 or 50 degrees or more, surgery may be required to correct the curve known as spinal fusion to link or “fuse” the vertebrae together so that the spine can no longer continue to curve.
Scoliosis
- A condition in which a person’s spine has a “S”- or “C”-shaped curve.
Symptoms :
- Pain in back, shoulders, and neck and buttock .
- Respiratory and/or cardiac problems in severe cases
- Limited mobility secondary to pain or functional limitation in adults
