1. 3-D correction: In the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis, this term refers to the correction of the deformities in all three anatomical planes. This involves correction of the coronal plane deformities (i.e.: thoracic and lumbar curves), transverse plane deformities (i.e.: pelvic torsion and thoracic rotation) and sagittal plane deformities (i.e.: hypokyphosis). The objective is that the correction occurs simultaneously in three planes of the space, as a unique movement called torsion and not plane-by-plane correction.
2. 3-curve scoliosis: Presents as one long thoracic curve with the apical vertebra around T9 to T10 or a thoracolumbar curve with the apical vertebra around T11. This long thoracic or thoracolumbar curve has two small compensatory curves, one cephalic and the other caudal.
3. 4-curve scoliosis: Presents as two main curves, one in the thoracic region and the other in the lumbar or low thoracolumbar region. These double curves have two small compensatory curves, one cephalic and the other caudal.
4. Active scoliosis brace: Refers to a scoliosis brace that applies corrective forces to physically correct the scoliotic deformity. A true active scoliosis brace must have expansion rooms to allow space for the correction of the convexities and the involuntary correction via patient respiration.
5. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: The most common type of idiopathic scoliosis in which appears during adolescence; at or during the pubertal growth spurt and before maturity.
6. Anteversion: An abnormal position of the hemi-pelvis that is rotated and torsioned anteriorly therefore the anterior superior iliac spine is more prominent than usual. The contralateral hemi-pelvis would be in retroversion.
7. Apical vertebra: The most rotated vertebra in a curve; the most deviated vertebra from the vertical axis of the patient.
8. Brace window: A brace window could be incorporated in most types of thermoplastic scoliosis braces. This window is an opening cut out of the plastic. Its location is usually placed on the contralateral side to the convex aspect of the coronal plane curve.
9. C1 to C7: Refers to the 1st to 7th vertebras of the cervical region. T1 to T12: Refers to the 1st to 12th vertebras of the thoracic region. L1 to L5: Refers to the 1st to 5th vertebras of the lumbar region. S1: Refers to the 1st sacral vertebra.
10. Caudal (inferior): Refers to below or towards the tail in relation to the trunk.
11. Central nervous system (CNS): The CNS is the control centre for the entire nervous system and consists of the brain and spinal cord.
Cephalic (superior): Refers to above or towards the head in relation to the trunk.
12. Charleston Bending brace: This is a custom-made thermoplastic thoracolumbosacral orthosis (TLSO) that is characterised by having a bent or curved shape and is used for part-time or night treatment of idiopathic scoliosis.
13. Chêneau brace number system: A number system is used in Chêneau brace treatment to facilitate the identification of areas and zones on the patient, positive cast and brace.
14. Cheneau brace: A thermoplastic brace modelled on a hyper-corrected positive plaster cast of the patient. It should follow the general correction principle as was written by Dubousset: “ detorsion and sagittal plane normalisation, which would effect correction of the coronal and transversal planes, resulting in some elongation of the spine, without any significant distraction force”.
15. Chêneau Toulouse-Munster (C.T.M) brace: Dr. Chêneau, inspired by Abbot, fabricated the original Chêneau brace in 1979; this brace was also called the C.T.M. (Chêneau Toulouse-Munster) brace after the French and German cities.
16. Classification of King: The classification of King distinguishes five single thoracic or combined scoliotic curve types (numbered King type I through King type V).
17. Cobb angle: This is the measurement of a scoliotic curve of the vertebral column in the coronal plane, which is measured on the coronal plane X-ray.
18. Compensatory curve: A curve, which can be structural or non-structural, above or below a major curve that tends to maintain normal body alignment. A compensatory curve is synonymous with the secondary curve.
19. Convex rib hump: Refers to thoracic vertebral rotation in which the ribs on the convex side of the coronal plane curve produce a hump or gibbus.
20. Coronal plane: A plane passing through the body from top to bottom and lying at right angles to the sagittal plane is the coronal plane. This divides the body into anterior and posterior parts.
21. Corrective pads: Some scoliosis braces have corrective Pelite pads, which are used for the correction of the curves in the coronal and transversal planes and therefore are placed on the convex side of the curve.
22. CTLSO: A cervicothoracolumbosacral orthosis.
23. Derotate: Correction of the rotational aspect of the vertebral column.
24 Detorsion: Correction of the torsional aspect of the vertebral column.
25. Discs degeneration: Refers to the degeneration of the intervertebral discs in the vertebral column.
26. Dorsal (posterior): Refers to the rear or behind.
27. Dynamic scoliosis brace: A scoliosis brace that dynamically changes the transmitted loads to the curves, simultaneously with the scoliosis correction. This could be achieved by elastic pads or bands, as applied in the Spine Cor system.
28. Electromyography (EMG): The evaluation of electrical activity in resting and contracting muscles.
29. End vertebra (upper and lower): Upper, the most cephalic vertebra of a curve, whose superior surface tilts maximally toward the concavity of the curve. Lower, the most caudal vertebra whose inferior surface tilts maximally toward the concavity of the curve.
30. Expansion room: The scoliosis brace and positive plaster cast have expansion room (also called chamber, space, area and zone) built in to provide room or space for the correction of the scoliotic deformity. Expansion rooms on the positive cast are made by adding plaster in the required area therefore producing a space when the negative brace is fabricated. Expansion rooms are produced in the scoliosis brace by the aforementioned way and/or by physically cutting out the brace, which provides a window for the expansion of the deformity.
31. Flat back effect: This effect is produced by the majority of TLSO braces, in which the design of the brace produces flat back or hypokyphosis.
32. Flat back: Refers to the abnormal physical appearance “flat” of the back surface in the sagittal plane of the thoracic region, also called hypokyphosis.
33. Formetric System: Provides a method to measure the back surface of the subjects’ trunk. The Formetric system reconstructs and automatically analyses back shape, based on the video-stereograph reticular which projects lines over the patients´ back.
34. Geometrical or helicoidal torsion: Refers to the twisting of the spine, which is considered as a line in space. Thevertebral column, moved by deforming forces, changes its physiological shape in the coronal, transversal and sagittal planes, adopting extremely diverse anatomoradiological patterns.
35. Global coronal plane: Frontal plane in the global coordinate system.
36. Hidden King type IV and hidden King type V: A significant number of scolioses patterns that have the criteria to be diagnosed as a King type III, are actually King type IV patterns or King type V patterns or both. As a result of the difficultly in the diagnosis of the classification of the curve pattern, they are referred to as hidden King type IV or hidden King type V.
37. Hyper-corrected positive-cast: Refers to the modified positive cast of a Chêneau brace in which aggressively rectified pressure points and expansion rooms can be clearly observed.
38. Hyperkyphosis: A sagittal alignment of the thoracic spine in which there is more than the normal amount of kyphosis (a kyphos).
39. Hypokyphosis: A sagittal alignment of the thoracic spine in which there is less than the normal amount of kyphosis, but it is not so severe to be truly lordotic.
Idiopathic scoliosis: A structural spinal curvature of the coronal plane in an otherwise healthy child, for which no cause is established.
40. Iliac rotation: Refers to a situation of relative retroversion of the convex side of the lumbar curve and anteversion of the concave lumbar side.
41. Infantile idiopathic scoliosis: Idiopathic scoliosis in which has its onset before three years of age.
42. Intervertebral torsion: Torsion that occurs in the intervertebral disc, which produces a change in the orientation of the transversal plane between two vertebras of the spine.
43. Intrapelvic rotation: Refers to a true bone deformity, which is present in the pelvis.
Juvenile idiopathic scoliosis: Idiopathic scoliosis appearing between the ages of three and the beginning of adolescence (onset of puberty).
44. Kyphosis: This term is used to describe the normal physiological sagittal plane (posterior-arch) of the thoracic and sacral regions of the vertebral column. The normal range of kyphosis in children is between 20 to 40 degrees on sagittal plane X-ray evaluation.
45. Large diameter: This refers to the larger than normal diameter of the thorax in the transverse plane; which is caused by the hypokyphosis of the sagittal plane.
Lateral deviation: This topography value is the measurement of the coronal plane deformity using the Formetric system.
46. Lateral Shift: This term is used in the treatment of scoliosis when using the Charleston Bending brace. It refers to a 3-point pressure which is applied to the apex of the major curve. The stabilising and unbending forces work with the lateral shift.
47. Lateral: Refers to away from the median plane or midline.
48. Lordosis: This term is used to describe the normal physiological sagittal plane (anterior-arch) of the cervical and lumbar regions of the vertebral column. Scoliosis braces endeavour to obtain normal physiological lordosis by incorporating 20 to 25 degrees of lumbar lordosis into the brace.
49. LSO (Boston) brace: A thermoplastic scoliosis brace used to treat the coronal plane curve and transversal rotation of the lumbar and sacral regions of the vertebral column. This brace is made from a prefabricated module or made-to-measure cast.
50. LSO: A lumbosacral orthosis.
51. Lumbar plate: This is a corrective plate used in scoliosis braces (i.e. Lyon brace), which is adapted to the convex side of the lumbar curve in the coronal plane.
Lumbosacral fossas: An anatomical reference that is characterised by two dimples on the posterior side of the pelvis and are located at the posterior superior iliac spines.
52. Made-to-measure: These are custom-made braces that are fabricated from a positive cast of the patients’ trunk. Subsequently the negative cast is rectified to the requirements of the brace type.
53. Major curve: Term used to designate the largest structural curve.
54. Mechanical torsion: Refers to the torsional deformity of the vertebral column, which the spinal column is considered as a plastic structure, this includes an intravertebral torsion and an intervertebral torsion.
55. Medial: Refers to towards the median plane or midline.
56. Milwaukee brace: A CTLSO scoliosis brace used to treat the coronal plane curve of the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral regions of the vertebral column. It consists of a contoured pelvic girdle attached by three uprights to an occipital pad and throat mould of the chin piece.
57. Minor curve: Term used to refer to the smallest curve, which is always more flexible than the major curve.
58. Multifactorial: A condition that is caused by multiple factors.
59. Non-progressive curve or non-progressive scoliosis: A scoliotic curve, in which the Cobb angle does not increase 5 degrees or more during a six-month period.
60. Non-structural curve: A curve that has no structural component and that corrects or overcorrects on recumbent side-bending roentgenograms. A non-structural curve has normal flexibility.
61. Oval oblique thorax: In a transverse section of the thorax in which hypokyphosis is presented, the thorax has an oval shape that is oblique to the transverse plane. Therefore the diameter of the thorax is larger than normal due to the hypokyphosis of the sagittal plane.
62. Paraspinal zone: This refers to the area on the positive cast in which a vertical axis is drawn caudally from the centre of the pelvis, with the lumbosacral fossas as the anatomical reference. This term has been introduced by Rigo in order to give clear rules in the positive cast modification.
63. Passive correction brace: A scoliosis brace that does not have space or windows for active correction of the spine. Correction is passive with the spine being pushed into the corrected position and then being held there by the tight fitting brace without the need for active muscular effort.
64. Pedriolle method: Pedriolle method of measurement of vertebral rotation using a torsiometer which is superimposed on the vertebra. The measurement is made from the pedicle situated at the convexity of the apical vertebra under consideration.
65. Pelvic obliquity: Deviation of the pelvis from the horizontal in the coronal plane. Fixed pelvic obliquities can be attributable to contractures either above or below the pelvis.
66. Pelvic section: This is the section of a scoliosis brace that covers the pelvis and plays an important roll in the suspension on the brace via the pelvic grip of the waist.
67. Postural equilibrium dysfunction: A disorder that produces an imbalance of posture.
68. Prefabricated module: These are prefabricated braces (i.e.: Boston brace system) that come in various sizes, which are fit and adapted to the patient for treatment of scoliosis.
69. Pressure points: The scoliosis brace and positive plaster cast have pressure points built-in to force the scoliotic deformity in a way that corrects the deformity by a physical force. Pressure points or areas on a positive cast are made by taking off plaster in the required area therefore producing pressure when the negative brace is fabricated. Pressure points are produced via the scoliosis brace by the aforementioned way or by Pelite pads.
70. Primary curve: This is the first or earliest of several curves to appear, if identifiable. Also, called a main and major curve.
71. Progressive curve or progressive scoliosis: A scoliotic curve, in which the Cobb angle increases 5 degrees or more during a six-month period. Progression is also considered to be a sustained increase in the Cobb angle of at least 10 degrees.
72. Re-kyphosis: Correction of the hypokyphosis by returning the vertebral column in the thoracic region the normal physiological kyphosis of the sagittal plane.
73. Retroversion: An abnormal position of the hemi-pelvis, which is rotated and torsioned posteriorly therefore the anterior superior iliac spine is less prominent than usual. The contralateral hemi-pelvis would be in anteversion.
74. Rigo Model: The Chêneau brace (Rigo Model) refers to the treatment of scoliosis using the Chêneau brace and the classification of King to prescribe the brace model and its characteristics for each individual case.
75. RSC brace: Rigo of Barcelona has applied the original Cheneau brace to his new classification of scoliosis.
76. Risser sign: Patient maturity is measured by the ossification of the iliac epiphysis. Ossification normally starts at the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and progresses posteriorly to the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS). Risser divided the excursion into four quarters, Risser sign 1 through 4, with Risser sign 5 once complete ossification has occurred and fusion to the iliac crest takes place.
77. Rotation: This topography value is determined by measurement of surface rotation. The surface rotation is measured by the normal surface angle at the level of the spinous processes.
78. Sagittal normalisation: The correction of the hypokyphosis in thoracic region of the vertebral column. Sagittal normalisation is achieved by obtaining a normal physiological kyphotic curve in the thoracic region.
79. Sagittal plane: Passing through the body from front to back and dividing it into two symmetrical right and left halves. Any plane parallel to this is known as a sagittal plane.
80. Stabilising force: This term is used in the treatment of scoliosis when using the Charleston Bending brace. It refers to a 3-point pressure which is applied to the hemipelvis or lower lumbar region on the opposite side to the lateral shift.
81. Structural curve: A segment of the spine with a lateral curvature that lacks normal flexibility. Radiographically, it is identified by the complete lack of a curve on a supine film or by the failure to demonstrate complete segmental mobility on supine side-bending films.
82. Thoracic plate: This is a corrective plate used in scoliosis braces (i.e. Lyon brace),
which is adapted to the convex side of the thoracic curve in the coronal plane.
83. Three-dimensional (3D): This term when used in scoliosis, refers to the three anatomical planes, coronal, sagittal and transversal planes.
84. Three-point pressure system: These are 3 forces applied to a curve or deformity for correction. This is achieved by one force applied in the centre of the convex side of a curve, with two counter forces applied to the each end of the contralateral side of the curve.
85. TLSO (Boston) brace: A thermoplastic scoliosis brace used to treat the coronal plane curve and transversal rotation of the thoracic, lumbar and sacral regions of the vertebral column. This brace is made from a prefabricated module or it is made-to-measure.
86. TLSO: A thoracolumbosacral orthosis.
87. Topography value: The measurement of the patients´ back surface with the Formetric system provides the three following topography values: lateral deviation, rotation and trunk length.
88. Torsion angle: This is the measurement of the scoliotic curve rotation of the vertebral column in the transversal plane, which is measured on the coronal plane X-ray using the Pedriolle’s torsiometer.
89. Transversal deformity: Scoliosis often produces transversal deformities in which the shoulders and greater trochanters are deviated away from the midline of the body in the coronal plane, therefore producing an unbalanced coronal plane. This deformity is corrected by aligning the midpoint of the occiput over the sacrum in the same vertical plane as the shoulders are relative to the hips.
90. Transverse plane: A plane passing through the body at right angles to both the sagittal and coronal planes dividing it into upper and lower parts is known as the transverse plane.
91. Trunk length: This topography value is the measurement of the subjects’ trunk length. The trunk length is determined by measuring the distance from the posterior iliac fossa to the 7th cervical vertebra.
92. Unbalanced coronal plane: This is produced by a transversal deformity in which the trunk and shoulders are deviated away from the midline of the pelvis.
93. Ventral (anterior): Refers to the front or in front.
94. Unbending force: This term is used in the treatment of scoliosis when using the Charleston Bending brace. It refers to a 3-point pressure which is applied to the axillar region on the opposite side to the lateral shift.
95. Viscoelastic linkages: Refers to the vertebra as individual links, which are connected by viscoelastic materials such as intervertebral discs and ligaments.
96. Wilmington brace: This is a custom-made underarm jacket or brace (LSO) fabricated in thermoplastic, used for part-time or night treatment of idiopathic scoliosis.