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Abstract from the SRS 2004 Annual Meeting
Functional bracing as a method for treating Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
is most effective when undertaken during the ascending part of an adolescent’s
peak growth velocity curve. To date there have been no prospective determinants
of growth velocity.
Urinary N-Telopeptide is a collagen degradation product currently used as a
marker of bone turnover in the treatment of Osteoporosis. It was hypothesized
that Adolescent Growth Rates would be related to Urinary NTelopeptide levels.
No relationship between Growth Rate and Urinary N-Telopeptide had previously
been determined.
A cohort of fifty normal adolescent girls aged from 10-13 was examined. Serial
anatomical measurements of standing height, sitting height, arm span, hand length
and foot length were performed every 3 months for 2 years. At each measurement
a sample of urine was analyzed for N-Telopeptide/Creatinine ratio. From theses
measurements Growth Rate was calculated and a relationship with Urinary N-Telopeptide
sought.
Significant relationships were found between Urinary N-Telopeptide and the
growth rates measured by Standing Height (p<0 .0001), Sitting Height (p="0.00056)" and Arm Span (p<0.0001). The linear relationships observed allow prediction of growth velocity based on urinary N-Telopeptide.
The prospective knowledge of a patient’s growth velocity will facilitate the
rational use of bracing as a means for controlling curve progression in the
Idiopathic Adolescent Scoliotic.
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