Ki Hwang

Bio: Ki Hwang is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: SF-36 & Cobb angle. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 564 citations.

Adult scoliosis: prevalence, SF-36, and nutritional parameters in an elderly volunteer population

Abstract: Study design A prospective self-assessment analysis and evaluation of nutritional and radiographic parameters in a consecutive series of healthy adult volunteers older than 60 years. Objectives To ascertain the prevalence of adult scoliosis, assess radiographic parameters, and determine if there is a correlation with functional self-assessment in an aged volunteer population. Summary of background data There exists little data studying the prevalence of scoliosis in a volunteer aged population, and correlation between deformity and self-assessment parameters. Methods There were 75 subjects in the study. Inclusion criteria were: age > or =60 years, no known history of scoliosis, and no prior spine surgery. Each subject answered a RAND 36-Item Health Survey questionnaire, a full-length anteroposterior standing radiographic assessment of the spine was obtained, and nutritional parameters were analyzed from blood samples. For each subject, radiographic, laboratory, and clinical data were evaluated. The study population was divided into 3 groups based on frontal plane Cobb angulation of the spine. Comparison of the RAND 36-Item Health Surveys data among groups of the volunteer population and with United States population benchmark data (age 65-74 years) was undertaken using an unpaired t test. Any correlation between radiographic, laboratory, and self-assessment data were also investigated. Results The mean age of the patients in this study was 70.5 years (range 60-90). Mean Cobb angle was 17 degrees in the frontal plane. In the study group, 68% of subjects met the definition of scoliosis (Cobb angle >10 degrees). No significant correlation was noted among radiographic parameters and visual analog scale scores, albumin, lymphocytes, or transferrin levels in the study group as a whole. Prevalence of scoliosis was not significantly different between males and females (P > 0.03). The scoliosis prevalence rate of 68% found in this study reveals a rate significantly higher than reported in other studies. These findings most likely reflect the targeted selection of an elderly group. Although many patients with adult scoliosis have pain and dysfunction, there appears to be a large group (such as the volunteers in this study) that has no marked physical or social impairment. Conclusions Previous reports note a prevalence of adult scoliosis up to 32%. In this study, results indicate a scoliosis rate of 68% in a healthy adult population, with an average age of 70.5 years. This study found no significant correlations between adult scoliosis and visual analog scale scores or nutritional status in healthy, elderly volunteers.

Pelvic tilt and truncal inclination: two key radiographic parameters in the setting of adults with spinal deformity.

Abstract: STUDY DESIGN Prospective radiographic and clinical analysis. OBJECTIVE Investigate the relationship between spino-pelvic parameters and patient self reported outcomes on adult subjects with spinal deformities. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA It is becoming increasingly recognized that the study of spinal alignment should include pelvic position. While pelvic incidence determines lumbar lordosis, pelvic tilt (PT) is a positional parameter reflecting compensation to spinal deformity. Correlation between plumbline offset (sagittal vertical axis [SVA]) and Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) measures has been demonstrated, but such a study is lacking for PT. METHODS This prospective study was carried out on 125 adult patients suffering from spinal deformity (mean age: 57 years). Full-length free-standing radiographs including the spine and pelvis were available for all patients. HRQOL instruments included: Oswestry Disability Index, Short Form-12, Scoliosis Research Society. Correlation analysis between radiographic spinopelvic parameters and HRQOL measures was pursued. RESULTS Correlation analysis revealed no significance pertaining to coronal plane parameters. Significant sagittal plane correlations were identified. SVA and truncal inclination measured by T1 spinopelvic inclination (T1-SPI) (angle between T1-hip axis and vertical) correlated with: Scoliosis Research Society (appearance, activity, total score), Oswestry Disability Index, and Short Form-12 (physical component score). Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.42 < r < 0.55 (P < 0.0001). T1-SPI revealed greater correlation with HRQOL compared to SVA. PT showed correlation with HRQOL (0.28 < r < 0.42) and with SVA (r = 0.64, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION This study confirms that pelvic position measured via PT correlates with HRQOL in the setting of adult deformity. High values of PT express compensatory pelvic retroversion for sagittal spinal malalignment. This study also demonstrates significant T1-SPI correlation with HRQOL measures and outperforms SVA. This parameter carries the advantage of being an angular measurement which avoids the error inherent in measuring offsets in noncalibrated radiographs.

Scoliosis Research Society-Schwab adult spinal deformity classification: a validation study.

Abstract: Study design Inter- and intra-rater variability study. Objective On the basis of a Scoliosis Research Society effort, this study seeks to determine whether the new adult spinal deformity (ASD) classification system is clear and reliable. Summary of background data A classification of adult ASD can serve several purposes, including consistent characterization of a clinical entity, a basis for comparing different treatments, and recommended treatments. Although pediatric scoliosis classifications are well established, an ASD classification is still being developed. A previous classification developed by Schwab et al has met with clinical relevance but did not include pelvic parameters, which have shown substantial correlation with health-related quality of life measures in recent studies. Methods Initiated by the Scoliosis Research Society Adult Deformity Committee, this study revised a previously published classification to include pelvic parameters. Modifier cutoffs were determined using health-related quality of life analysis from a multicenter database of adult deformity patients. Nine readers graded 21 premarked cases twice each, approximately 1 week apart. Inter- and intra-rater variability and agreement were determined for curve type and each modifier separately. Fleiss' kappa was used for reliability measures, with values of 0.00 to 0.20 considered slight, 0.21 to 0.40 fair, 0.41 to 0.60 moderate, 0.61 to 0.80 substantial, and 0.81 to 1.00 almost perfect agreement. Results Inter-rater kappa for curve type was 0.80 and 0.87 for the 2 readings, respectively, with modifier kappas of 0.75 and 0.86, 0.97 and 0.98, and 0.96 and 0.96 for pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis (PI-LL), pelvic tilt (PT), and sagittal vertical axis (SVA), respectively. By the second reading, curve type was identified by all readers consistently in 66.7%, PI-LL in 71.4%, PT in 95.2%, and SVA in 90.5% of cases. Intra-rater kappa averaged 0.94 for curve type, 0.88 for PI-LL, 0.97 for PT, and 0.97 for SVA across all readers. Conclusion Data from this study show that there is excellent inter- and intra-rater reliability and inter-rater agreement for curve type and each modifier. The high degree of reliability demonstrates that applying the classification system is easy and consistent.

Radiographical spinopelvic parameters and disability in the setting of adult spinal deformity: a prospective multicenter analysis.

Abstract: Study design Prospective multicenter study evaluating operative (OP) versus nonoperative (NONOP) treatment for adult spinal deformity (ASD). Objective Evaluate correlations between spinopelvic parameters and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scores in patients with ASD. Summary of background data Sagittal spinal deformity is commonly defined by an increased sagittal vertical axis (SVA); however, SVA alone may underestimate the severity of the deformity. Spinopelvic parameters provide a more complete assessment of the sagittal plane but only limited data are available that correlate spinopelvic parameters with disability. METHODS.: Baseline demographic, radiographical, and HRQOL data were obtained for all patients enrolled in a multicenter consecutive database. Inclusion criteria were: age more than 18 years and radiographical diagnosis of ASD. Radiographical evaluation was conducted on the frontal and lateral planes and HRQOL questionnaires (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI], Scoliosis Research Society-22r and Short Form [SF]-12) were completed. Radiographical parameters demonstrating highest correlation with HRQOL values were evaluated to determine thresholds predictive of ODI more than 40. Results Four hundred ninety-two consecutive patients with ASD (mean age, 51.9 yr) were enrolled. Patients from the OP group (n = 178) were older (55 vs. 50.1 yr, P Conclusion ASD is a disabling condition. Prospective analysis of consecutively enrolled patients with ASD demonstrated that PT and PI-LL combined with SVA can predict patient disability and provide a guide for patient assessment for appropriate therapeutic decision making. Threshold values for severe disability (ODI > 40) included: PT 22° or more, SVA 47 mm or more, and PI - LL 11° or more.

Epidemiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Abstract: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is a common disease with an overall prevalence of 0.47–5.2 % in the current literature. The female to male ratio ranges from 1.5:1 to 3:1 and increases substantially with increasing age. In particular, the prevalence of curves with higher Cobb angles is substantially higher in girls than in boys: The female to male ratio rises from 1.4:1 in curves from 10° to 20° up to 7.2:1 in curves >40°. Curve pattern and prevalence of scoliosis is not only influenced by gender, but also by genetic factors and age of onset. These data obtained from school screening programs have to be interpreted with caution, since methods and cohorts of the different studies are not comparable as age groups of the cohorts and diagnostic criteria differ substantially. We do need data from studies with clear standards of diagnostic criteria and study protocols that are comparable to each other.

Health-Related Quality of Life

Abstract: This chapter provides an overview of the nature and status of quality of life evaluations of new medicines and other treatments in clinical trials. There are two major aspects of quality of life: The environmental aspect of quality of life and health-related quality of life. The environmental aspect of quality of life is often evaluated by organizations outside the medical field. The components they often consider for different locations or areas include (1) air quality, (2) water quality, (3) school quality, (4) population density, (5) cultural opportunities, (6) social/economic status, and (7) community spirit. On the other hand, health-related quality of life encompasses a number of distinct domains related to patients and their well-being. The individual components of quality of life are discussed in a few (three to six) broad domains (i.e., categories). In this chapter, four domains are described: (1) physical abilities/capabilities, (2) psychological status, (3 social status, and (4) economic status/employment. Although health-related quality of life relates mainly to individual patients and groups of patients, it also may be applied, as can environment-related quality of life, to individual communities, regions, or nations. In the remainder of this chapter the term quality of life refers only to health-related quality of life.