What Does The Cobb Angle Measure?

Cobb angle is a measurement of the degree of side-to-side spinal curvature, which is a deformity you may know as scoliosis.

What does the Cobb angle measurement assess?

The Cobb angle is the most widely used measurement to quantify the magnitude of spinal deformities, especially in the case of scoliosis, on plain radiographs. Scoliosis is defined as a lateral spinal curvature with a Cobb angle of >10° ⁴.

What is Cobb angle used for?

Definition. The Cobb Angle is used as a standard measurement to determine and track the progression of scoliosis. Dr John Cobb invented this method in 1948.

When do you refer to Cobb angle?

Based on these risk factors, skeletally immature children with curves greater than 20 degrees Cobb angle or fully mature adolescents with curves greater than 40 degrees Cobb angle should be considered for referral to an orthopedic surgeon.

How is the degree of scoliosis measured?

The Cobb angle is the most accepted method for measuring a scoliosis curvature. It’s taken during a scoliosis X-ray and expresses the degree to which the spine bends, curves, and rotates away from a straight alignment. It’s measured by finding the vertebrae (spinal bones) with the most tilt in each curve.

What Cobb angle affects lungs?

In general, individuals who have a thoracic Cobb angle greater than 70° are subject to significant lung size limitation. In children with early-onset scoliosis, significant ventilatory limitation is unlikely if curve is less than 30°.

How is Cobb angle used in scoliosis?

How to measure the Cobb angle. The patient stands while a front view x-ray of the spine is taken. The doctor uses the x-ray to locate the apex vertebra, which is at the deepest part of the scoliosis curve, as well as the most-tilted vertebra above the apex and most-tilted vertebra below the apex.

Why is Cobb’s method preferred?

Compared to other methods of assessing spinal curvature, the Cobb angle method is preferred for its better reproducibility [7], easier application, and suitability for measuring more severe spinal curvature.

What are the 4 types of scoliosis?

There are four types of scoliosis: congenital, idiopathic, neuromuscular, and degenerative². In congenital scoliosis, the misalignment occurs as a result of deformed vertebrae or ribs present at birth. A variety of developmental factors can cause this deformity². About 80% of cases are considered idiopathic¹.

What Cobb angle do you start bracing?

Bracing will often be prescribed if either of the following two conditions are met: Cobb angle has reached at least 25 degrees and the adolescent still has significant growth left until skeletal maturity.

What degree of scoliosis is significant?

In general, a curve is considered significant if it is greater than 25 to 30 degrees. Curves exceeding 45 to 50 degrees are considered severe and often require more aggressive treatment.

What degree is severe scoliosis?

Health care providers measure scoliosis curves in degrees: A mild curve is less than 20 degrees. A moderate curve is between 25 degrees and 40 degrees. A severe curve is more than 50 degrees.

At what degree of scoliosis requires surgery?

Most scoliosis surgeons agree that children who have very severe curves (45 to 50 degrees and higher) will need surgery to lessen the curve and prevent it from getting worse.

What are the 3 types of scoliosis?

Types of Scoliosis Based on Spinal Curve

• Thoracic scoliosis: The curve is located in the mid (thoracic) spine.
• Lumbar scoliosis: The curve is located in the lower (lumbar) spine.
• Thoracolumbar scoliosis: Vertebrae from both the thoracic and lumbar spinal sections are involved in the curvature.

When is scoliosis is usually confirmed?

Scoliosis is an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine. It is most often diagnosed in childhood or early adolescence.

What is the minimum curve for scoliosis surgery?

Your child might need surgery if his or her spine has a severe curve. This is a curve of at least 40 degrees. Or your child may need surgery in the future if other treatments, such as bracing, don’t keep the curve from getting worse. Children who have only mild curves are not likely to need surgery.

What are the symptoms of mild scoliosis?

Symptoms of scoliosis

• a visibly curved spine.
• leaning to 1 side.
• uneven shoulders.
• 1 shoulder or hip sticking out.
• the ribs sticking out on 1 side.
• clothes not fitting well.

Does scoliosis worsen with age?

Scoliosis is a progressive condition – it does tend to get worse as you age. However, scoliosis is somewhat unusual in that it does not have what we might call a “predictable trajectory” – this is to say that you cannot simply assume that after X years, scoliosis will have increased by X degrees.

At what degree does scoliosis affect the lungs?

Most cases of scoliosis-related lung complications happen when a curve breaks 70 or 80 degrees, so we’re talking about severe curvatures. Even in cases of extreme scoliosis, lung impairment can be an issue for some, but not for others.

What Cobb angle is scoliosis severe?

During diagnosis, the x-ray of the spine normally confirms curvature. When the Cobb Angle exceeds more than a 40-45 degree curve for adolescents and a 50-55 degrees for adults, it is classified as severe and in such cases, the spine becomes highly deformed.

What is the most common curve in scoliosis?

The most prevalent scoliosis curvature types are right thoracic (28 percent) and left lumbar curves (22 percent).