Evaluation of paraspinal muscles in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a study based on shear wave elastography.

Study design: Prospective study.

Purpose: To explore the application and potential clinical value of shear wave elastography (SWE) in assessing the biomechanical properties of paraspinal muscles in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Methods: This study screened 30 AIS who visited our hospital between January 1, 2023, and January 4, 2024. Shear wave elastography (SWE) was used to measure the Young's modulus of the paraspinal muscles while the patients were seated in a neutral posture. The biomechanical properties of the paraspinal muscles were analyzed, and their correlation with the degree of scoliosis was explored.

Results: The Young's modulus values of the bilateral erector spinae, quadratus lumborum, and psoas major muscles in AIS showed significant differences (P < 0.05). A significant correlation was found between the difference in Young's modulus values of the paraspinal muscles and the Cobb angle (P < 0.05). Specifically, the erector spinae had a negative correlation with the Cobb angle (r = - 0.410, P = 0.024), while the psoas major and quadratus lumborum had positive correlations (r = 0.852, P = 0.024; r = 0.419, P = 0.021).

Conclusion: The results show that in AIS, the stiffness of the erector spinae is higher on the convex side, while the psoas major and quadratus lumborum are stiffer on the concave side. The Cobb angle positively correlates with the stiffness of the psoas major and quadratus lumborum, and negatively with the erector spinae. SWE effectively evaluates paraspinal muscle properties in AIS, aiding scoliosis diagnosis and assessment.