ABSTRACT
Idiopathic Scoliosis, the most common form of spinal deformity in children, is defined as the lateral curvature of a spine, where the spine has no underlying neuromuscular or structural abnormalities (hence the name ‘idiopathic’). In addition to producing an unsightly hunched-back appearance, often giving psychological distress, there can be harmful long term effects on the cardiorespiratory system. This paper describes the initial results of the development of a mathematical model for the complex three-dimensional shapes of the deformity using the novel TDE Method’. The PDE Method has been used for the design and description of surfaces for CAD (Computer-Aided Design), some of which have been analysed computationally and manufactured using Rapid Prototyping technologies. PDE surfaces are basically produced by defining their boundaries (i.e. edges) followed by the generation of surfaces between them which are solutions of elliptic partial differential equations (a boundary-value approach). Collaboration between applied mathematicians and orthopaedic surgeons has resulted in these concepts and techniques being applied to the production of a computational model for the complex geometries of scoliotic spines which embody the necessary detailed geometry and growth features of a real spine.
