ABSTRACT
Skeletal disorders affecting the spine and rib cage fall broadly into the categories of scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis, and pectus abnormalities. The degree of lateral curvature in scoliosis is expressed by the Cobb angle, which is calculated from a standing coronal radiograph as shown in Figure 53.1. Kyphosis indicates backward and lordosis forward curvature in an anteroposterior (median) plane. In fact, most idiopathic thoracic scolioses incorporate a lordotic and rotatory element. Pectus abnormalities include pectus excavatum (sunken chest) and pectus carinatum (pigeon chest). A classification of skeletal conditions is shown in Table 53.1.
