Assessment of anterior-posterior spinal curvatures in children suffering from hypopituitarism

BACKGROUND: Body posture may be disordered by vestibular dysfunction, neurological disorders, problems with the distribution of muscle tone, brain injuries, and other dysfunctions. Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) can lead to many disorders, particularly of the musculoskeletal system. During treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), an increase in muscle mass and an improvement in bone structure can be observed in children suffering from hypopituitarism from GHD. METHODS: The study involved 33 children suffering from hypopituitarism with GHD (9 girls and 24 boys), aged 10–14 years old. Measurements of the magnitude of their anterior–posterior spinal curvatures were made using an inclinometer. The children were examined at the medianus of the sacrum bone, the Th12–L1 intervertebral area, and the C7–Th1 intervertebral area. In order to characterize the anterior–posterior curvature of the spine, the results were compared with the general norms reported by Saunders. Statistical calculations were carried out using the statistical package Statistica 10 PL. RESULTS: Lumbar lordosis angles were higher in the patients currently receiving growth hormone (GH) treatment than in those who had yet to receive it. There is a statistically significant positive correlation between the length of growth hormone treatment and the alpha angle. There are also statistically significant correlations between age at the beginning of growth hormone therapy and the angle of lordosis. Statistically significant correlations were also seen between age at the beginning of growth hormone therapy and the alpha angle. CONCLUSIONS: Although there may be changes in posture at the beginning of rhGH treatment, the sooner growth hormone therapy begins, the better the body posture. The longer the growth hormone treatment, the better the posture, as expressed by the alpha angle in the sagittal plane.