Cobb angle

A thoracic spine x-ray showed a dextroscoliosis with a Cobb angle of 15 degrees. 

In patients with kyphoscoliosis the severity is quantified by measuring the angle between the upper and lower portions of the spinal curve (Cobb angle). When this angle exceeds 100° (severe scoliosis), the vital capacity falls below 50% of the predicted value (48). A major factor in the pathophysiology of chronic respiratory failure in patients with kyphoscoliosis is the decrease in the compliance of the chest wall and limgs (49,50). In severe scoliosis the compliance of the chest wall may be about 25% of the predicted value. 

Cobb CJ, Scott G, Swingle RJ, Wilson S, Ellis J, MacEwen CG, McLean WHI. Rapid mutation detection by the Transgemoic wave analyzer DHPLC identifies MYOC mutations in patients with ocular hypertension and/or open angle glaucoma. Br J Ophthalmol 2002 86 191-195. 

---