A risser sign is a cap that forms over the pelvis in teenagers. For girls, it forms during their last year or two of growth, informing doctors that she's reaching her full maturity and height. However it's different in boys, as it isn't as reliable and they still grow following the caps formation.
Doctors use this cap by labeling it risser sign 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, based off how far the cap has developed over the pelvis.
By using this as an indicator in female patients, doctors can figure out how they want to treat a patient. For example, if a patient has risser sign 5, and only has 16 degrees of curvature, it is very unlikely that the curve will progress due to the fact that she's done growing, and that scoliosis in children is not degenerative and instead genetic.
Above is a picture showing what the cap would overall entail and what each risser sign means.
Below is a picture of a risser sign on an x-ray.
If you look at the pelvis you can see a little cap forming over it, that is the risser sign.
Hey Kayla! This is really cool! I was wondering, does this cap develop only in scoliosis patients? Or does it signal anything in people without this condition?
ReplyDeleteNope! The cap forms in all people, not just scoliosis patients.
Delete