Gima SCOLIOMETER User guide

PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PRODUCTS

SCOLIOMETRO - SCOLIOMETER SCOLIOMÈTRE

- DAS SKOLIOMETER - ESCOLIÓMETRO

- ESCOLIÔMETRO - ΣΚΟΛΙΟΜΕΤΡΟ

Manuale utente - User manual - Notice

d’utilisation - Betriebsanweisungen - Manual
de uso - Manual de uso - εγχειρίδιο -

Distribuito da/Distributed by/Distribué par/Distribuido por
Gima S.p.A - Via Marconi, 1 - 20060 Gessate (MI) - Italy
[e-mail] - [e-mail]
www.gimaitaly.com
Made in Italy

M27351 - M - Rev. 8-10/21

ENGLISH

SCOLIOSIS is a deviation (morphological or functional)

of the spinal column to the side, to the left or to the
right. Often, scoliosis is rst diagnosed by nding:

) irregular vertical alignment of spinal hypophises of

1

the vertebrae (misalignment);

2) asymmetry of shoulders and hips;

3) prominence of one shoulder blade;

4) a posterior rib hump in the chest wall.

The rst three checks above can be easily done by
observing the patient from behind and in erect po­sition. It is more dicult to observe the entity of the
posterior rib hump in the chest wall, which is formed
as vertebrae rotate around
the spinal column. In fact,
scoliosis causes the patient
to modify his posterior rib
position, so that both sides
are no longer on a horizon­tal plane. The concave side
of the scoliosis (Fig. 1, left
side for observer) is curved
inwards, therefore the poste­rior ribs are lowered, while on
the convex side (Fig. 1, right
side for observer) it is more
protruding. The hump form
can be seen more clearly by
examining the patient’s back
view and having him bend his
chest forward over his hips.
The non-horizontal alignment is thus visible. On this
subject, for an accurate overall evaluation, it is most
important that the patient bends forward correctly, feet
together, arms hanging beside his legs and in a relaxed
position (Fig. 2).

Various studies have shown that about 5% of school-age
children have sideways bends. So careful screening by
the family doctor, from the age of 6 till puberty, should
be one of the routine checkups carried out.

The Scoliometer, a useful instrument for doctors in
their ever yday practice, diagnoses and measures rib
hump. Based on the spirit-level principle, it has been
adapted to allow measurement of the dierent heights
of both par ts of the thorax, with respect to horizontal,
of scoliosis suerers.

In order to quantify the amount of scoliosis, expressed
in degrees, simply place the
Scoliometer, without pressu­re, upon the patient’s back,
with the concave part of the
instrument on the spinal apo­physis. Then read on the sca­le the torso’s angle of rotation
(the angle between horizontal
and an axis touching the back
of the torso on top of the rib
hump).
Fig. 3 shows how the upper
torso is measured, with the
patient bending over slightly.

Fig. 4 shows the correct position of the thoracic area

Fig 1 Fig 2

Fig 3 Fig 4

over the hips for measuring the lumbar part of the spi­nal column, which requires a full forward bend. The in­strument contains a small sphere that slides within a
track, directly indicating on the scale divergence from
horizontal in degrees. This screening makes it possible
to identif y the defect and quantify it. Results greater
than or equal to 5 degrees require attention. It is also
possible to track results over time, thus obtaining a pre­cise idea of the advancement, if any, of the pathological
process, while also reducing X-ray exposure.
The measured values are approximate.

When cleaning the item, do not use aggressive cleaning
agents or solvents or the like, but use a damp cloth with
mild soap and water; it is allowed to use denatured al­cohol for disinfection.

GIMA WARRANTY TERMS

The Gima 12-month standard B2B warranty applies.