The D'Osualdo Inclinometer is an instrument for measuring the Cobb and gibbus angles. The inclinometer is made of an almost-rectangular plexiglas element with a goniometric scale; a small rod (free to rotate) with a bubble is positioned at the centre of the scale. The free end of the rod has the reading index for the goniometric scale. The longest side of the rectangle has a recess in order to make its application on the patient easier (in the event that the spinous processes of the vertebrae are protruding).
The inclinometer is a manual instrument, normally used in two clinical situations:
- when measuring the rotation angle of the torso during the forward-directed flexion test;
- when measuring the Cobb angle on X-rays (both in AP and LL projection), therefore both for scoliosis as well as kyphosis/lordosis.
The instrument comes with a manual.
MEASURING TECHNIQUE OF THE COBB'S ANGLE WITH THE INCLINOMETER ON THE X-RAYS
The Cobb angle is given by the sum of the two inclination angles of the limit vertebrae. In addition, measuring the angle is faster than the traditional method (it is sufficient to move the instrument close to the limiting vertebrae and reading the value on the graduated scale).
It does not require additional instruments, it does not deteriorate the X-rays and it simplifies measuring by eliminating a few possible causes of error. Finally, an advantage of the inclinometer over other instruments is the possibility of measuring both the rotation angle of the patient’s torso (gibbus) as well as the Cobb’s angle on the X-rays with one simple instrument
