Scoliosis and other deformities of spine are typically evaluated for diagnosis and follow-through with radiographic methods. The problem lies in the deleterious effects of repeated doses of ionizing radiation in patients on growth and in the fact that radiographic Cobb method can’t characterize alone the spinal deformity, as it depends on other factors. An update on new non-invasive techniques that have emerged over the last twenty years for the assessment of vertebral deformities in order to complement and, at least partially, to replace radiographic studies is presented.

Scoliosis and other deformities of spine are typically evaluated for diagnosis and follow-through with radiographic methods. The problem lies in the deleterious effects of repeated doses of ionizing radiation in patients on growth and in the fact that radiographic Cobb method can’t characterize alone the spinal deformity, as it depends on other factors. An update on new non-invasive techniques that have emerged over the last twenty years for the assessment of vertebral deformities in order to complement and, at least partially, to replace radiographic studies is presented.