The climate-and-geografical factor in the development of vertebral deformities in children of the Far North

Abstract

4400 children and adolescents at the age of 7–17 years, belonging to the indigenous and nonindigenous population of the Far North, have been examined by the method of optical computer topography in the town of Nizhnevartovsk and in the area of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. 1000 children among them are representatives of the indigenous population: the Khanty, Mansy, Nenets. The distinctive features have been revealed in posture and body structure, as well as in vertebral deformation pathology prevalence in the indigenous and nonindigenous population of the North. The body in the nonindigenous population is characterized by its pronounced longitudinal size and worse posture parameters. As for the indigenous population, the body is characterized by the pronounced transverse size and better parameters of posture condition in comparison with newcomers. Thus, scoliosis prevalence in the indigenous population amounts to 8.7%, while that in the nonindigenous population — 17.9%, respectively.