In all honesty Ruth - what does it matter??
If she had one doctor telling you 30 and another one 42 THEN I could understand the urgency in deciding the correct measurement. As you know the consensus is once over 40 degrees bracing is no longer contemplated.
So while I understand you wanting to know the EXACT measurement (as I would) I don't think it really comes into play in making a decision for the next step. Her x-ray looks quite severe to me.
It seems everyone has their own style of measuring the cobb angle (I experienced something similar to yourself between doctors) but so long as you get the same person each time to measure the progression then the rate should be accurate. I just stuck with my Surgeon and his expertise, I never relied on what the Radiologist wrote. I just figured my Scoli surgeon was looking and measuring these types of things all the time and he was the most qualified to do the job.
It's all very frustrating, isn't it! Hope you can get it all sorted out one way or another.
Cheers
Del
Elysia 16 in Feb 2010
Sydney - Australia
Feb 2008 Fused T5-L1 and 5 ribs removed.
Dec 2009 - Crankshafting
Dec 10 - Revision surgery...3 vertebrae taken down, hooks removed, at T11-L1 - screws inserted, fusion extended down to
L3 using Pedicle screws, some rib removed to try to derotate. Praying for things to settle.