In a system for analyzing the spine of a patient, an X-ray is taken at one location, and the resulting X-ray image is transmitted to a remote location. At the remote location, the raw image is presented to a user who then selects some of the vertices of a polygon approximating the shape of the vertebrae in the X-ray. A processor is then used to calculate the position of the remaining vertices. The idealized shapes are then used to generate a report indicative of the spine. If necessary, a positioner is placed on the patient while the X-ray is taken and the image of the positioner is used to determine an angle of distortion of the vertebrae image and a scaling factor that can be used to determine the actual size of the vertebrae and the spatial spinal segmental relationship
