• Masafumi Machida, Hironobu Yamada, Thoru Yamada, Jun Kimura, Masashi Saito, and Keiichi Shibasaki.
• Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National Hospital Organization, Murayama Medical Center, Musashimurayama-shi, Tokyo, Japan. machida@murayama.hosp.go.jp
• Spine. 2005 Dec 1; 30 (23): E692-6.

Study DesignThis study was designed to investigate the difference of rib length of idiopathic scoliosis using experimentally induced scoliosis by pinealectomy in chickens.ObjectiveTo find whether the difference of rib length may play a role for the development of scoliosis in pinealectomized chickens.Summary Of Background DataIn experimental and clinical studies, asymmetric growth of the rib has been considered to be one of factors for the development of idiopathic scoliosis. Pinealectomy in chickens consistently produces scoliosis with lordosis, vertebral rotations, and rib humps, which have anatomic characteristics similar to those of human idiopathic scoliosis.MethodsA total of 30 chickens were divided into two groups: pinealectomy in 15 chickens and sham operation in 15 chickens served as control. The surgeries were performed on the second day after hatching. The chickens in both groups were killed at 3 months of age. The spines were examined radiologically for the presence of a scoliotic curve. Also, the ribs at each level were measured and compared between left and right sides.ResultsAll pinealectomized chickens that developed scoliosis showed rib humps. In contrast, none of chickens in a sham operation developed scoliosis. In both groups, there were no significant asymmetries in the rib length.ConclusionOur results indicated that rib length was not related to the experimental scoliosis examined in this study. Further study is encouraged to investigate if the asymmetric rib length plays a role in causing or promoting other types of scoliosis, especially in primate or human idiopathic scoliosis.

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