Axial deviations of the spine in blind children.
The authors screened blind children from a special school to determine whether there is any correlation between idiopathic scoliosis and changes in the postural control system induced by blindness. Children with disabilities in addition to blindness, and children under the age of 8 years were excluded. They selected a homogeneous sample of 46 children of whom 39 were congenitally blind and 7 had become blind after birth. The results in the congenitally blind group were highly significant both quantitatively (59% exhibited structural deviations of the spine) and qualitatively. Apart from 2 cases they all exhibited multiple short scoliotic curves with unique characteristics rarely seen in sighted subjects. Despite this, the authors feel unable to make any categorical assertions regarding the possible role played by functional changes in the exterosensory and proprioceptive organs in the pathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis. They suggest that the development of such multiple small curves in congenital blindness is simply the response of a congenitally deprived mechanism of body development to achieve stable equilibrium in the spine.
D000293:Adolescent; D001766:Blindness / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance; D011187:Posture; D011859:Radiography; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging