[Trabecular bone micro-architecture in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis compared between concave and convex site of the facet joints].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the trabecular bone micro-structure from different sites of spine in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. The target site consisted of the bilateral facet joints from apical vertebrae and from end vertebrae.


METHODS
Nine AIS patients with mean age 14.9 years (range 12-17 years) and mean Cobb angle 56 degrees (ranged 48 degrees-84 degrees) were recruited into this study. Corrective surgery was indicated to these patients, and facet joint biopsies were collected during decortications for spinal fusion. Biopsy consents were obtained from patients. Bone specimens were fixed with routine histology procedures and scanned by micro computer tomography (muCT40, Scanco Medical, Switzerland). Ten pairs of facet joint were harvested from apical vertebrae and 12 pairs from end vertebrae. Three-dimensional reconstructed images with the resolution of 20 microm were achieved for histomorphometric analysis.


RESULTS
The values of BV/TV (0.268 vs. 0.354, P < 0.05), TbTh (0.20 vs. 0.24, P < 0.05), TbSP (0.66 vs. 0.56, P < 0.05) and BS/BV (12.7 vs. 10.4, P < 0.05) between convex and concave side at the apex area were significantly different. No difference was found in any structural parameters between left and right side at end area, and upper thoracic (T5, 6) and thoracolumbar (T12, L1).


CONCLUSIONS
Due to asymmetric compression and tension shared between convex and concave side, more bone and thicker and more profound trabecular bones are observed in the concave side than in the convex side, which seems to resist the progression of spinal curvature. This finding suggests that the provocative factors which cause the progression of the curve in certain patients may not lie in the bone component of spine.
Yeung
Hiu Yan
HY
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. byeung@cuhk.edu.hk
Zhu
Feng
F
Qiu
Yong
Y
Tang
Shen-ping
SP
Qin
Ling
L
Lee
Kwong Man
KM
Cheng
Chun-yiu Jack
CY
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology