The role of the exteroceptive system in the aetiopathogenesis of structural scoliosis an investigation on blind children

A group of 46 blind children (7 with acquired and 35) with congenital amaur osis) were clinically aid roentgenographically screened for axial deviation s of the spine to investigate the relationship between blindness and spinal configuration. Multiple, short, structural curves seemingly developing in a cephalad caudad direction were found in 21 out of the 39 congenitally bli nd children. The presence of these characteristic curves in congenitally bl ind children may be interpreted as the result of structural changes produce d by an abnormal posture: maintained throughout growth. The relationship be tween (an abnormal postural control system and the onset of structural curv es is suggestive as far as the role that subclinical changes may play in th e development of idiopathic scoliosis is concerned. Although our study sugg ests that dysfunction of the posture mechanism may bring about structural c urvatures. the observed curve pattern does differ from that of idiopathic s coliosis.