CORRECTION OF EXPERIMENTAL SCOLIOSIS BY RIB RESECTION IN THE TRANSVERSE PLANE

Experimental scoliosis with the potential for marked progression was t reated by rib resection on the concave side of the curve, and the alte rations of the rib cage and vertebrae in the transverse plane were inv estigated. Twenty-four chickens were divided into four equal groups (g roups R, P, PR, and C) and pinealectomy was performed at 3 days of age in groups P and PR. In group R, three unilateral ribs were resected a t the age of 4 weeks. in group PR, three ribs on the concave side of s coliosis were resected at 4 weeks of age if scoliosis of >20 degrees d eveloped before the age of 4 weeks. Group C served as a control, Spina l radiographs and computed tomography scans at the apical vertebrae we re taken at 20 weeks of age, and spinal deformities were evaluated. Sc oliosis developed markedly in groups R and P, whereas it was mild in g roup PR. The apical vertebrae rotated to the convex side of the curve in all groups, in the same way as it would in human idiopathic scolios is. In group PR, the Cobb angle and the rotation angle of the apical v ertebra were symmetrically suppressed. This study indicated that rib r esection might control the progression of scoliosis not only in the fr ontal plane but also in the axial plane when it was done on the concav e side of the scoliosis. Although this experiment succeeded in chicken s, application in humans is uncertain.