Idiopathic scoliosis : genetic and environmental aspects

aetiology of this condition remains obscure. Such diverse explanations as abnormal vertebral growth, spinal muscle imbalance, postural altera-tions, and endocrine and metabolic disturbances have found adherents (American Orthopedic Association Research Committee, 1941). The many case reports of specific families having several affected members have implied that hereditary factors might be significant in this disorder (Gar-land, 1934; Molski, 1957; Sidler, 1938; Staub, 1922), and some investigators have even suggested simple modes of inheritance (Faber, 1936; Wynne-Davies, 1965). In spite of this previous work, there remains no convincing evidence that idiopathic scoliosis is predominantly influenced by eithe