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Trace elements in the vertebral column in idiopathic scoliosis

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Summary

Respecting the physiological trace elements iron, copper, manganese and zinc in idiopathic scoliosis and taking the spinous processes as an example, the composition of the vertebral body is determined in a first examination by means of atom absorption spectrophotometry. Whilst the copper concentration in bone shows no differences of statistical significance compared to the normal values and due to the width of dispersion in the scoliosis collective,—the individual values are separated from one another by a potency of ten—a significant increase is, however, found in the manganese concentration in bone in idiopathic scoliosis.

On the other hand, the trace elements iron and zinc are most significantly decreased in the bone of patients with idiopathic scoliosis.

To what extent the results shown are important with regard to the cause of possible disorders in the bone and connective tissue metabolism in idiopathic scoliosis, must be clarified in further examinations.

Zusammenfassung

In einer ersten Untersuchung wird die Zusammensetzung der Wirbelkörper am Beispiel der Dornfortsätze bezüglich der physiologischen Spurenelemente Eisen, Kupfer, Mangan und Zink bei der idiopathischen Skoliose mittels Atomabsorption-spektrophotometrie bestimmt. Während die Kupferkonzentration im Knochen infolge der großen Streubreite im Skoliosenkollektiv — die Einzelwerte liegen um eine Zehnerpotenz auseinander — keine statistisch signifikanten Unterschiede zu den Normalwerten zeigt, findet sich eine signifikante Erhöhung der Mangankonzentration im Knochen bei der idiopathischen Skoliose.

Dem gegenüber sind die Spurenelemente Eisen und Zink bei den Patienten mit idiopathischer Skoliose im Knochen hochsignifikant vermindert.

Inwieweit die dargestellten Ergebnisse ursächliche Bedeutung für mögliche Knochen- und Bindegewebsstoffwechselstörungen bei der idiopathischen Skoliose besitzen, müssen weitere Untersuchungen klären.

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Milachowski, K., Matzen, K.A. Trace elements in the vertebral column in idiopathic scoliosis. Arch. Orth. Traum. Surg. 99, 161–165 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379203

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