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Idiopathic scoliosis and the vestibular system

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Abstract

Purpose

Despite its high prevalence, the etiology underlying idiopathic scoliosis remains unclear. Although initial scrutiny has focused on genetic, biochemical, biomechanical, nutritional and congenital causes, there is growing evidence that aberrations in the vestibular system may play a role in the etiology of scoliosis. In this article, we discuss putative mechanisms for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and review the current evidence supporting a role for the vestibular system in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Methods

A comprehensive search of the English literature was performed using PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed). Research articles studying interactions between adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and the vestibular system were selected and evaluated for inclusion in a literature review.

Results

Eighteen manuscripts of level 3–4 clinical evidence to support an association between adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and dysfunction of the vestibular system were identified. These studies include data from physiologic and morphologic studies in humans. Clinical data are supported by animal model studies to suggest a causative link between the vestibular system and AIS.

Conclusions

Clinical data and a limited number of animal model studies suggest a causative role of the vestibular system in AIS, although this association has not been reproduced in all studies.

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Abbreviations

AIS:

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

VOR:

Vestibulo-ocular reflex

VCR:

Vestibulocollic reflex

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Acknowledgments

This work has been supported by the departments of Neurosurgery and Otolaryngology at Washington University and grant funding from the NIH (T32NS007205, AHH).

Conflict of interest

The authors have no relevant conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8057, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA

    Ammar H. Hawasli & Ian G. Dorward

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Ian G. Dorward

  3. Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Timothy E. Hullar

Authors
  1. Ammar H. Hawasli
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  2. Timothy E. Hullar
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  3. Ian G. Dorward
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Correspondence to Ammar H. Hawasli.

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Hawasli, A.H., Hullar, T.E. & Dorward, I.G. Idiopathic scoliosis and the vestibular system. Eur Spine J 24, 227–233 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-014-3701-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-014-3701-4

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