Beyond the Curve: The Muscle-Specific Asymmetries of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Background: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) describes an asymmetrical formation of the spine that develops rapidly during adolescence. It is well known that the forces applied to bones, such as from paraspinal muscles, are substantial moderators of growth and adaptation. Despite the intimate relationship between the paraspinal muscles and the spine, very little is known about these muscles, particularly during adolescence when there is the greatest risk of the development and progression of AIS. Here, we aimed to quantify paraspinal muscle volume, intramuscular fat, and fat-free muscle asymmetry in female adolescents with AIS and a healthy adolescent control cohort. Methods: Twenty-nine female adolescents with primary-right-thoracic scoliosis (range: Cobb angle mean [SD]: 39 [15]°; age mean [SD]: 13.8 [1.5] years) and 19 age-matched female control participants without scoliosis (age mean [SD]: 13.1 [1.8] years). Participants underwent T1-weighted and coronal mDixon magnetic resonance image scans. An Asymmetry Results: AIS participants have greater asymmetry in paraspinal muscle volume, intramuscular fat, and fat-free muscle compared to controls ( Conclusions: These findings provide evidence that asymmetries in paraspinal muscle size and composition exist along the length of the scoliotic spine. The asymmetries are associated with curve severity; therefore, supporting the need to further consider muscle in the pathogenesis of AIS.