Research progress on the etiology and pathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

• Main Authors: Yue Peng, Sheng-Ru Wang, Gui-Xing Qiu, Jian-Guo Zhang, Qian-Yu Zhuang, Ning-Ning Wang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer 2020-02-01
• Series: Chinese Medical Journal
• Online Access: http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/CM9.0000000000000652

Abstract. Etiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), a complicated three-dimensional spinal deformity with early-onset, receives continuous attention but remains unclear. To gain an insight into AIS pathogenesis, this review searched PubMed database up to June 2019, using key words or medical subject headings terms including “adolescent idiopathic scoliosis,” “scoliosis,” “pathogenesis,” “etiology,” “genetics,” “mesenchymal stem cells,” and their combinations, summarized existing literatures and categorized the theories or hypothesis into nine aspects. These aspects include bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell studies, genetic studies, tissue analysis, spine biomechanics measurements, neurologic analysis, hormone studies, biochemical analysis, environmental factor analysis, and lifestyle explorations. These categories could be a guidance for further etiology or treatment researches to gain inspiration.