Posterior Basicranium Asymmetry and Idiopathic Scoliosis

TL;DR

This study found that individuals with idiopathic scoliosis exhibit significant asymmetry in the posterior basicranium, which may be linked to cerebellar and vestibular abnormalities involved in scoliosis development.

Contribution

It introduces a 3D MRI-based method to quantify PBA asymmetry and demonstrates its significant association with idiopathic scoliosis, highlighting a neuro-anatomical correlate.

Findings

Significant PBA asymmetry in IS patients (p<0.0001).

Asymmetry more pronounced in anterior-posterior and lateral directions.

PBA asymmetry associated with cerebellar torque.

Abstract

Study design Are there neuro-anatomical abnormalities associated with idiopathic scoliosis (IS)? Posterior Basicranium (PBA) reflects cerebellum growth and contains vestibular organs, two structures suspected to be involved in scoliosis. Objective The aim of this study was to compare posterior basicranium asymmetry (PBA) in Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) and normal subjects. Method: To measure the shape of PBA in 3D, we defined an intra-cranial frame of reference based on CNS and guided by embryology of the neural tube. Measurements concerned three directions of space referred to a specific intra cranial referential. Data acquisition was performed with T2 MRI (G.E. Excite 1.5T, mode Fiesta). We explored a scoliosis group of 76 women and 20 men with a mean age of 17, 2 and a control group of 26 women and 16 men, with a mean age of 27, 7. Results: IS revealed a significant asymmetry of PBA (Pr>|t|<.0001) in 3 directions of space compared to the control group. This asymmetry was more pronounced in antero-posterior (AP) and lateral direction, forming a torque of the posterior base shape associated with identical cerebellar torque.