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role of intervertebral ligaments ??

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  • role of intervertebral ligaments ??

    I've always wondered about the role of the ligaments between the vertebrae in scoliosis, and to me it seems inevitable that where the lateral ligaments are stretched (longer) on the convex side of the curve, they must be shortened on the concave side (as the vertebrae are pushed together closer on that side)

    I have wondered whether in time, this shortening of the ligaments becomes structural resulting in a further barrier to the spine straightening out again, a bit like a contracture of a joint after longterm immobility.

    Does anybody know whether any research has been done on this, either microscopic or other analysis of ligaments or attempts to improve on scoliosis by "stretching" these ligaments??

    any thoughts (Linda??)

  • #2
    Gerbo...

    I don't know very much about the soft tissues in regard to scoliosis. But, if you search PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed) for scoliosis and biomechanics, you'll find all sorts of research on the subject.

    --Linda
    Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
    Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

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    • #3
      Ligaments and FGF?

      Gerbo,

      This is a bit off-topic, but there's a recent (2005) paper that describes differential levels of TGF-beta1 (transforming growth factor) and bFGF (basic fibroblast growth factor) taken from concave vs. convex sides of a growth plate within a scoliotic vertebra.

      Whether this is a possible cause or a secondary effect is not known nor conjectured. I'd imagine you'd find a similar scenario in the ligaments.
      28 degrees cervicothoracic, 34 degrees thoracolumbar, not diagnosed until age 34. Get yourself and your children screened early!

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      • #4
        Paper on TGF-beta1 and bFGF

        Sorry, forgot the link:

        http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...=pubmed_docsum
        28 degrees cervicothoracic, 34 degrees thoracolumbar, not diagnosed until age 34. Get yourself and your children screened early!

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        • #5
          mmmhh, I am not scared of science, but that gets a bit too complicated for me, although it is interesting to see that a higher concentration of growth factors is found on the concave side, which is actually the side which ends up a bit thinner once wedging is occuring (this is what i think i understand )

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          • #6
            Hmmmmmmmmmm. That doesn't seem to make sense, does it?
            God has used scoliosis to strengthen and mold us. He's good all the time!On this forum these larger curves have not held forever in Spinecor,with an initial positive response followed by deterioration. With deterioration, change treatment.The first year she gained 4 or 5 inches and was stable at around 20/20 in brace, followed by rapid progression the next year.She is now 51/40 (Jan2008)out of brace (40/30 in Spinecor) and started at 38/27 out of brace(Jan2006.) Now in Cheneau.

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            • #7
              no, it doesn't, so either i just do not understand it, or it is just some secundary effect (which i would have thought anyway) and is not a cause of the scoliosis

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              • #8
                Well....the findings suggest "a possible etiological factor or a secondary change in the development of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis." Clear as a bell, no ?

                Canadian eh
                Daughter, Deirdre born Oct 2000. Diagnosed with 60 degree curve at the age of 19 months. Serial casting by Dr. Hedden at Sick Kid's Hospital. Currently being treated by Dr. Rivard and Dr. Coillard in Montreal with the Spinecor brace and curve is holding at "2" degrees. Next appointment 2008

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                • #9
                  basically they are saying, we haven't got a clue!

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                  • #10
                    ....and even our friend, dr Rivard is not able to give an answer here: http://www.ndos.ox.ac.uk/pzs/Group_4/Rivard.html

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                    • #11
                      clear as mud, really.

                      Originally posted by cherylplinder
                      Hmmmmmmmmmm. That doesn't seem to make sense, does it?
                      In a way, though, it does make sense, as some of these growth factors can promote the breakdown of old matrix and building of new matrix. If the combination of growth factors presented promote osteoclast and chondroclast activity, old matrix will be broken down and reabsorbed, and normally this activity is connected to osteoblasts and chondroblasts laying down new material and proliferating.

                      Thus, if the blasts aren't responding to the signal as well as the clasts, you'll get a net breakdown of matrix.

                      Just because the growth factors are there doesn't mean that the response to them will be normal-- it depends on the receptors that the cells are expressing and the signalling events that occur downstream. Obviously, there's a long way to go with this.

                      I've been frankly shocked at actually how little progress has been made looking into these kinds of things. Some of it may be due to funding levels at the NIH, i.e., so much money going into other "politically expedient" things such as bird flu, anthrax, etc., and not much going into research on other diseases that affect way more people.
                      28 degrees cervicothoracic, 34 degrees thoracolumbar, not diagnosed until age 34. Get yourself and your children screened early!

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                      • #12
                        my money would be on it being all secundary to the strains put on the vertyebrae in the curve, rather than it being an etiological factor.

                        Clearly research is going on (see the link above for example); the problem is whether the outcomes of those studies can be made relevant to the treatment of scoliosis, which often they cannot!

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by gerbo
                          Clearly research is going on (see the link above for example); the problem is whether the outcomes of those studies can be made relevant to the treatment of scoliosis, which often they cannot!
                          Exactly my point, the research that is going on out there doesn't really contribute much to finding causes or new treatments, they mostly just evaluate existing treatments and follow long-term outcomes. Some of that kind of thing is necessary, but advances in treatment are more likely to come out of basic scientific research rather than the massive load of clinical studies coming out now.

                          There's a definite need for more basic scientific research into spinal column structure and development.
                          28 degrees cervicothoracic, 34 degrees thoracolumbar, not diagnosed until age 34. Get yourself and your children screened early!

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by The Professor
                            In a way, though, it does make sense, as some of these growth factors can promote the breakdown of old matrix and building of new matrix. If the combination of growth factors presented promote osteoclast and chondroclast activity, old matrix will be broken down and reabsorbed, and normally this activity is connected to osteoblasts and chondroblasts laying down new material and proliferating.

                            Thus, if the blasts aren't responding to the signal as well as the clasts, you'll get a net breakdown of matrix.

                            Just because the growth factors are there doesn't mean that the response to them will be normal-- it depends on the receptors that the cells are expressing and the signalling events that occur downstream. Obviously, there's a long way to go with this.
                            Professor,

                            Thank you for that explanation....very interesting ! One little thing.......how do we know you're not making this up LOL !

                            Canadian eh
                            Daughter, Deirdre born Oct 2000. Diagnosed with 60 degree curve at the age of 19 months. Serial casting by Dr. Hedden at Sick Kid's Hospital. Currently being treated by Dr. Rivard and Dr. Coillard in Montreal with the Spinecor brace and curve is holding at "2" degrees. Next appointment 2008

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Celia Vogel
                              Professor,

                              Thank you for that explanation....very interesting ! One little thing.......how do we know you're not making this up LOL !
                              Aw, just trust me (crossing fingers)
                              28 degrees cervicothoracic, 34 degrees thoracolumbar, not diagnosed until age 34. Get yourself and your children screened early!

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