Summary
A clinically normal 5 year old child with a family history of scoliosis was studied. Electromyography of the thoracic and lumbar erector spinae muscles and roentgenography of the spine were both done on two separate occasions, six months apart. On the first electromyographic investigation, moderate predominance of activity was found over the left thoracic erector spinae muscles. At that time, spinal roentgenography showed normal results, whereas six months later left thoracolumbar scoliosis was evident. It was concluded that electromyographic investigation is useful for the early diagnosis of scoliosis in school-age children.
Résumé
On a comparé les données électromyographiques des muscles paravertébraux thoracolombaires et les examens radiographiques de la colonne vertébrale effectués à une distance de six mois les uns des autres chez un enfant de 5 ans, cliniquement normal appartenant à une famille de scoliotiques. Il faut noter, pour les examens paravertébraux thoraciques de gauche, l'apparition d'une activité prédominante, bien que modérée, des muscles paravertébraux lombaires de gauche. L'examen radiographique de la colonne, qui était entièrement négatif six mois auparavant, a révélé un tableau de scoliose thoraco-lombaire gauche six mois après. On peut conclure que l'examen électromyographique est un moyen utile pour le diagnostic précoce de la scoliose chez des enfants en âge scolaire.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Basmajian JV (1978) Muscles alive. Their functions revealed by electromyography, Fourth edition.
Dixon R (1983) The uselessness of the screening for the scoliosis. Medical Tribune.
Hoogmartens MJ, Basmajian JV (1976) Postural tone in the deep spinal muscles of idiopathic scoliosis patients and their siblings: an etiologic study based on vibration-induced electromyography. Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol 16: 93–114
Horn CV (1969) Electromyographic investigation of muscle imbalance in patient with paralytic scoliosis. Electromyography 9: 447–455
Jonsson B (1970) The functions of individual muscles in the lumbar part of the erector spinae muscle. Electromyography 10: 5–21
Jonsson B (1973) Electromyography of the erector spinae muscle. In “Medicine and Sport”, vol. 8: Biomechanics III, E Jokl pp. 294–300, Karger, Basel
Morris JM, Benner G, Lucas DB (1962) An electromyographic study of the intrinsic muscles of the back in man. J Anat 96: 509–520
Redford JB, Butterworth TR, Clements EL (1969) Use of electromyography as a pronostic aid in the management of idiopathic scoliosis. Arch Phys Med 50: 433–438.
Valentino B, Maccauro L, Martino G, Varletta G, Melito F (1983) L'examen électromyographique pour un diagnostic précoce de la scoliose. 66e Congrès de l'Association des Anatomistes, Barcelone
Valentino B, Melito F, Mango G, Romano C (1983) Proposta di un test elettromiografico per la diagnosi precoce di alcune scoliosi idiopatiche. Rass Int Clin Ter, 63: 361–369
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Valentino, B., Maccauro, L., Mango, G. et al. Electromyography for the investigation and early diagnosis of scoliosis. Anat. Clin 7, 55–59 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01654630
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01654630