Abstract: Objective To identify the role of paravertebral muscles in the pathogenesis of scoliosis.MethodsParavertebral muscles were gotten from the 37 patients(12 congenital scoliosis patients and 25 idiopathic scoliosis patients) during the operations.Cryostat sections were cut by 10 μm nd stained with H&E,m-GT,NADH-TR,ATPase.ResultsMyogenic changes,incuding muscle fibrosis,fiber necrosis,etc,were common in paravertebral muscles of scoliosis patients,however regenerating fibers were quite rare.Diffuse fibrosis and remarkablely disorganized fiber directions presented in most of congenital scoliosis patients,while focal fibrosis without necrosis in most of idiopathic scoliosis patients.Neurogenic changes were found in one congenital scoliosis patient and 4 idiopathic scoliosis patients,however four of the five patients had undergone orthopedics.Thickened capsule wall of muscle spindles and connective tissue infiltration in muscle spindles were found in both kinds of scoliosis.ConclusionThere are some differences on pathological changes of paravertebral muscles between congenital scoliosis and idiopathic scoliosis,which indicates that paravertebral muscles may play a special role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis.

Key words: idiopathic scoliosis, congenital scoliosis, paravertebral muscle