Trabecular bone mineral density in idiopathic scoliosis.

The association of idiopathic scoliosis with an osteoporotic state has been indicated previously. The present study compared the trabecular bone mineral densities of 44 adolescent idiopathic scoliotic girls with 44 age-, weight-, sex-, and race-matched controls. Their lumbar spine and femoral neck bone mineral densities were evaluated using dual-photon absorptiometry. Radiographs and scoliotic curve data were also obtained for the experimental group. The scoliotic subjects exhibited significantly lower lumbar and femoral neck bone mineral densities than the control subjects. No effect was found with respect to treatment, degree, or progression of curvature. The results of this study indicate that there is a generalized state of osteoporosis in idiopathic scoliotic girls when compared with matched controls.