Electromyography for the investigation and early diagnosis of scoliosis.

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.