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Single fiber EMG in juvenile idiopathic scoliosis
Author(s) -
Trontelj Jož V.,
Fernandez José M.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.880110404
Subject(s) - extensor digitorum communis , medicine , scoliosis , subclinical infection , coronal plane , abnormality , anatomy , surgery , tendon , psychiatry
Abstract A single fiber EMG (SFEMG) study was performed in 51 patients with idiopathic juvenile scoliosis of moderate degree (mean 23.8° of Cobb), aged 7–18 years (mean 13.2 years). The findings in the extensor digitorum communis muscle (EDC) include a moderate but significant increase in fiber density (mean 2.02, ± 0.21, P < 0.001), a mild but significant (P < 0.001) neuromuscular transmission abnormality (7.6% of fibers showed increased jitter and 4.5% intermittent blocking), and a moderately prolonged mean interspike interval (mean 0.98 msec, ±0.20, P < 0.005) in EDC. Five of the patients had normal fiber density, 9 had a normal jitter study, and further 7 had a normal mean interspike interval. However only one had all the parameters normal. The paraspinal and intercostal muscles at the apex of the scoliotic curvature examined in some of the patients showed similar abnormalities. The study thus suggests the existence of a subclinical systemic neuromuscular disorder in nearly all of our patients with idiopathic scoliosis, which might have a pathogenetic significance.