Experimental structural scoliosis in rabbits.

Structural scoliosis was produced by purely posterolateral mechanical tethering of the spine with ligation of the scapula to the opposite pelvic bone in rabbits during the growing period. It is a simple and easy method without direct trauma to the spine. When the tethering force occurred discontinuously or only in the coronal plane by drawing of the scapula to the ipsilateral pelvic bone in 17 rabbits, spinal deformity could not be produced. The model provided evidence of biplanar deformity as one of the initial factors for the development of structural scoliosis.