Systemic abnormalities in idiopathic scoliosis.

Sixty-five to ninety percent of all scoliosis is of unknown origin or idiopathic. During the last 30 yr, researchers worldwide have found a variety of abnormalities in tissues throughout the body including peripheral muscle, skin, ligaments, platelets, bone, intervertebral discs, serum and urine. The primary defects appear to be related to collagen and proteoglycan synthesis. The systemic abnormalities seen in idiopathic scoliosis cannot be explained by the biomechanical effects of the curvature.