Sevastik J A, Aaro S, Normelli H
Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1984 Dec(191):27-34.
The hypothesis, advanced on the basis of experimental and clinical observations, that asymmetric growth of the ribs may be the primary cause of the thoracospinal deformity at least in some cases of right convex, thoracic, idiopathic scoliosis finds further support in the results of the anthropometric studies referred to below. There is also the possibility that asymmetric growth and more pronounced vascularization of the often larger breast may stimulate enough longitudinal growth at the underlying costosternal cartilage to upset the balance of forces acting on the normal spine. Muscular and other mechanical forces might be responsible for the further development of the deformity. Whether the data and evidence in this article will ultimately support or advance the hypothesis presented above remains to be seen. However, this hypothesis and the observations reported to date would seem to be capable of explaining the main characteristics of at least some cases of thoracic idiopathic scoliosis, i.e., the predominance in girls, the occurrence in the teens, and the predominant right convexity.
基于实验和临床观察提出的假说认为，肋骨不对称生长可能至少在某些右凸型、胸椎特发性脊柱侧凸病例中是胸段脊柱畸形的主要原因，下文提及的人体测量学研究结果进一步支持了这一假说。此外，通常较大的乳房不对称生长且血管化更明显，有可能刺激其下方肋软骨的纵向生长，从而打破作用于正常脊柱的力的平衡。肌肉和其他机械力可能导致畸形的进一步发展。本文中的数据和证据最终是否会支持或推进上述假说还有待观察。然而，这一假说和迄今报告的观察结果似乎能够解释至少某些胸椎特发性脊柱侧凸病例的主要特征，即女性居多、发病于青少年时期以及以右侧凸为主。
