Bleeding time and scoliosis.

Collagen abnormalities in idiopathic scoliosis are on record. Since there is a correlation between the platelet aggregating power of the collagen and the bleeding time in patients with scoliosis, the bleeding time was studied in 195 cases with scoliosis and in 318 controls. The bleeding time was longer in the females, especially in those with idiopathic scoliosis (n = 149). Patients with paralytic scoliosis (n = 5) also had a significantly longer bleeding time than non-scoliotic controls. The patients with congenital scoliosis (n = 13) did not differ significantly from the controls or from patients with idiopathic scoliosis. The bleeding time in idiopathic scoliosis did not vary with age or magnitude of the scoliosis. Our data support the view that collagen abnormalities play a role not only in the aetiology of idiopathic scoliosis, but also in other forms of scoliosis.