Collagen changes in congenital and idiopathic scoliosis.

Collagen abnormalities in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis have been recorded. In this condition the platelet aggregating power of collagen is decreased and the amount of collagen in suspensions prepared from fascia is increased. We found the same abnormalities in two out of four patients with congenital scoliosis, operated on according to Harrington. In idiopathic as well as in congenital scoliosis the decrease in the platelet aggregating power was more conspicuous in the younger patients.