The production of experimental scoliosis by selective arterial ablation

Through a lateral thoracotomy, microcoagulation of the proximal segment of the intercostal artery and of its principal posterior collateral was carried out at four consecutive levels in rabbits. Subsequently, structural scoliosis developed in 67.5% of animals. Histological examination of the spinal cord in all animals showed that characteristic changes were found in the animals with scoliosis. It is suggested that these changes were ischaemic in origin and caused abnormal neuromuscular responses in the paravertebral muscles, resulting in scoliosis.