Cortical representation of hand and paraspinal muscles in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis compared to healthy control

Objective: A preliminary TMS study showed an asymmetry of the cortical representation of the abductor pollicis brevis muscles (APB) in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) compared to age matched healthy controls. To test if this is due to a similar asymmetry of paraspinal muscles involved in the scoliotic curve, TMS mapping of the bilateral erector spinae muscles at the thoracic levels 3 and 9 (ES3; ES9) was performed. Methods: In 14 patients with AIS (2m, 12 f, progressive right convex thoracic curve; 15.3±1.6 years) and 8 age matched healthy controls (NP; 3m, 5 f; 16.1±1.1 years), TMS mapping o…