A multidisciplinary team of University of Florida surgeons and researchers have advanced the understanding of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis through a new study examining the genetic activity of tissues involved in the condition. The findings provide researchers with new clues about the biological processes that may contribute to scoliosis and could help guide future research into earlier diagnosis and more targeted treatments.
The study, published in Human Genetics and Genomics Advances, brought together scientists and clinicians from across the University of Florida, including several faculty members from the UF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine.
Pediatric orthopaedic surgeons Stephanie Ihnow, M.D., and Jessica McQuerry, M.D., served as co-authors on the publication and played a key role in recruiting patients, evaluating participants and collecting the tissue samples used in the research. They were joined by Robert Decker, M.D., Nigel Price, M.D., and Jennifer Shumway, EdD, who also assisted with patient recruitment and tissue collection, helping make the study possible.
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is the most common form of scoliosis, affecting approximately 3% of children and adolescents worldwide. Although treatments such as bracing and surgery can successfully manage spinal curvature, the underlying cause of the condition remains largely unknown.
To better understand the disease, researchers analyzed muscle and cartilage tissue collected during scoliosis surgery. Using advanced genomic technology, they identified differences in gene activity within the tissues that support the spine, revealing biological pathways involved in muscle development, cartilage function and tissue repair. These findings establish an important foundation for future studies exploring why scoliosis develops and how it progresses.
The study also highlights the importance of translational research, where discoveries made through patient care can inform laboratory investigations and, ultimately, lead to better treatments.
The research was supported in part by the Scoliosis Research Society and the University of Florida Research Opportunity Seed Fund, awarded to Nadja Makki, Ph.D., Stephanie Ihnow, M.D., and Jessica McQuerry, M.D.