A rare but important group of scoliosis is that in which the muscle is abnormal. Muscular dystrophy is the commonest example. The abnormal muscle does not retain the normal alignment of the vertebral column, and curvature develops as a result. A muscle biopsy is needed to make the diagnosis.
Other disorders that can produce scoliosis include bone tumors, spinal cord tumors, and localized disc protrusions.
In the clinic