Aims: The ethiopathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis (IS) deformity has not yet been established. There is evidence suggesting that an abnormality in central nervous system (CNS) development may play a role. Our previous work has demonstrated functional anomalies of spinal innervation by axons of the corticospinal tract (CST) in some subjects with IS. This led us to predict that hand/finger dexterity would be lower in subjects with IS, because the monosynaptic projections of CST axons to cervical motoneurons are crucial for the control of dexterous finger and hand movements.

Results: In adult subjects, there was no significant difference in scores between groups, perhaps reflecting the large variability in scores both between and within groups. However, the probability of a single score being > 1 standard deviation below the mean of control subject scores was relatively high for IS subjects. Our sample of children with IS is too small at this time to make any statements about performance.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that despite clinically-normal arm and hand function, overall dexterity was diminished in the IS adult population tested. Future analysis of a larger group of subjects with IS – with particular emphasis on children – is necessary to see if this trend stands up to more rigorous statistical testing.