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Research Article
What a Stranded Whale With Scoliosis Can Teach us About Human Idiopathic Scoliosis
Lonneke IJsseldijk
Utrecht University
Corresponding Author
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Scoliosis is a deformation of the spine that may have several known causes, but humans are the only mammal known to develop scoliosis without any obvious underlying cause. This is called ‘idiopathic’ and is the most common type. Recent observations showed that human scoliosis, regardless of its cause, has a relatively uniform three-dimensional anatomy. We hypothesize that scoliosis is a universal compensatory mechanism of the spine, independent of cause and/or species. We had the opportunity to study the rare occurrence of scoliosis in a whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) that stranded in July 2019 in the Netherlands. A multidisciplinary team of biologists, pathologists, veterinarians, taxidermists, radiologists and orthopaedic surgeons conducted necropsy and imaging analysis. (Dorso-)lateral blunt traumatic injury to two vertebrae caused an acute lateral deviation of the spine, which had initiated the development of compensatory curves in regions of the spine without anatomical abnormalities. Three-dimensional analysis of these compensatory curves showed strong resemblance with different types of human scoliosis, amongst which idiopathic. This suggests that any decompensation of spinal equilibrium can lead to a uniform response, regardless of underlying cause or species. The unique biomechanics of the upright human spine, with significantly decreased rotational stability, explains why only in humans this universal mechanism of scoliosis can occur without an obvious cause, and is thus still called ‘idiopathic’.
Keywords
spine, idiopathic, universal compensatory mechanism, Balaenoptera acutorostrata
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CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 1
Posted 31 Dec, 2020
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Review #2 received
Received 04 Jan, 2021
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Received 04 Jan, 2021
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 03 Jan, 2021
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 03 Jan, 2021
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 03 Jan, 2021
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 03 Jan, 2021
Editor assigned
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Editor invited
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On 29 Dec, 2020
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On 15 Dec, 2020
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This preprint is under consideration at Scientific Reports. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research Article
What a Stranded Whale With Scoliosis Can Teach us About Human Idiopathic Scoliosis
Lonneke IJsseldijk
Utrecht University
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 1
Posted 31 Dec, 2020
No community comments so far
Review #2 received
Received 04 Jan, 2021
Review #1 received
Received 04 Jan, 2021
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 03 Jan, 2021
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 03 Jan, 2021
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 03 Jan, 2021
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 03 Jan, 2021
Editor assigned
On 03 Jan, 2021
Editor invited
On 29 Dec, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 29 Dec, 2020
First submitted
On 15 Dec, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Scoliosis is a deformation of the spine that may have several known causes, but humans are the only mammal known to develop scoliosis without any obvious underlying cause. This is called ‘idiopathic’ and is the most common type. Recent observations showed that human scoliosis, regardless of its cause, has a relatively uniform three-dimensional anatomy. We hypothesize that scoliosis is a universal compensatory mechanism of the spine, independent of cause and/or species. We had the opportunity to study the rare occurrence of scoliosis in a whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) that stranded in July 2019 in the Netherlands. A multidisciplinary team of biologists, pathologists, veterinarians, taxidermists, radiologists and orthopaedic surgeons conducted necropsy and imaging analysis. (Dorso-)lateral blunt traumatic injury to two vertebrae caused an acute lateral deviation of the spine, which had initiated the development of compensatory curves in regions of the spine without anatomical abnormalities. Three-dimensional analysis of these compensatory curves showed strong resemblance with different types of human scoliosis, amongst which idiopathic. This suggests that any decompensation of spinal equilibrium can lead to a uniform response, regardless of underlying cause or species. The unique biomechanics of the upright human spine, with significantly decreased rotational stability, explains why only in humans this universal mechanism of scoliosis can occur without an obvious cause, and is thus still called ‘idiopathic’.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6