Main description:

Our understanding of the genetic and developmental mechanisms underlying scoliosis is rapidly evolving, this timely second edition of The Genetics and Development of Scoliosis is to provide researchers, clinicians, and students with the most current views in this field.

This volume brings together leaders in understanding congenital and idiopathic scoliosis to present the current state of research, and to compare the genetic etiology of these conditions, in order to identify potential shared developmental mechanisms. This book will summarize the recent advances in studies of spinal development and how disruptions during embryogenesis in embryonic segmentation can lead to congenital vertebral defects. In addition, recent reports of genetic loci predisposing patients to develop juvenile and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis will be presented, and key clinical features are reviewed. Finally, there will be discussion of how genetic heterogeneity and gene-environment interactions may contribute to congenital scoliosis and isolated vertebral malformations.

Contents:

Chapter1: Developmental and Functional Anatomy of the Spine.- Chapter2: Environmental Factors and Axial Skeletal Dysmorphogenesis.- Chapter3: Congenital Scoliosis and Segmentation Defects of the Vertebrae in the Genetic Clinic.- Chapter4: The Genetics Contributing to Disorders involving Congenital Scoliosis.- Chapter5: Animal Models of Idiopathic Scoliosis.- Chapter6: Current Understanding of Genetic Factors in Idiopathic Scoliosis.- Chapter7: Genetics and Functional Pathology of Idiopathic Scoliosis.- Chapter8: Adolescence and Scoliosis: Deciphering the Complex Biology of Puberty and Scoliosis.