Pulmonary function in children and adolescents with untreated idiopathic scoliosis: a systematic review with meta-regression analysis

Novel Surface Topographic Assessment of Lung Volume and Pulmonary Function Tests in Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Preliminary Study

OBJECTIVE

Severe spinal deformity results in restrictive pulmonary disease from thoracic distortions and lung-volume limitations. Though spirometry and body plethysmography are widely accepted tests for pulmonary function tests (PFTs), they are time-consuming and require patient compliance. This study investigates whether surface topographic [surface topography (ST)] measurements of body volume difference (BVD) and torso volume difference between maximum inhale and exhale correlate to values determined on PFTs.

METHODS

This study included patients with idiopathic scoliosis and thoracic/thoracolumbar curves ≥40 degrees. Patients received ST scans, clinical examinations, and EOS biplanar radiographs on the same day. PFTs were performed within 3 months of ST/radiographic analysis. Univariate linear regression analysis was used to examine relationships between BVD, PFT values, and mean curves.

RESULTS

Sixteen patients (14.6 ± 2.2 y, 69% females) with idiopathic scoliosis and mean thoracic/thoracolumbar curves of 62 degrees ± 15˚ degrees (45 degrees to 93 degrees) were assessed. BVD displayed statistically high-positive positive correlations with forced vital capacity ( R = 0.863, P < 0.0001), forced expiratory volume in 1 second ( R = 0.870, P < 0.001), vital capacity ( R = 0.802, P < 0.0001), and TLC ( R = 0.831, P < 0.0001. Torso volume difference showed similarly high positive correlations to forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, vital capacity, and TLC, but not residual volume. No correlations emerged between the mean thoracic/thoracolumbar curve and BVD or PFT values.

CONCLUSION

This study strongly endorses further investigation into ST scanning as an alternative to traditional PFTs for assessing pulmonary volumes. The noncontact and noninvasive nature of ST scanning presents a valuable alternative method for analyzing thoracic volume, particularly beneficial for patients unable to cooperate with standard PFTs.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II-prognostic.

Predicting delayed extubation and transfer to the intensive care unit in children undergoing posterior fusion surgery for scoliosis : A retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Delayed extubation and transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU) in children undergoing major scoliosis surgery may increase postoperative complications, prolong hospital stay, and increase medical expenses; however, whether a child will require delayed extubation or transfer to the ICU after scoliosis orthopedic surgery is not fully understood. In this study, we reviewed the risk factors for delayed extubation and transfer to the ICU after scoliosis orthopedic surgery in children.

METHOD

The electronic medical records of pediatric patients (≤ 18 years) who underwent posterior spinal fusion surgery between January 2018 and November 2021 were reviewed and analyzed. Patient characteristics (age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists, ASA, grade, preoperative lung function, and congenital heart disease), preoperative Cobb angle, scoliosis type, correction rate, vertebral fusion segments, pedicle screws, surgical osteotomy, intraoperative bleeding, intraoperative allogeneic transfusion, intraoperative hemoglobin changes, intraoperative mean arterial pressure changes, intraoperative tidal volume (ml/kg predicted body weight), surgical time, postoperative extubation, and transfer to the ICU were collected. The primary outcomes were delayed extubation and transfer to the ICU. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine the risk factors for delayed extubation and ICU transfer.

RESULTS

A total of 246 children who satisfied the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study, of whom 23 (9.3%) had delayed extubation and 81 (32.9%) were transferred to the ICU after surgery. High ASA grade (odds ratio [OR] 5.42; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.49-19.78; p = 0.010), high Cobb angle (OR 1.04; 95% CI 1.02-1.07; p < 0.001), moderate to severe pulmonary dysfunction (OR 10.9; 95% CI 2.00-59.08; p = 0.006) and prolonged surgical time (OR 1.01; 95% CI 1.00-1.03; p = 0.040) were risk factors for delayed extubation. A high Cobb angle (OR 1.02; 95% CI 1.01-1.04; p = 0.004), high intraoperative bleeding volume (OR 1.06; 95% CI 1.03-1.10; p = 0.001), allogeneic transfusion (OR 3.30; 95% CI 1.24-8.83; p = 0.017) and neuromuscular scoliosis (OR 5.38; 95% CI 1.59-18.25; p = 0.007) were risk factors for transfer to the ICU. A high Cobb angle was a risk factor for both delayed extubation and ICU transfer. Age, sex, body mass index, number of vertebral fusion segments, correction rate, and intraoperative tidal volume were not associated with delayed postoperative extubation and ICU transfer.

CONCLUSION

The most common risk factor for delayed extubation and ICU transfer in pediatric patients who underwent posterior spinal fusion was a high Cobb angle. Determining risk factors for a poor prognosis may help optimize perioperative respiratory management strategies and planning of postoperative care for children undergoing complicated spinal surgery.

Exercise programs for scoliosis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a randomized-controlled study

By improving core strength and stability, children with JIA can experience increased endurance, reduced pain, and improved posture. No study was found that investigated the effectiveness of 3-Dimension (3D) exercises in JIA. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of structured 3D exercises with that of a conventional exercise program specially planned for children with JIA who have scoliosis. This was a prospective, randomized-controlled study. Structured 3D scoliosis exercises for Group 1 (n: 25) and conventional exercises for the Group 2 (n: 25) were applied for 24 weeks. The angle of trunk rotation (ATR) by scoliometer, scoliosis angle by Cobb angle, pain by a numerical rating scale (NRS), respiratory functions by spirometry, and perception of cosmetic deformity by The Walter Reed visual assessment scale (WRVAS) were evaluated. ATR, Cobb angle, and pain in Group I showed significant improvement compared to Group II. While the sub-parameters of WRVAS and increased significantly in both groups, the improvement in Group I was found to be greater between the groups. While FVC (%) and FEV1 (%) results within the group were significant in both groups. 3D exercises and conventional exercises are an effective and feasible method in the treatment of scoliosis in these children. Despite the curative effect of both methods, 3D exercises have been proven in this study to be more effective on Cobb angle, ATR, WRAS, and respiratory parameters.

Assessment of idiopathic scoliosis among adolescents and associated factors in Palestine

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and its related risk factors, including body mass index (BMI), physical activity (PA), gender, time of the first menstrual cycle, transportation, backpack weight and the way of carrying a backpack.

DESIGN AND METHOD

a cross-sectional quantitative design was utilized. A convenient sample of adolescent students in grades seven through ten was included in the study. A self-reported questionnaire with three sections: demographic data; physical data including height, weight and PA; and Adam's forward bend test to determine each student's spine's Cobb angle by measuring the angle of trunk rotation using a scoliometer. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, with confidence intervals of 95%.

RESULTS

A total of 820 schoolchildren participated in the study; 53.7% were female and 46.3% were male. Only 22% of these students engaged in vigorous exercise, compared to 36.7% who engaged in low PA; additionally, 10% of the adolescents had a low BMI. After the analysis, it was found that 5.4% of participants had AIS. Low PA (p = 0.001), being underweight (p = 0.038), and time of first menstrual period (p = 0.033) were significantly associated with AIS, while gender, backpack weight, and way of carrying were not statistically related to AIS. Binary logistic regression identified low PA as an independent predictor of AIS (OR = 7.22, 95%CI [1.64, 31.79]).

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of AIS in Palestine was significant, which highlighted the importance of this issue at a national and global level. There was an association between AIS and BMI, PA, and the time of the first menstrual cycle, which signifies the importance of early detection of the problem to limit its burden later in life.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Teachers, teenagers, and their parents should be provided with programs that educate and clarify AIS, and a specific protocol should be established for scoliosis screening in schools.

Improvement of Pulmonary Function and Reconstructed 3-Dimensional Lung Volume After Halo-Pelvic Traction Combined With Posterior Correction for Severe Rigid Spinal Scoliosis: A Multicenter Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Severe rigid spinal scoliosis (SRSS) leads to severe restrictive ventilation dysfunction. Currently, the reports about the influence of preoperative halo-pelvic traction (HPT) combined with correction surgery on pulmonary function in patients with SRSS were relatively few. This study aims to investigate (1) the influence of preoperative HPT on lung volume and pulmonary function, (2) the further influence of the following correction surgery on lung volume and pulmonary function, and (3) the relationship among deformity correction, pulmonary function test outcomes, and computed tomography-based lung volume.

METHODS

A total of 135 patients with SRSS who underwent preoperative HPT and followed low-grade osteotomy correction surgery were reviewed. Spinal parameters, including proximal thoracic curve, main thoracic curve (MTC), lumbar curve, coronal balance, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, sagittal vertical axis, pulmonary function test outcomes (forced vital capacity [FVC], the percentage of predicted forced vital capacity [FVC%], forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1], total lung capacity [TLC]), and lung volume (Vin), were analyzed before, after HPT and at the final follow-up, respectively.

RESULTS

The mean FVC, FVC%, FEV1, and TLC increased from 1.67 L, 51.13%, 1.47 L, and 2.37 L to 1.95 L, 64.35%, 1.75 L, and 2.78 L, respectively, after HPT and further improved to 2.22 L, 72.14%, 1.95 L, and 3.15 L, respectively, at the final follow-up. The mean Vin increased from 1.98 L to 2.42 L after traction and further increased to 2.76 L at the final follow-up. The variation of MTC was correlated with the improvement of FVC (r = 0.429, P = .026), FVC% (r = 0.401, P = .038), FEV1 (r = 0.340, P = .043), and TLC (r = 0.421, P = .029) and the variation of Vin (r = 0.425, P = .015) before HPT and after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative HPT can improve preoperative pulmonary function and enhance the preoperative lung volume. There were significant correlations among the variations of MTC, pulmonary function indexes, and lung volume before HPT and after surgery in patients with SRSS.

Evaluation of Pulmonary Function After Halo-Pelvic Traction for Severe and Rigid Kyphoscoliosis Utilizing CT with 3D Reconstruction

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate changes in pulmonary function, caused by preoperative halo-pelvic traction (HPT) for the treatment of extremely severe and rigid kyphoscoliosis, with use of 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) reconstruction and pulmonary function tests (PFTs).

METHODS

Twenty-eight patients with severe and rigid scoliosis (Cobb angle, >100°) underwent preoperative HPT and staged posterior spinal fusion. CT, radiographic assessment, and PFT were performed during pre-traction and post-traction visits. The changes in total lung volume were evaluated with use of 3D-CT reconstruction, and the changes in pulmonary function were evaluated with PFTs at each time point. Differences were analyzed with use of 2-tailed paired Student t tests, and correlations were analyzed with use of Spearman rank tests.

RESULTS

None of the patients had pulmonary complications during traction, and all radiographic spinal measurements improved significantly after HPT. The main Cobb angle was corrected from 143.30° ± 20.85° to 62.97° ± 10.83° between the pre-traction and post-traction evaluations. Additionally, the C7-S1 distance was lengthened from 280.48 ± 39.99 to 421.26 ± 32.08 mm between the pre-traction and post-traction evaluations. Furthermore, 3D lung reconstruction demonstrated a notable increase in total lung volume (TLV) (from 1.30 ± 0.25 to 1.83 ± 0.37 L) and maximum lung height (from 176.96 ± 27.44 to 202.31 ± 32.45 mm) between the pre-traction and post-traction evaluations. Moreover, PFTs showed that total lung capacity (TLC) improved between the pre-traction and post-traction evaluations (from 2.06 ± 0.32 to 2.98 ± 0.82 L) and that the changes in T1-T12 distance and maximum lung height were correlated with changes in TLV (p = 0.0288 and p = 0.0007, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The application of HPT is a safe and effective method for improving pulmonary function in patients with extremely severe and rigid scoliosis before fusion surgery. The TLV as measured with CT-based reconstruction was greatly increased after HPT, mainly because of the changes in thoracic height.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level IV . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Respiratory oscillometry and functional analyses in patients with idiopathic scoliosis

Scoliosis is a condition that affects the spine and causes chest rotation and trunk distortion. Individuals with severe deformities may experience dyspnea on exertion and develop respiratory failure. Respiratory oscillometry is a simple and non-invasive method that provides detailed information on lung mechanics. This work aims to investigate the potential of oscillometry in the evaluation of respiratory mechanics in patients with scoliosis and its association with physical performance. We analyzed 32 volunteers in the control group and 32 in the scoliosis group. The volunteers underwent traditional pulmonary function tests, oscillometry, and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Oscillometric analysis showed increased values of resistance at 4 Hz (R4, P<0.01), 12 Hz (R12, P<0.0001), and 20 Hz (R20, P<0.01). Similar analysis showed reductions in dynamic compliance (Cdyn, P<0.001) and ventilation homogeneity, as evaluated by resonance frequency (fr, P<0.001) and reactance area (Ax, P<0.001). Respiratory work, described by the impedance modulus, also showed increased values (Z4, P<0.01). Functional capacity was reduced in the group with scoliosis (P<0.001). A significant direct correlation was found between Cobb angle and R12, AX, and Z4 (P=0.0237, P=0.0338, and P=0.0147, respectively), and an inverse correlation was found between Cdyn and Cobb angle (P=0.0190). These results provided new information on respiratory mechanics in scoliosis and are consistent with the involved pathophysiology, suggesting that oscillometry may improve lung function tests for patients with scoliosis.

Is impaired lung function related to spinal deformities in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis? A systematic review and meta-analysis-SOSORT 2019 award paper

PURPOSE

Some teenagers with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) display compromised lung function. However, the evidence regarding the relations between pulmonary impairments and various spinal deformity parameters in these patients remains unclear, which affects clinical management. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the associations between various lung function parameters and radiographic features in teenagers with AIS.

METHODS

A search of PubMed, Embase, PEDro, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO (from inception to March 14, 2022) without language restriction. Original studies reporting the associations between lung function and spinal deformity in patients with AIS were selected. Independent reviewers extracted data and evaluated the methodological quality of the included studies according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Pearson correlation and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using random-effects meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven studies involving 3162 participants were included. Limited-quality evidence supported that several spinal parameters were significantly related to lung function parameters (e.g., absolute value and percent of the predicted forced vital capacity (FVC; %FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁; %FEV₁), and total lung capacity (TLC; %TLC)) in AIS patients. Specifically, meta-analyses showed that main thoracic Cobb angles in the coronal plane were significantly and negatively related to FVC (r =  - 0.245), %FVC (r =  - 0.302), FEV₁ (r =  - 0.232), %FEV₁ (r =  - 0.348), FEV₁/FVC ratio (r =  - 0.166), TLC (r =  - 0.302), %TLC (r =  - 0.183), and percent predicted vital capacity (r =  - 0.272) (p < 0.001). Similarly, thoracic apical vertebral rotation was negatively associated with %FVC (r =  - 0.215) and %TLC (r =  - 0.126) (p < 0.05). Conversely, thoracic kyphosis angles were positively related to %FVC (r = 0.180) and %FEV₁ (r = 0.193) (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Larger thoracic Cobb angles, greater apical vertebral rotation angle, or hypokyphosis were significantly associated with greater pulmonary impairments in patients with AIS, although the evidence was limited. From a clinical perspective, the results highlight the importance of minimizing the three-dimensional spinal deformity in preserving lung function in these patients. More research is warranted to confirm these results.

One-level open vs. minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion: a systematic review and advanced meta-analytic assessment of prospective studies with at least two years follow-up

PURPOSE

To determine whether the open or the minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (O-TLIF, MI-TLIF) is the favored treatment, we provide first meta-analyses using prospective studies with at least two years follow-up only and present the clinical relevance of statistical results for the first time.

METHODS

After a systematic review of six databases, we conducted 10 meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 10 meta-analyses of eligible prospective studies (EPSs) to compare fusion rate, patient-reported outcome measures (back pain (B-VAS), leg pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)), for the first time safety outcome measures as operative and postoperative complications per case, and the perioperative outcome measures estimated blood loss (EBL), operation time and length of hospital stay (LOS). The clinical relevance was assessed by overall effect sizes (OESs) of statistically significant meta-analytic results.

RESULTS

In our meta-analyses of RCTs, MI-TLIF is statistically significantly superior in ODI, EBL and LOS, with clinically meaningful OESs only in EBL and LOS. In meta-analyses of EPSs, MI-TLIF is statistically significantly superior in B-VAS, postoperative complications per case, EBL and LOS, all with clinically meaningful OESs except for B-VAS. The meta-analyses of remaining outcome measures present statistically nonsignificant results. In a descriptive analysis of complications, postoperative wound infections predominate in O-TLIF and hardware malposition in MI-TLIF.

CONCLUSION

After at least two years, O-TLIF and MI-TLIF can be considered equally efficacious, which simplifies surgeons' decision between both treatments, however, with the safety outcome measure postoperative complications per case and the perioperative outcome measures EBL and LOS in favor of MI-TLIF. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE I: Well conducted meta-analyses, systematic reviews, or RCTs with a low risk of bias.

The Influence of Surgical Correction of Idiopathic Scoliosis on the Function of Respiratory Muscles

Background and objective: It is important to introduce respiratory exercises to the therapy of patients after the surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Surgical correction is the best way to prevent hypoxia in scoliosis, but whether pulmonary rehabilitation increases the effectiveness of scoliosis surgery has not yet been confirmed. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the function of respiratory muscles after surgical correction of idiopathic scoliosis. Methods: The study involved 24 patients, aged 13.6 ± 0.6. Maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) were measured using the Mikro RPM. In all patients, before the procedure, 7 days after and 3 months after the procedure, the MIP and MEP were measured. Results: MIP was the lowest 7 days after the procedure; it was 45.28 cmH2O and was statistically significantly lower compared to the measurement before the procedure (p < 0.001) and 3 months after the procedure (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The degree of curvature of the spine before the procedure does not significantly affect initial values of the strength of respiratory muscles. The level of MIP is not dependent on the type of surgery.