Abstract
To analyze the dynamics of the thoracic spine during deep breathing in AIS patients and in healthy matched controls.
Case-control cross-sectional study. 20 AIS patients (18 girls, Cobb angle, 54.7±7.9°; Risser 1.35±1.2) and 15 healthy volunteers (11 girls) matched in age (12.5 versus 15.8 yr. mean age) were included. In AIS curves, the apex was located in T8 (14) and T9 (6). Conventional sagittal radiographs of the whole spine were performed at maximal inspiration and expiration. The ROM of each spinal thoracic functional segment (T1-T7, T7-T10, T10-T12), the global T1–T12 ROM were measured. Respiratory function was assess by forced vital capacity (FVC), expiratory volume (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, inspiratory vital capacity (IVC) and peak expiratory flow (PEF).
In healthy subjects, the mean T1–T12 ROM during forced breathing was 16.7±3.8. AIS patients showed a T1-T12 ROM of 1.1±1.5 (p<0.05) indicating a sagittal stiffness of thoracic spine. A wide T7–T10 ROM (15.3±3.0) was found in healthy controls (91.6% of the T1–T12 ROM). AIS patients showed only 0.4±1.4 ROM at T7-T10 (36.4% of the T1–T12 ROM) (p<0.001). There was a significant correlation between T7-T10 ROM and IVC.
Lenke 1A AIS patients show a restriction of the thoracic spine motion with an almost complete abolition of T7-T10 ROM, a crucial segment participating in the deep breathing. T7-T10 stiffness could explain the ventilatory limitations found in AIS patients.
