There are controversies in the literature about thoracoplasty and its effect on lung function changes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect and outcome of thoracoplasty in conjunction with pedicle screw construct in the treatment of thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis on lung functions. It is a retrospective study of consecutive series of 62 patients with thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgically treated by single surgeon between 2007 and 2008 at a tertiary referral Orthopaedic Spinal unit. Posterior spinal fusion and thoracoplasty (n=32, all but one girls) were compared with 30 without thoracoplasty (all but one girls). Clinical and radiographic analysis was performed, including the SRS-30 questionnaire and Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT). Absolute and percent-predicted values of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and total lung capacity (TLC) were evaluated preoperatively and at 3-months, 1 year and/or 2-year follow-up, and comparisons were made between two groups. The minimum follow-up was one year.Introduction
Materials and methods
