Pulmonary compensatory indexes in children and adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis I degree.

Spirometric and plethysmographic examinations were performed in two groups of children. Group I: 23 children with scoliosis I degree by the Cobb (spinal curvature 17.2 degree) which comprised 12 girls and 11 boys at the age of 8-16 years (the mean age was 11.4 +/- 2.4 yr). The Control Group consisted of 20 children--13 girls and 7 boys at the age of 8-16 years (the mean age was 13.77 +/- 1.72 yr). The measurements were performed using Body-plethysmograph with pneumotachograph Jaeger. Total lung capacity (TLC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), residual volume (RV), intrathoracic gas volume (ITGV) and at the same time curve indexes, dependence of maximum expiratory flow lung volume, MEF75%VC, MEF50%VC, MEF25%VC were determined. Maximum expiratory flows in relation to vital capacity and total lung capacity were defined as so called compensatory indexes. Slightly decreased values of total lung capacity (TLC) and statistically significantly decreased intrathoracic gas volume (ITGV) as well as residual volume (RV) were found in children with scoliosis in early stage. Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) were statistically significantly higher in comparison to the control group. Compensatory index MEF50%VC/FVC in children in the early stage of scoliosis was statistically significantly decreased in comparison to the control group (p < 0.02).