The influence of preoperative brace treatment on the pulmonary function test in female adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the influence of preoperative brace treatment on the pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in females with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND

Brace is a selection of conservative treatment for some patients with AIS. Some authors reported that wearing a brace could impair the PFTs, although there are no reports that analyze the related factors.

METHODS

Preoperative PFTs were evaluated in 270 female patients with AIS. The patients were classified into 2 groups: group A, with preoperative brace treatment, 70 cases; and group B, without preoperative brace treatment, 200 cases. The differences of the PFTs between the 2 groups were compared.

RESULTS

The predicted values of forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) in group A and B were 3.26 L and 3.20 L, 2.78 L and 2.73 L, respectively, (both P>0.05). The actual values of FVC and FEV1 in group A and B were 2.61 L and 2.72 L, 2.37 L and 2.48 L, respectively, (both P>0.05). The percentage of actual value and predicted value of FVC(FVC%) and FEV1(FEV1%) in group A and B were 80.6% and 85.2%, 85.7% and 91.1%, respectively, and group A had significantly lower values when compared with those of group B (both P<0.05). This difference was significant in patients with a primary thoracic curve (166 cases) (P<0.05), whereas not in patients with a primary thoracolumbar/lumbar curve (104 cases) (P>0.05). In group A, there were significant correlations between the sagittal Cobb angle of the thoracic curve and the actual values of FVC and FEV1 and FVC% and FEV1% (both P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative brace treatment can reduce the FVC% and FEV1% in thoracic AIS. The sagittal Cobb angle of the thoracic curve may be the influential factors.