A Retrospective Cohort Study of Pulmonary Function, Radiographic Measures and Quality of Life in Children with Congenital Scoliosis: An Evaluation of Patient Outcomes after Traditional Spine Surgery

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate pulmonary function and quality of life (QOL) of children who were treated with growing rods and/or fusion for progressive congenital scoliosis and to compare them to those of healthy children. The relationships between radiographic measures, pulmonary function, and QOL in children with progressive congenital scoliosis will also be examined.

Methods: Twenty three patients (average 14± 5 years) with a primary diagnosis of congenital scoliosis who were treated with growing rod/fusion and subsequent fusion were evaluated using radiographs, pulmonary function testing and QOL surveys using Child Health Questionnaire Parent Form (CHQ). They were, on average, 6.5 years post definitive fusion. Average age at initial surgery was 6 years and average age at definitive fusion was 7 years.

Results: Forced vital capacity (FVC)(p<0 .0001), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (p<0.0001), total lung capacity (p="0.036)." and vital (p<0.0001) were significantly lower than those healthy children. The average percent predicted FVC FEV1 68.3% 67.6% respectively. CHQ scores our study patients children physical function general health summary (p<0.001) higher bodily pain impact on parent time

Discussion: Compared with healthy peers, patients with congenital scoliosis treated with a growing rod technique and/or subsequent fusion have significantly worse pulmonary function and quality of life scores when assessed at an average of 7.5 years following initial surgery. Current efforts are underway to ascertain the relative effects of spinal deformity, characteristics of the growing rod technique and time of definitive fusion on QOL and pulmonary function in this population.