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PULMONARY FUNCTIONS İN IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS

  • ÇITAK M.
  • BENLİ T.
  • KIŞ M.
  • AKALIN S.
  • MUMCU E.F.

J Turk Spinal Surg 1991;2(1):14-18

One of the main aims of scoliosis treatment is to improve the impaired pulmonary functions or if this is not pos-sible, to sustain the present status of pulmonary capacity.

İn this study results of pre and postoperative pulmonary function test of 62 patients, with idiopathic scoliosis and treated by Cotrel-Dubousset Instrumentation at the 1st Orthopaedics and Traumatology Clinic of Ankara So-cial Security Hospital between December 1988 and June 1991 in the 1., 3., 6., 12., 24.., and 36th postoperative months were evaluated. Spyrometry was used in measuring pulmonary functions. When ali curve types were in-cluded, an improvement in pulmonary functions that started in the İst month, accelerated in the 6th month and reached to a maximum in the 12th month was observed. Maximum improvement was noted in the flexible thoracal lordoscoliotic patients in which derotation a manoeuvre had been performed. İn this group Vital Capacity (VC) im-proved an average of 13.1 % in the 1st month, 22.6 % in the 6th month and 36.9 % at the end of 12th month and no statistical difference was observed after the 24th month.

İn view of these data, it is suggested that Cotrel-Dubousset Instrumentation technique significantly improves pulmonary functions and eventually carries out the primary aim in scoliosis surgery by correcting the chest defor-mity and bringing the sagittal contours to normal limits.

Keywords: İdiopathic Scoliosis, Pulmonary Function Tests.