Aside from preoperative PFT values, open anterior approaches predict the largest percent of variance in 2-year PFT. Additionally, a clinically significant reduction in the predicted 2-year pulmonary function is more likely when performing a thoracoplasty. The magnitude of the effects for both these variables, however, is modest. This may facilitate the decision-making process as regards to operative intervention.
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Newton et al. (2007) studied this question.
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