Management of scoliosis in children with respiratory complications of neurological illness

Altaf and colleagues’ comprehensive article on the management of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis has prompted us to share our experience of treating children with respiratory complications of neurological illness, who commonly have scoliosis.1 The same neuromuscular dysfunction that causes respiratory compromise (such as muscle weakness causing decreased lung function, poor cough, impaired airway clearance, and recurrent pneumonia) often contributes to scoliosis, particularly in non-ambulatory children. Children with scoliosis of any cause can have decreased pulmonary function owing to impaired respiratory …