» Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) causes restrictive lung disease, secondary to deformation of the thoracic cavity, stiffening of the chest wall, and weakening of the respiratory muscles. » Early spinal fusion has been shown to limit thoracic growth and be associated with poor pulmonary outcomes. This has led to the rise of growth-friendly surgical techniques to maximize thoracic growth. » Radiographic improvements occur, but lung functions do not predictably improve in proportion to normal growth after growth-friendly spine surgery for EOS. » Outcome measures in combination with lung function tests should be explored to better define the impact of EOS and its treatments.
Manning et al. (Mon,) studied this question.