PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - J M Shneerson
AU  - M A Edgar
TI  - Cardiac and respiratory function before and after spinal fusion in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
AID  - 10.1136/thx.34.5.658
DP  - 1979 Oct 01
TA  - Thorax
PG  - 658--661
VI  - 34
IP  - 5
4099  - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/34/5/658.short
4100  - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/34/5/658.full
SO  - Thorax1979 Oct 01; 34
AB  - Ten girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were studied before and 17-23 months after spinal fusion. None had any cardiac or respiratory disease complicating the scoliosis. They underwent a range of resting lung function tests and a progressive exercise test. The mean angle of scoliosis decreased from 65.8 to 27.3 degrees after operation but the only significant physiological benefit detected in this study was a decrease in the submaximal minute ventilation. The physiological benefit of spinal fusion was therefore much less prominent than the anatomical improvement of the spinal curvature.