The Impact of Spine Surgery on Signs and Symptoms of Spinal Deformity
Pediatric Rehabilitation, 2006 Oct-Dec; 9(4):318-36 Hawes, M. indicates:
Scoliosis surgery does not improve symptoms such as reduced pulmonary function, increased pain and impaired quality of life. In fact, she goes on to say that these factors seem to worsen into adulthood, even if the scoliosis curvature remains stable.
This is likely due to the fact that the surgery fuses the spine, thus diminishing the function of the attached muscles of respiration.
American Orthopedic Association reported that for “70% of patients treated surgically, the outcome was fair or poor…. Successful surgery still does not eliminate spinal curvature and it introduces irreversible complications whose long-term impact is poorly understood. For most patients there is little or no improvement in pulmonary function….”
The rib hump deformity is eliminated only by rib resection which can dramatically reduce respiratory function even in healthy adolescents. Outcome for pulmonary function and deformity is worse in patients treated surgically before the age of 10 years, despite earlier intervention. Research to develop effective non-surgical methods to prevent progression of mild, reversible spinal curvatures into complex, irreversible spinal deformities is long overdue.”
I agree with the conclusion but the research is flawed. Did all the patients have issues with pulmonary function originally? I suspect not. Also 70% of patients treated surgically had a poor outcome?. What was the outcome measured against. And at what stage was the outcome considered? Are you measuring outcome against pulmonary function or against pain and other issues? Are the 70% part of a RCS?