Hi, I am looking for research evidence to support that breathing issues are caused by Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. I’m specifically looking for how severe the degree of the thoracic curve needs to be before issues are noted and specifically the severity of the breathing problems encountered. I’m not interested in opinions published on surgeon web sites; I am looking for EVIDENCE based research. I am also interested in Evidence based research that demonstrates that spinal fusion surgery improves breathing issues. I have access to a College Library, so Titles and year published only are ok. Any help will be appreciated.
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Hi Roxanne...
A search of idiopathic scoliosis and pulmonary brought up 277 citations. For example, "Spinal factors affecting pulmonary function in patients with Scoliosis" or "Scoliosis on pulmonary function". You can do your own search at http://www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/pubmed/. If you go back to the studies done prior to 1980, there are a lot of studies addressing the issues you mentioned.
Regards,
LindaNever argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
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Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation
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I also find it useful to get on scholar.google.com and type in what you are looking for, in this case maybe idiopathic scoliosis pulmonary. Unfortunately if you do not have access to online journals (ie not at a hospital or academic institution), you can't really read much more than the abstract, though some are published as free articles.
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Now I'm confused ?
Thank you both for the research tips. It also turns out I was using the advance search tool incorrectly. Plus I think using the word “pulmonary” is helpful.
I’m not a professional research scientist, nor a doctor. However, it seems to me that there is a plethora of data out there that contradicts. I had a highly respected doctor make the following statements to me, which basically challenged what I thought I knew about AIS. (I had been referred to him because my thoracic curve is now measuring 90 degrees, when last measured in 1990 it was 72 degrees)
1. Studies that linked breathing issues to scoliosis included all types of scoliosis and were not just AIS.
Here’s what I’ve found so far:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2572584/ Full text, appears to support that early studies included all types of scoliosis when studying pulmonary function.
http://www.actacams.com/Jwk_yxkxy/EN...umn_1186.shtml Full text (thank you Linda) appears to show a correlation between Idiopathic scoliosis and pulmonary function, however it does not specify if the idiopathic scoliosis subjects are Adolescent cases (not that I can see)
2. I understood him to say if I had any breathing issues they were not related to the scoliosis.
Here’s what I’ve found so far:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16140807 - quote from abstract “but the majority of the observed variability in pulmonary function was not explained by the radiographic characteristics of the deformity.” I have access to the full text, and this article does in part seem to support my doctor’s view.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21270699 - I don’t have access to the full text on this article and I’d really like to see it.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/289....full.pdf+html Full text “Health and Function of Patients With Untreated Idiopathic Scoliosis A 50-Year Natural History Study”
3. Progressive curves have pain associated with them. – I’m still trying to find data on this one.
Another preliminary observation that I’ve made is there seem to be two diametrically opposed medical communities, SOSORT and SRS. SOSORT’s papers seem to be much easier to access.
RoxanneRoxanne
Milwaukee Brace 2 years
Fused 1976
Fusion Repair 1979
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Originally posted by Roxanne1979 View PostThank you both for the research tips. It also turns out I was using the advance search tool incorrectly. Plus I think using the word “pulmonary” is helpful.
I’m not a professional research scientist, nor a doctor. However, it seems to me that there is a plethora of data out there that contradicts. I had a highly respected doctor make the following statements to me, which basically challenged what I thought I knew about AIS. (I had been referred to him because my thoracic curve is now measuring 90 degrees, when last measured in 1990 it was 72 degrees)
1. Studies that linked breathing issues to scoliosis included all types of scoliosis and were not just AIS.
Here’s what I’ve found so far:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2572584/ Full text, appears to support that early studies included all types of scoliosis when studying pulmonary function.
http://www.actacams.com/Jwk_yxkxy/EN...umn_1186.shtml Full text (thank you Linda) appears to show a correlation between Idiopathic scoliosis and pulmonary function, however it does not specify if the idiopathic scoliosis subjects are Adolescent cases (not that I can see)
Originally posted by Roxanne1979 View Post2. I understood him to say if I had any breathing issues they were not related to the scoliosis.
Here’s what I’ve found so far:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16140807 - quote from abstract “but the majority of the observed variability in pulmonary function was not explained by the radiographic characteristics of the deformity.” I have access to the full text, and this article does in part seem to support my doctor’s view.
Originally posted by Roxanne1979 View Posthttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21270699 - I don’t have access to the full text on this article and I’d really like to see it.
Considering that adult patients with PFTs of < 50% predicted values have an extremely guarded prognosis for respiratory failure, combined with the known deterioration of vital capacity with the normal aging process, the rather sanguine opinion provided by some investigators regarding pulmonary morbidity in later-onset or AIS seems in need of re-evaluation.
Originally posted by Roxanne1979 View Posthttp://jama.ama-assn.org/content/289....full.pdf+html Full text “Health and Function of Patients With Untreated Idiopathic Scoliosis A 50-Year Natural History Study”
Weinstein SL, Zavala DC, Ponseti IV.
Idiopathic scoliosis: long-term follow-up and prognosis in untreated patients.
J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1981 Jun;63(5):702-12. PubMed PMID: 6453874.
It was one of the first to show a link to progressing scoliosis and pulmonary function deficit.
Originally posted by Roxanne1979 View Post3. Progressive curves have pain associated with them. – I’m still trying to find data on this one.
Hawes MC, O'Brien JP.
A century of spine surgery: what can patients expect?
Disabil Rehabil. 2008;30(10):808-17. Review. PubMed PMID: 18432439.
Like I said above, it seems fairly clear that larger curves negatively affect pulmonary function. There are arguments against this basic statement but they get down to somewhat semantic issues. The lack of correlation between cobb angle and decreased PF, just highlights that there are other factors in play as well, e.g. lower activity level (due to scoliosis?) or encouragement during testing. As well, these are mostly cross sectional studies. I'm sure there are longitudinal studies (Weistein certainly is). These types of studies would better show the relationship of curve progression and PF decreases.
Originally posted by Roxanne1979 View PostAnother preliminary observation that I’ve made is there seem to be two diametrically opposed medical communities, SOSORT and SRS. SOSORT’s papers seem to be much easier to access.
Roxanne
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Originally posted by Kevin_Mc View PostSOSORT also publishes primarily in an open source journal Scoliosis. Whereas SRS seems to push publications in Spine, JBJS and JOR, which require a subscription.
JBJS seems to be up there also though not above Spine. I don't yet have vibe for JOR.
I do have a vibe for certain other journals that we see posted here from time to time... they do not appear to be in the top tier when it comes to scoliosis but I don't know that.Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis
No island of sanity.
Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
Answer: Medicine
"We are all African."
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Originally posted by Pooka1 View PostThis isn't my field but I am getting the distinct impression that Spine is the Science or Nature of the spinal orthopedics journals. That is, cream of the cream of the journals with the highest impact factor.
JBJS seems to be up there also though not above Spine. I don't yet have vibe for JOR.
I do have a vibe for certain other journals that we see posted here from time to time... they do not appear to be in the top tier when it comes to scoliosis but I don't know that.
If you are referring to Scoliosis, that journal hasn't been around long enough to get a rating yet.
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