Value of Preoperative Pulmonary Function Test in Flaccid Neuromuscular Scoliosis Surgery

Retrospective study.To evaluate the prognostic value of preoperative pulmonary function test (PFT) for postoperative pulmonary complications and to identify the operability associated with severely decreased forced vital capacity (FVC) (50% FVC). Then postoperative pulmonary complications, pneumothorax, pneumonia, atelectasis, prolonged ventilator care in the intensive care unit (more than 72 hours), and postoperative tracheostomy were evaluated.Among these patients, 59 had muscular dystrophy; 5, spinal muscular atrophy; 2, cerebral palsy; and 8, others. The mean age at surgery was 16.8 years (range, 5-32 years). The mean preoperative Cobb angle was 54.6° (16°-135°). The overall postoperative pulmonary complication rate was 31% (23 complications in 74 patients). The less than 30% FVC group had 6 complications among 18 patients; the 30% to 50% FVC group had 7 complications among 18 patients; and the more than 50% FVC group had 10 complications among 38 patients. There were no deaths during the perioperative period. There is no statistical difference between the three groups (P = 0.6195).Patients with flaccid neuromuscular scoliosis can undergo an operation for deformity correction regardless of the severely decreased pulmonary function.