Functional breathing evaluation in patients with high spinal injury

The restrictive defect was quantified (Forced vital capacity, FVC) and their postural dependence and the respiratory muscle weakness (Maximal inspiratory and espiratory pressures, MIP and MEP) in 29 patients (12 to 46 years) with spinal injury from cervical (C) 4 to thoracic (T) 7 (30 days to 48 months post injury period). The FVC in C (seated) was 2200±560 ml (47.2%), and in T was 2940±750 ml (66.6%), p< 0.008. The postural dependence of the FVC was higher in C with an increase of 25% and only of 10% in the T (p< 0.03). This postural dependence was a function of the FVC according to the regression equation: FVC % (supine) = 24.73+ 0.7341* FVC % seated (r 0.8771, p< 0.001). The MIP in C was 61.59 (53.82%)±17.26 cm H2O and in T was 87.25 (77.85%)±24.27 cmH2O (p< 0.05). The MEP in C was 48.53 (24.97%)±18.09 cm H2O, and in T was 58.75 (30.74%)±27.67 cmH2O (p NS). No correlation was found between FVC and maximal statics respiratory pressures. In conclusion, the C showed more significant restrictive defect and a great postural dependence of the FVC. In both, the espiratory muscle weakness was more severe than the inspiratory group. Inspiratory muscle weakness was higher in C.