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Evaluation of Respiratory Muscle Activation Using Respiratory Motor Control Assessment (RMCA) in Individuals with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: July 19, 2013
Predicting normal lung function in patients with childhood spinal cord injury
E M K Bergström1, G Savic, D J Short
1National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Mandeville Road, Aylesbury, Bucks, UK.
Insights
Height and arm span differ significantly in children with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Using arm span instead of height for predicted lung function calculations alters results, impacting interpretation of pulmonary function tests in SCI patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Clinical Biomechanics
Background:
- Standard lung function prediction formulae rely on anthropometric measurements like height.
- Children with spinal cord injuries (SCI) may exhibit altered body proportions, potentially affecting measurement accuracy.
- The suitability of standard anthropometric measures for predicting lung function in pediatric SCI populations is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare height and arm span measurements in children with SCI.
- To evaluate the impact of using height versus arm span on predicted lung function.
- To determine the most appropriate measurement for lung function prediction formulae in this cohort.
Main Methods:
- Prospective observational study involving 12 children with SCI.
- Simultaneous measurement of height and arm span during pulmonary function testing.
- Calculation of predicted lung function using both height and arm span, followed by comparison with actual test results.
Main Results:
- Significant differences were observed between mean height (1499 mm) and arm span (1649 mm) (P<0.001).
- Arm span measurements consistently exceeded height measurements in all participants.
- Predicted lung function values differed significantly based on the anthropometric measure used (P<0.001), leading to varied interpretations of actual lung function.
Conclusions:
- Significant discrepancies exist between height and arm span in children with SCI.
- These anthropometric differences substantially influence predicted lung function values and the interpretation of pulmonary function tests.
- Further research is needed to establish the optimal measurement (height or arm span) for prediction equations in pediatric SCI.
Study Design:
A prospective observational study.
Objectives:
To compare the height and arm span measurements in childhood spinal cord injured (SCI) people and examine the subsequent effect on calculating the predicted lung function using standard formulae and to discuss which of the two measurements is the most appropriate to use in these formulae.
Setting:
National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, UK.
Method:
A total of 12 children had lung function tests performed and at the same time had height and armspan measured. The predicted lung function was calculated twice; once using height and then using arm span and compared. The actual lung function test results were expressed as percentage of the two predicted values, respectively, and compared.
Results:
The difference between the mean height (1499 mm) and arm span (1649 mm) measurements was significant (P<0.001). In all cases, the arm span measurement was greater than the height. The two predicted lung function values (one calculated using height and the other armspan) were significantly different (P<0.001). When lung function test results were expressed as percentage of the two predicted values they gave a very different interpretation of the results. The actual performance was much lower than the predicted values if arm span, rather than height, was used in prediction equations.
Conclusion:
In childhood SCI, the difference in height and arm span is significant. This affects the predicted lung function values significantly and thus changes the interpretation of the lung function test results. The most appropriate measurement to use in prediction equations (height or arm span) in these subjects is yet to be decided.
