Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Associated Adenoid Hypertrophy Linked to Scoliotic Attitudes in Children?

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Orthopedics
• Respiratory Medicine
• Radiology

Background:

• Scoliosis is a complex spinal deformity affecting children and adolescents.
• Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) presents before age 10 and requires understanding its causes.
• Adenoid hypertrophy may cause hypoxia, potentially contributing to EOS pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of early-onset scoliosis (EOS) in pediatric patients undergoing adenoidectomy.
• To explore a potential association between adenoid hypertrophy, hypoxia, and the development of EOS.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of radiological and clinical data from 177 children under 10 who had adenoidectomy.
• EOS assessment using Cobb angles from preoperative chest radiographs.
• Statistical analysis including Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman correlation, and ICC for interobserver agreement.

Main Results:

• A 10.2% prevalence of EOS (coronal curvature >10°) was identified in the study cohort.
• Mean participant age was 5.72±2 years, with balanced gender distribution.
• High interobserver reliability (ICC=0.926) confirmed accurate Cobb angle measurements.

Conclusions:

• The observed EOS prevalence suggests a potential link between adenoid hypertrophy, hypoxia, and EOS.
• Further prospective research is crucial to elucidate the mechanisms connecting these factors.
• Understanding these pathways may identify risk factors for early-onset scoliosis.