Predicting pulmonary function using thoracic deformity parameters in early onset scoliosis patients

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics and Pulmonology
• Pediatric Spine Deformities
• Radiographic Analysis

Background:

• Early onset scoliosis (EOS) can cause thoracic insufficiency syndrome, impairing respiration and lung growth.
• Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) assess lung deficits but are difficult for young EOS patients (5-10 years).
• Predicting PFT values from radiographic parameters is needed for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop predictive models for PFT values in EOS patients using routine radiographic deformity parameters.
• To identify key radiographic parameters contributing to pulmonary function deficits in EOS.
• To provide quantitative metrics for surgical treatment guidance.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 47 EOS patients' preoperative radiographs and PFT values.
• Measurement of 19 literature-based thoracospinal deformity parameters.
• Multiple linear regression (MLR) models developed to predict %FVC and %FEV1, with validation on 10% of the data.

Main Results:

• Significant MLR models were developed, predicting %FVC (R2=0.54) and %FEV1 (R2=0.59) (p < 0.001).
• The models demonstrated high predictive accuracy for PFT values using multiple deformity parameters.
• Validation testing showed no significant differences in prediction error magnitudes.

Conclusions:

• Developed MLR models offer high precision in predicting PFT values from radiographic parameters in EOS.
• Identified key deformity parameters provide quantitative insights for surgical planning.
• These models can aid in assessing pulmonary status and guiding treatment for EOS patients.