Forced vital capacity and maximal respiratory pressures in patients with mild and moderate scoliosis

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Abstract
Summary. Lung function and maximal respiratory pressures of 24 adolescent females with mild-to-moderate idiopathic scoliosis (spinal curvature 10-60°) were determined and compared with 38 age- and sex-matched controls. Twelve patients with moderate scoliosis (Cobb angle 35-60°) had significantly reduced mean values for FVC (% predicted) and maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), as compared to the controls. Twelve patients with mild scoliosis (Cobb angle <35°) had normal mean values for FVC and maximal respiratory pressures, but five individual patients had FVC values less than 80% predicted. All but one of the patients with mild scoliosis had normal MIP values. FVC (% predicted) was significantly correlated with the degree of spinal curvature (r = -0.466; P<0.05) but was not related to MIP. These results indicate that reduced FVC values do occur in patients with mild-to-moderate idiopathic scoliosis and suggest that these low FVC values can be attributed to the rib cage deformity rather than to an inability to generate adequate inspiratory pressures.