Thoracoplasty in the Surgical Treatment of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

A consecutive series of 40 adolescents surgically treated between 1998-2001, by posterior spinal fusion and thoracoplasty were compared with a similar group of 40 adolescents treated in the same period by posterior only segmental fusion. Clinical and radiographic analysis was performed, including the SRS-30 questionnaire and Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT). Minimum five years follow-up was requested. No statistical differences were found between the two groups in PFT's both pre-operatively and at latest follow up. Our findings suggest that thoracoplasty did not adversely affected long-term PFT's in AIS patients treated by posterior spinal fusion alone.