Annals of Pulmonology

Research Article Pages 33-38

Lung Function In Children With Scoliosis and Enhanced Spirometry Sensitivity When Using Arm Span Index for Restriction Detection

Authors: Snezhina Lazova, Vasil Yablanski, Evgeni Vlaev, Stamatios Priftis, Emilia Naseva, Penka Perenovska and Guergana Petrova

Abstract: Scoliosis is the most common abnormality of the spine with direct effects on the thoracic cage, leading to potentially severe and irreversible changes in lung function. Scoliosis has generally been associated with the development of restrictive lung disease. Due to the lateral curvature of the spine in children with scoliosis, the measured height does not correspond to the actual one and could not be used as the authoritative index for the calculation of the predicted values for both static and dynamic lung volumes. The indicator arm span (distance between the middle fingers on the outstretched arms horizontally) is a standardized method for calculation of a predictive height in cases where it is impossible to measure the actual one.

| | |