Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect, in long-term postoperative follow-up (more than 15 years), of combined spinal fusion (anterior and posterior) and only posterior on the pulmonary function of patients with congenital scoliosis. METHODS: Case series with five patients, operated on from 03/1997 to 12/2009, groups: dual approach with anterior arthrodesis through thoracotomy versus only posterior arthrodesis. Data processed in SPSS 20.0. Comparison of means (Student's t-test and Anova, or Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis/Dunn) with p = 0.05. RESULTS: There was no difference in the absolute and predicted percentage values of pulmonary function FVC (Forced Vital Capacity) and FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second), Cobb of the main thoracic curve and thoracic kyphosis between the groups, in the preoperative and last follow-up (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in preoperative and postoperative pulmonary function parameters between the groups, after an average follow-up of 17 years, and there were also no significant differences in relation to the radiographic variables evaluated. Level of evidence IV; Serie Cases.