Monitoring Sleep-Breathing Disorders in Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis

Background: Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) is the most common spinal deformity and is often accompanied by abnormal respiratory function. Methods: This study investigated the correlations among radiographic parameters, pulmonary function tests, and sleep-breathing monitoring in patients with IS. The clinical data of patients with IS admitted to our hospital for scoliosis surgery between January 2020 and March 2022 were retrospectively collected. Radiographic measurements, including scoliosis and thoracic malformation parameters, were performed. Pulmonary function measurements and sleep-breathing monitoring results were collected for correlation analysis. Results: Overall, 19.8% of the 81 participants were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. The sleep-breathing monitoring results showed a significant correlation between the main thoracic curvature and the lowest oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) (r = −0.233; p = 0.036). The degree of thoracic kyphosis significantly correlated with FEV1/FVC (forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity) and FEV1. FEV1 was significantly correlated with the oxygen desaturation index (ODI) (r = −0.242; p = 0.03), as was FVC. Conclusions: In this study, 19.8% of the patients with thoracic IS had obstructive sleep apnea. In patients with IS, the severity of pulmonary function decline and SpO 2 during sleep-breathing correlated with the severity of thoracic scoliosis, whereas the decline in pulmonary function correlated with the ODI during sleep-breathing. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level IV . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.