Ann Rehabil Med.  2013 Dec;37(6):875-878. 10.5535/arm.2013.37.6.875.

Successful Surgery for Scoliosis Supported by Pulmonary Rehabilitation in a Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Patient With Forced Vital Capacity Below 10%

• Lee JW
• Won YH
• Choi WA
• Lee SK
• Kang SW

• KMID: 2266567
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2013.37.6.875

Abstract

Low vital capacity is a risk factor for scoliosis correction operation in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients, but pulmonary rehabilitation, including noninvasive intermittent positive pressure ventilator application, air stacking exercise, and assisted coughing technique, reduces the pulmonary complications and perioperative mortality risk. In this case, the patient's preoperative forced vital capacity (FVC) was 8.6% of normal predicted value in sitting position and 9.4% in supine position. He started pulmonary rehabilitation before the operation and continued right after the operation. Scoliosis correction operation was successful without any pulmonary complications, and his discomfort in sitting position was improved. If pulmonary rehabilitative support is provided properly, FVC below 10% of normal predicted value is not a contraindication of scoliosis correction operation in DMD patients.

Keyword

Scoliosis; Low vital capacity; Duchenne muscular dystrophy; Pulmonary rehabilitation

MeSH Terms

Cough
Humans
Mortality
Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne*
Rehabilitation*
Risk Factors
Scoliosis*
Supine Position
Ventilators, Mechanical
Vital Capacity*

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Preoperative and postoperative whole spine X-rays show improved scoliosis. Cobb's angle on preoperative X-ray was 58.1° and the postoperative angle was 48.5°.

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