Spinal posture, mobility, and position sense in adolescents with chest wall deformities: a comparison of pectus excavatum, pectus carinatum and healthy peers

• Published in: Pediatric surgery international Vol. 40; no. 1; p. 178
• Main Authors: METE, Oguzhan, IŞIK, Hakan, PİRİNÇÇİ, Cansu ŞAHBAZ, YAŞA, Mustafa Ertuğrul, SAPMAZ, Ersin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 06.07.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Case-Control Studies; Child; Female; Funnel Chest - complications; Funnel Chest - physiopathology; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mobility; Original; Original Article; Pectus Carinatum - physiopathology; Pediatric Surgery; Pediatrics; Physical therapy; Posture - physiology; Proprioception - physiology; Spine - abnormalities; Spine - physiopathology; Surgery; Teenagers; Thoracic Wall - abnormalities; Thoracic Wall - physiopathology; Pectus excavatum; Thoracic surgery; Pectus carinatum; Proprioception; Spine; Posture
• DOI: 10.1007/s00383-024-05759-0
• ISSN: 1437-9813; 0179-0358

Purpose The study aimed to compare spinal posture, mobility, and position sense in adolescents with pectus excavatum (PE), pectus carinatum (PC), and healthy control (HC). Methods 22 with PE, 22 with PC, and 21 HC were included in the study. The spinal posture (thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, pelvic tilt, thoracic, lumbar, pelvic lateral tilt angles) and mobility (thoracic, lumbar, hip/sacral, and overall, in the sagittal and frontal plane) with the spinal mouse, and spinal position sense (repositing errors) with the inclinometer were assessed. Results The thoracic kyphosis angle of PE and PC was higher than in HC ( p  < 0.001; p  = 0.001). Hip/sacral mobility in the sagittal plane was lower in the PE and PC than control, respectively ( p  < 0.001; p  < 0.001). Overall sagittal spinal mobility ( p :0.007) and hip/sacral mobility in the frontal plane ( p :0.002) were lower in the PC than in HC. Overall frontal spinal mobility was lower in the PE and PC than in HC ( p :0.002; p :0.014). The PE and PC repositing errors were higher ( p  < 0.001; p :0.014). Conclusion The study found that adolescents with PE and PC had decreased spinal mobility, spinal alignment disorders, and a decline in spinal position sense. It is important not to overlook the spine during physical examinations of adolescents with chest wall deformities. In clinical practice, we suggest that adolescents with chest deformities should undergo a spine evaluation and be referred for physical therapy to manage spinal disorders. Highlights Adolescents with pectus excavatum and carinatum had spinal alignment disorders such as increased thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lateral tilt. The spinal mobility was reduced in adolescents with pectus excavatum and carinatum. Adolescents with pectus excavatum and carinatum had weaker spinal position sense than healthy. •Adolescents with pectus excavatum and carinatum should undergo a spine evaluation and be referred for physical therapy.