Effects of Pectus Excavatum on the Spine of Pectus Excavatum Patients with Scoliosis

BACKGROUND There is high risk in the correction surgery of pectus excavatum with scoliosis because of the lack of the correction mechanism of pectus excavatum with scoliosis. This study performed a comprehensive analysis about the impact that pectus excavatum had on scoliosis and elaborated its biomechanical mechanism in pectus excavatum patients with scoliosis. METHODS 37 pectus excavatum patients were selected. According to age, Haller index of pectus excavatum, offset coefficient, vertical position, sternal torsion angle, and asymmetric index, 37 patients were, respectively, divided into 2 compared groups. The result was statistically calculated. RESULTS The scoliosis incidence and severity did not correlate with Haller index, offset coefficient, vertical position, sternal torsion angle, and asymmetric index of pectus excavatum, and there was no statistical significance between the two compared groups. CONCLUSIONS The incidence and severity of scoliosis in PE patients with scoliosis have nothing to do with the geometric parameters of pectus excavatum but correlate with age. The scoliosis will aggravate with the increase of age. The heart may provide an asymmetric horizontal force to push the spines to the right. The mechanism of how the biomechanical factors exert influences on spines needs to be further investigated to keep the spine stable.