Scoping Review of the Correlation between Infantile Chest Wall Surgery and Scoliosis Risk

Main Article Content

Michael Ginzburg, PsyD, LMFT, CO Rachel White, CPO

Abstract

The relationship between the chest wall surgeries performed in infancy and the risk on scoliosis onset is poorly understood and controversial. A series of investigations, including systematic literature review and retrospective analysis, was performed and revealed a prevalence of scoliosis in the post-surgical population that exceeds that seen in the general population by a significant amount. Further, the 1:1 M:F ratio seen in the post-surgical does not correspond to the ratio seen in the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis diagnosis, while the prevalence of the left-sided thoracic curves and the progression of the scoliotic curves to surgical magnitudes are also diverging from the AIS norms. The population that has experienced chest wall surgery in infancy has been shown to exhibit conditions that impact scoliosis risk and treatment compliance. The classification of the post-surgical curves as syndromic scoliosis is advised. The patient population that has experienced infantile chest wall surgery is recommended to be screened for scoliosis more frequently and at a younger age as compared to their peers. Unique benefits of supplementing conservative scoliosis care with behavioral health/psychotherapeutic interventions is discussed below.

Keywords: Infantile chest wall surgery, Scoliosis risk, Thoracotomy, Sternotomy, Congenital heart disease, Pediatric orthopedics, Post-surgical scoliosis, Syndromic scoliosis, Cobb angle, Early detection

Article Details

How to Cite
GINZBURG, Michael; WHITE, Rachel. Scoping Review of the Correlation between Infantile Chest Wall Surgery and Scoliosis Risk. Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 13, n. 8, aug. 2025. ISSN 2375-1924. Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/6842>. Date accessed: 15 dec. 2025. doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v13i8.6842.
Section
Review Articles

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