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. 2015 Jan-Mar;19(1):114-9.

Postural defects in children with cystic fibrosis - preliminary report

Tomasz Rawo  1 , Marek Tramś, Paweł Michalski, Dorota Sands
Affiliations
  • PMID: 26003077

Postural defects in children with cystic fibrosis - preliminary report

Tomasz Rawo et al. Dev Period Med. 2015 Jan-Mar.

Abstract

Postural disturbances may cause the worsening of cardiopulmonary function in cystic fibrosis children and adolescents, as well as adversely affect their somatic and psychological development.

The aim: Evaluation of postural defects in the population of cystic fibrosis children and adolescents.

Material and methods: Physical orthopedic examination of 41 cystic fibrosis patients (20 girls, 21 boys), aged 2-17 years (mean 8.1). The patients were divided into age groups: I under 5 y.o - 8 patients., II 5-9 y.o.- 6 patients, III 9-13 y.o - 11 patients, IV 13 y.o. and older - 16 patients. Postural disorders were divided into two groups. The first group included defects with a possible influence on the respiratory function of a cystic fibrosis patient: scoliosis, spine defects and chest deformities. The second group included lower extremities defects without influence on the function of the respiratory system.

Results: Postural as well as chest disorders were observed in 36 (87.8%) of the patients who were examined. Disorders with possible influence on respiratory system function, were observed in 13 (31.7%) of the 41 patients. Increased thoracic kyphosis (round back) was most frequent. In the group of patients aged 5 years and younger neither spinal nor chest abnormalities were observed. In the group of patients aged 5-9 years 1 (16.6%) case of congenital scoliosis and 1 (16.6%) case of plane back were found. In the group of children aged 9-13 years increased thoracic kyphosis was observed in 2 (18.1%) cases, plane back was observed in 2 (18.1%) children as well, while in 1 (9.0%) case increased lumbar lordosis was diagnosed. Barrell chest was observed in 2 (18.1%) cases. In the group of adolescents aged 13 years and more, 4 (25.0%) cases of scoliosis, 16 (100%) cases of increased thoracic kyphosis and 6 (37.5%) cases of barrel chest were observed. Because of the different methods of examination among posture studies of the healthy population, obtaining a control population is difficult.

Conclusions: The number of postural defects in children with cystic fibrosis increases with age, and is becoming a significant health problem. It seems that there is a need of a deeper study on a greater population. .

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