Safa N, Wei S, Saran N, et al. - Researchers sought to determine the incidence, severity, and predictors of musculoskeletal deformities (MD), including scoliosis and chest wall anomalies, among children who had undergone thoracic procedures.

Longitudinal follow-ups with dedicated musculoskeletal examination were performed among children younger than 14 years who had thoracic surgery between 1997 and 2012 and had no other predispositions to MD, in esophageal atresia, orthopedic, or research clinic. Among 104 included patients, they identified the development of 56 MD in 41 patients (39%), including scapular winging (24; 23%), scoliosis (17; 16%), and chest wall anomalies (15; 14%), during a median follow-up of 10.8 years (range 3–21). Observations here suggest that a significant proportion of children develops musculoskeletal deformities following thoracic surgery, but most are subclinical. The incidence of these deformities decreases in correlation with undertaking a muscle-sparing technique.