Paediatr Respir Rev
. 2026 May 16:S1526-0542(26)00046-1.
doi: 10.1016/j.prrv.2026.05.004. Online ahead of print. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42191544/
The effect of musculoskeletal abnormalities on lung function in children born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia
H B Q Brand 1, H T Fitzgerald 2, S Haggie 2, J A Prat Matifoll 3, L Hatton 2, C Pandit 2, H Selvadurai 4, R D’Cruz 5, J Karpelowsky 6, D A Fitzgerald 4
Affiliations Expand
- PMID: 42191544
- DOI: 10.1016/j.prrv.2026.05.004
Free article
Abstract
Background: Chest wall deformities (CWD) and scoliosis are common comorbidities in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) survivors. Their effects on lung function remain unclear.
Methods: We retrospectively analysed 184 CDH patients treated in our clinic between 1999 and 2025, of whom 166 (90.2%) survived until discharge. We matched patients with varying degrees of musculoskeletal abnormalities to controls from our cohort and compared spirometry data.
Results: 6.7% of patients had scoliosis and 57.9% had CWD, most commonly asymmetry of the chest (46.4%) and pectus excavatum (42.1%). CWD were usually ipsilateral (95.4%) but the convexity of scoliosis varied. 5/12 scoliosis patients received treatment, and none of the CWD patients. Moderate CWD was associated with lower forced vital capacity in univariate (Z-score effect size -2.08, p < 0.01) and multivariate (-1.53, p = 0.015) analyses.
Conclusions: Chest wall deformities are common in children born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. More severe chest wall deformities in CDH were associated with a lower forced vital capacity.
Keywords: Chest wall deformities; Congenital diaphragmatic Hernia; Lung function; Pectus excavatum; Radiology; Scoliosis.
Copyright © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
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