Cardiopulmonary Consequences of Scoliosis and the Clinical Implications of VO2max: A Systematic Review

Introduction: max as a marker of surgical recovery. Materials and methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane for eligible studies reporting cardiopulmonary outcomes in pediatric scoliosis. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools and the ROBINS-I risk-of-bias tool. Results were synthesized narratively following the Synthesis Without Meta-analysis guideline. Conclusions: max may provide the most integrative marker of physiological burden, and prospective longitudinal data are required to establish its role in recovery after surgery. Key Concept: max into preoperative assessment and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery pathways may enhance risk stratification, inform prehabilitation strategies, and guide postoperative rehabilitation, enabling more individualized perioperative care for children and adolescents undergoing scoliosis surgery.