Table 2.

Documented Causes of Death^a

Cause of death	Deceased unoperated children with CP and scoliosis (n = 38)	Deceased operated children with CP and scoliosis (n = 29)	p Valueb
Neurologic causes (all combined)	15.8 (7)	44.8 (13)	0.009
Epilepsy	5.2 (2)	10.3 (3)	0.433
Anoxic brain damage because of inhalation of gastric contents or foreign body	0 (0)	17.2 (5)	0.008
Anoxic brain damage, not classified	0 (0)	10.3 (3)	0.042
CP or unspecified disorder of brain	13.1 (5)	13.8 (4)	0.940
Respiratory causes (all combined)	76.3 (29)	37.9 (11)	0.002
Pneumonia or pneumonitis	71.0 (27)	37.9 (11)	0.007
ARDS or respiratory failure	5.3 (2)	0 (0)	0.210
Other medical causes, accidents or poisoning	5.3 (2)	10.3 (3)	0.433

Abbreviations: ARDS = acute respiratory distress syndrome; CP = cerebral palsy.

^aValues given in percentage and numbers of patients.

^bComparison between unoperated on and operated on patients with scoliosis.