Purpose of the study: Assessment of limb reconstruction results using vascularized fibular grafts after bony resection for malignant tumors in children.

Material and methods: Thirty children (9 girls and 21 boys)underwent surgery between 1993 and 2000. Mean age was 11 years. Tumor localizations were: femur (n=17), tibia (n=6), humerus (n=5), radius (n=1) and distal ulna (n=1). Mean length of bone resection was 16 cm (range 10–26 cm). For 22 children, the adjacent epiphysis was preserved. For the eight others, fusion was also performed. Two surgical teams operated sequentially: the first team performed the tumor resection and the second (an orthopedist for the osteosynthesis and a plastician for the vascularized fibular transfer) the limb reconstruction. Radiographic and clinical assessment was completed with bone scintigraphy. The index of graft hypertrophy was determined with the De Boer and Wood method. Functional outcome was assessed with Enneking criteria.

Results: Mean follow-up was 51 months (range 2 – 9 years). Early amputation was necessary for two children due to local oncological complications. One patient died of pulmonary metastasis eight months after limb reconstruction. Among the 27 other patients, primary healing was achieved in 22. In the five with primary nonunion, bone scintigraphy showed objective signs of a lack of blood supply to the graft. Secondary union was achieved with a complementary autologous bone graft in four cases. All cases of stress fracture healed with orthopedic treatment. For the 22 patients with primary union, the graft hypetrophy was 22–190% (mean 61%). For the five patients without bone vascularization on the scintigraphy, the fibular graft failed to hypertrophy. Functional outcome was satisfactory. The modified Enneking score (30 point scale) was 26 (range 19–30 points).

Discussion: Limb reconstruction results are directly related to good patency of vascular anastomoses. Postoperative bone scintigraphy is useful to determine blood supply to the graft and to establish the final prognosis. In the case of vascular failure, an autologous bone graft can be proposed early to enable union. Close collaboration between the plastic surgery and the orthopedic team is the key to successful limb reconstruction with a vascularized fibular graft.

Purpose of the study: In spina bifida, independently of limb paralysis, spinal deformation can cause significant static disorders (scoliosis, kyphosis, or hyperlordosis) which in turn cause significant disability. These deformations generally develop during growth. We wanted to determine the predictive value of a clinical classification based on the neurological examination at five years for risk of spinal deformation.

Material: This retrospective study included 163 patients. Groups were defined on the basis of motor function determined by the neurological examination at five years: group I: L5 or below (all patients in this group had motor deficit leaving at least one L5 segment intact); group II: L3–L4; group III: L1–L2; group IV: T12 and above.

Results: Results showed that group I was a factor predictive of an absence of future spinal deformation. Groups III and IV were predictive of presence of a future spinal deformation. Group IV was predictive of future kyphosis.

Discussion: It is well known that the higher the neurological lesion in spina bifida, the higher the rate of spinal deformation. No work has however set the limits nor provided predictive rules useful in clinical practice. Our work demonstrated that this classification based on the motor function established by neurological examination at five years can predict which children have a risk of developing a spinal deformation and thus enabling early detection and treatment.

Conclusion: This neurological classification can be used as a clinical tool for the prognostic evaluation of spina bifida.

Purpose: Since the advent of pinning for supracondylar fractures of the humerus, Volkmann syndrome has been exceptional and most of the posttraumatic compartment syndromes observed in children have been seen in the lower limb. We propose an analysis of the causes, the diagnosis, the treatment and the results of treatment of acute posttraumatic compartment syndrome of the leg in children.

Material and methods: Twenty-eight consecutive cases of acute posttraumatic compartment syndrome in 27 children were reviewed. These children were treated in two American paediatric traumatology units over a ten year period. We evaluated the cause of the trauma, associated lesions, clinical course, diagnostic methods, muscle compartment pressures, time from accident to diagnosis, and time from accident to surgery. Results were analysed at last follow-up.

Results: The study population was 24 boys and three girls, aged 4 months to 15 years. Twenty-four children were pedestrian traffic accident victims. Twenty-two had a tibial fracture, four a femoral fracture, and two no fracture. Twenty-five compartment syndromes were diagnosed on the basis of compartment pressure measurements. Mean time from accident to diagnosis was 19 hours (range 2.5–85 hr). At diagnosis, exacerbated pain was observed in 26 children, paraesthesia in eleven, motor deficit in seven, and diminished pulses in three. Mean time from accident to surgery was 21 hours. Mean follow-up was 15 months. The final outcome was remarkably good. At last follow-up, 24 children were pain free, with no functional or sensorial deficit. Aponeurotomy had been performed very late (43, 83, and 86 hr) in the three patients who developed functional deficit. There were no cases of infection even when surgery was performed late.

Discussion: Most children treated for acute posttraumatic compartment syndrome achieve a good result even when the time from accident to treatment is long, often more than 12 hours. All patients with sequellae at the last follow-up in our series had undergone aponeurotomy more than 36 hours after the accident.

Conclusion: This is the first series devoted exclusively to acute posttraumatic compartment syndrome of the leg in children. The results were generally good despite significant time from accident to treatment.

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to present the long-term outcome after resection of thoraco-lumbar, lumbar, or lumbosacral hemivertebrae in 69 children.

Material and methods: Sixty-nine children (35 girls and 34 boys) underwent surgery at a mean age of 3 years (range 1 year – 10 years 6 months). Mean follow-up was 6 years (range 6 months – 18 years). Resections involved thoracolumbar (n=20), lumbar (n=34), and lumbosacral (n=15) hemivertebrae. Congenital vertebral and visceral malformations were present in 32% and 41% of the children respectively. Ten patients had an underlying neurological malformation.

A single operation was performed in 60 patients using a combined anterior and posterior approach and convex posterior CD baby instrumentation. Nine patients underwent two operations one week apart. All patients wore a corset brace for six months.

Results: Structure curvature: the mean Cobb angle was 35° preoperatively, 16° postoperatively, and 15° at last follow-up.

Compensating curvature: the mean Cobbe angle was 21° preoperatively and 12° at last follow-up. Complications: partial deficit of the anterior tibialis (n=1), nonunion (n=3), infection (n=1), disassembly (n=3), valgum tibia at the site of the fibular graft harvesting (n=1).

Discussion: At these spinal levels, hemivertebral resection appears to be the most appropriate technique for children aged less than three years as long as there are no clear signs of progressive curvature.

Purpose: Reflex dystrophy is a poorly understood condition which must not go unrecognized due to the invalidating consequences.

Material: Twenty-four children aged seven to fifteen years were treated for reflex dystrophy since 1998. The foot or ankle was involved in 73% of the cases, generally secondary to ankle sprain. The diagnosis was established on the basis of the clinical presentation and on bone scintigram data obtained in all cases. Mean delay to diagnosis was 17.9 weeks, one case being diagnosed at 2.5 years.

Methods: An intravenous block (xylocaine and buflomedil) using a low-pressure tourniquet and without anaesthesia was performed in 23 patients. The local anaesthesia allowed gentle manipulation of the stiff joint so the child could visualise renewed mobility. The block was associated with gentle physical therapy, balneotherapy, and psychological support.

Results: The intravenous block was immediately and totally effective in 78% of the cases, the child being able to walk with full weight bearing without pain. Recurrence rate was 17%, occurring within the first month after the block in 80% of the cases.

Discussion: Diagnosis of reflex dystrophy is basically clinical, but the scintigram supported the diagnosis and enabled better localisation of the anatomic region involved. We have abandoned first line calcitonin which has demonstrated less satisfactory results than intravenous blocks. Combining a local anaesthetic with a low-pressure tourniquet improves patient comfort without the inconvenience of general anaesthesia.

Conclusion: Care must be taken to no overlook reflex dystrophy in children and adolescents. First intention use of an intravenous block significantly shortens the clinical course allowing the child to resume physical activities.

Purpose: Reconstruction after resection of malignant bone tumours remains a major challenge. Free vascularised fibular grafts may be a useful alternative in this indication.

Material: Thirty children (nine girls, twenty-one boys) were treated between 1993 and 2000. Mean age was eleven years. Tumour histology was: osteogenic osteo-sarcoma (n=20), Ewing tumour (n=5), justacortical osteosarcoma (n=3), synovialosarcoma (n=1), and chondrosarcoma (n=1). Tumours were located in the femur (n=17), the tibia (n=6), the humerus (n=5), the radius (n=1), and the distal fibular (n=1). The length of resection varied from 100 mm to 260 mm (mean 160 mm). Internal fixation was used in 27 cases and external fixation in three. The adjacent epiphysis was preserved in 22 cases and initial arthrodesis was performed in eight.

Method: Patients were followed clinically and radiographically. A bone scintigram was obtained in all patients at least once during the postoperative period. Radiological assessment was based on the hypertrophy index of the graft using the method described by DeBoer and Wood. Functional outcome was assessed using the Enneking criteria.

Results: Mean follow-up was 51 months (range 2 – 9 years). Early amputation was required in two patients due to local ocological complications. One patient died at eight months follow-up due to lung metastasis. Among the remaining 27 patients, primary bone healing was achieved in 22. The five other patients exhibited clear signs of non-vascularisation. Successful healing was achieved in four of these patients after a complementary autologous graft. All cases of stress fracture healed after simple immobilisation.

The twenty-two patients who achieved primary bone healing developed a hypertrophic graft (mean 61%, range 22 – 190%). Graft hypertrophy was not observed in the five cases requiring a secondary graft after the scintigram demonstrated lack of vascularisation. Hypertrophy of the vascularised fibular graft was more marked for lower limb reconstructions than for upper limb reconstructions..

Functional outcome was satisfactory in all cases. On the 30-point Enneking scale as modified, our patients achieved a mean 26 points (range 19 – 30).

Discussion: Outcome was directly related to patency of the vascular anastomoses. Bone scintigraphy, performed one month after reconstruction surgery, was an important element for assessing prognosis. In case of unsuccessful vascularisation, a complementary cortico-cancellous graft should be used. Early weight-bearing is advisable using adequate protective devices. Dynamic osteosynthesis systems should be helpful in improving graft hypertrophy.

Among two hundred and twenty hemivertebrae in our files we performed over a period of eighteen years sixty nine hemivertebrae (HV) excision. Only H.V. with evidence of curve progression were operated on. The technique was a one stage anterior and posterior approach plus convex anterior and posterior arthrodesis plus convex posterior instrumentation using in the more recents cases a baby C.D.

Material: The location of the H.V. was thoraco-lumbar in twenty five cases, lumbar in twenty nine and lumbo-sacral in fifteen. Thirty two free, thirty six hemifused and only one fused H.V. were operated on. The sex ratio was 35 males and 34 females. Associarted malformations were numerous. If the rate of visceral associated malformations is rather the same whatever was the location of the H.V. ( 40% ) the number of associated spine malformations decrease from cranial to caudal ( 60% for thoraco-lumbar H.V. versus 13 % for lumbo-sacral H.V.) The mean age at surgery was 3Y 3M ( 1Y- 9Y) with a mean F.U. of 5Y ( 6M-18Y) for the 25 thoraco-lumbar H.V., respectively 3Y3M ( 1Y- 8Y3M) for the mean age at surgery and 5Y ( 1M-17Y5M) for the average F.U.for the 29 lumbar H.V. and 5Y1M (1M-10Y4M) for surgery and 7Y (1M-18Y3M) for F.U. for the remaining 15 lumbo-sacral H.V.

Results: 8 complications were encountered: 4 hardware failures, 1 sepsis, 1 transient paresthesia of the tibial nerve, 1 partial loss of power in the tibialis anterior and 1 valgus deformity following fibular bone grafting. For the 25 thoraco-lumbar H.V. the average scoliosis Cobb angle pre operatively was 38° ( 18°/ 75°) and at F.U. 24° ( 0°/ 76°) . The mean kyphosis Cobb angle was 24° ( -20°/ 54°) pre operatively and 25° (-16°/60°) at F.U. For the 29 lumbar H.V. the mean scoliosis Cobb angle was 35° (16°/58°) pre operatively and 10° (0°/38°) at F.U.The average kyphosis Cobb angle was -2°( -45°/20°) pre operatively and -6° (-42°/22°) at F.U. For the remaining 15 lumbo-sacral H.V. the average scoliosis Cobb angle was 30° (18°/40°) pre operatively and 13° (2°/32°) at F.U. The mean kyphosis Cobb angle was -22°(-54°/0°) pre operatively and -25°(-64°/-8°) at F.U. H.V. excision is in our opinion the best procedure to treat thoraco-lumbar,lumbar and lumbo-sacral H.V. as far as there is evidence of curve progression. The appropriate age to perform this kind of surgery is before three years of age.