Motorised intramedullary lengthening nails are considered more expensive than external fixators for limb lengthening. This research aims to compare the cost of femoral lengthening in children using the PRECICE magnetic lengthening nail with external fixation Patients: Retrospective analysis of 50 children who underwent femoral lengthening. One group included patients who were treated with PRECICE lengthening nails, the other group included patients who had lengthening with external fixation. Each group included 25 patients aged between 11–17 years. The patients in both groups were matched for age. Cost analysis was performed following micro-costing and analysis of the used resources during the different phases of the treatments.Introduction
Materials and Methods
The purpose of this research is to compare the quality of life in children during gradual deformity correction using external fixators with intramedullary lengthening nails. Prospective analysis of children during lower limb lengthening. Group A included children who had external fixation, patients in group B had lengthening nails. Patients in each group were followed up during their limb reconstruction. CHU-9D and EQ-5DY instruments were used to measure quality of life at fixed intervals. The first assessment was during the distraction phase (1 month postop.), the second was during the early consolidation phase (3 months postop.) and the final one was late consolidation phase (6–9 months depends on the frame time)Introduction
Materials and Methods
The study aimed to develop and assess a new classification system for Segmentation Defects of the Vertebrae (SDV), a frequent cause of congenital scoliosis. Existing nomenclature for the wide range of SDV phenotypes is inadequate and confusing eg ‘Jarcho-Levin syndrome’. A multidisciplinary group of the International Consortium for Vertebral Anomalies and Scoliosis (ICVAS) met to formulate a new classification system, based primarily on radiology. SDV are identified by number affected, contiguity, and spinal region(s). The size, shape and symmetry of the thoracic cage, and rib number, symmetry and fusion are included, and familiar vertebral morphology terms retained, together with accepted syndrome names. The terms spondylocostal and spondylothoracic dysostosis apply only to phenotypes typified by the monogenic disorders due to mutated DLL3, MESP2, LNFG and HES7 genes. Five ICVAS members (Group 1) then independently assessed 10 new cases, inter-observer reliability assessed using kappa. Seven independent radiologists (Group 2) then assessed the same cases before and after introduction to the new system. Inter-observer reliability for Group 1 yielded a kappa value of 0.21 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.052, 0.366, p=0.0046). For Group 2, before introduction to the new system, 1/70 responses (1.4%) agreed with the Group 1 consensus,12 different diagnoses were offered, and 38/70 (54.3%) responses were ‘Unknown’. After introduction to the new system 47/70 responses (67.1%; 95% CI 55.5, 77.0) agreed with Group 1 consensus, a 65.7% improvement (95% CI 52.5, 75.6, p<
0.00005). The system was well received by 6/7 radiologists. The new system was found to be reliable and acceptable.
