Introduction

To determine the advantages and risks of plating after lengthening (PAL) of tibia in children and adolescents

Introduction

Femoral shaft fractures in children is a serious injury that needs hospitalization, with a high prevalence in the age group 6–8 years old. Various treatment options are available and with a comparable weight of evidence. Submuscular plating provides a dependable solution, especially in length-unstable fractures and heavier kids. We present a novel technique to facilitate and control the reduction intraoperatively, which would allow for easier submuscular plate application.

Calcium sulphate (CaSO₄) is a recognised form of delivery of antibiotic for the treatment of bone infection. Complications inherent in the rapid reabsorption are well recognised (predominantly that of wound breakdown and leakage). There is little data on the frequency of these complications. The purpose of this study was to quantify the incidence of wound leakage from CaSO₄ and the service impact in orthopaedic surgery.

Infective limb reconstruction cases managed with gentamicin impregnated CaSO₄ between 2004–2012 were identified. Co-morbidities and factors influencing wound leakage were recorded. Medical and wound care notes were analysed. Episodes of delayed discharge and unscheduled clinic attendance due to wound leakage were recorded.

80 patients (18 female, 62 male), with a mean age of 45 years (18–80 years, median 46 years) underwent 84 procedures utilising CaSO₄. 47 were in the tibia, 14 in the femur, 10 in the humerus. A mean of 36 mL (4–150 mL, median 22 ml, unknown in 18 cases) was used.

31 cases (37%) had post-operative wound leakage, the majority from the tibia(55%) and femur(25%). 21 cases (25%) leaked within the first week. Each 10 ml rise in CaSO₄ volume lead to a 50% rise in leakage incidence. Leak duration ranged from 4 days–10 months. The majority leaked between 1–4 months before ceasing spontaneously and without specific treatment.

14 cases (17%) required a cumulative 32 unscheduled clinic appointments for leakage. Further surgery was required for infection in 7 cases (8.3%). Delayed discharge was not clearly attributable to CaSO₄. The mode of skin closure and cultured organism did not affect leakage.

CaSO₄ has unpredictable leakage, but is present in 1/3 of patients. Volume of CaSO₄ impacts on leakage. Leakage usually self-resolves and does not clearly impact on final outcomes. The cost impact of ongoing wound care and additional clinic appointments may be substantial.

The purpose of this study is to report a unique overgrowth syndrome and discuss the insights into the complex orthopaedic management.

Written consent to report this case was granted. The patient's condition, wrongly diagnosed as Proteus syndrome, is characterised by a genetic mutation in PIK3CA, a critical regulator of cell growth. This lead to unregulated cellular division of fibroblasts isolated to the lower limbs. The legs weighed 117 kg, with a circumference of >110 cm. In addition to lower limb overgrowth, numerous musculoskeletal and organ pathologies have been encountered since birth requiring treatment from a wide variety of healthcare specialists and basic scientists. At 32 years, the patient developed septicaemia secondary to an infected foot ulcer. Amputation had been discussed in the elective setting, however the presence of sepsis expedited surgery. The above knee amputation took 9 hours and four assistants including a plastic surgeon. A difficult dissection revealed a deep subcutaneous fatty layer that integrated with deep muscle, massive hypertrophy of cutaneous nerves and the sciatic nerve and ossification within the distal quarter of the quadriceps muscles requiring osteotomy. The lower limb osteology was grossly aberrant. The size of the amputated limb did not permit use of a tourniquet and cell salvage reintroduced 10.5 litres of blood with a further 6 units of red cells intra-operatively. The leg stump successfully took to a split-skin graft. A unique phenomenon was witnessed post-operatively whereby the stump continued to grow due to upregulation of fibroblasts secondary to trauma. Targeted genetic therapies have been successfully developed to suppress this stump growth.

This unique and unclassified overgrowth syndrome was caused by a mutation in the PIK3CA gene. Orthopaedic management of the oversized limb was complex requiring multiple surgeons and prolonged general anesthetic. A multi-disciplinary approach to this condition is required for optimizing outcomes in these patients.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of PET-CT in the diagnosis and treatment of long bone infections following trauma.

All patients referred to the limb reconstruction service for management of non-unions were treated by the same protocol. PET-CT with FDG was performed in all patients to assess if the non-union site was infected and if so, the extent of the infection. Those requiring operative management were treated in a 2-stage manner. Initially with debridement based on PET-CT; sampling for microbiology and histology; and then Teicoplanin and Ciprofloxacin. If samples were positive then the patients were treated for a total of 6 weeks with antibiotics based on microbiology advice before undergoing definitive fixation. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were then calculated for PET-CTs ability to predict presence of infection using extended cultures and histology as the gold standard.

38 consecutive patients underwent surgery, 24 male and 14 female. 24 were deemed infected on extended culture or histology. PET-CT was anecdotally found to be extremely useful at determining the extent of infection to plan debridement.

PPV 0.83

NPV 0.89

Sensitivity 0.96

Specificity 0.61

As well as providing unique ability to demarcate areas of bony infection in the presence of metalwork, the ability to detect or exclude infection was exceptional.

This is a test, however, which is operator dependent and requires a skilled Nuclear Radiology Consultant to accurately interpret images. In our relatively small pilot study the accuracy improved noticeably over one year.

PET-CT has potential to be a powerful tool in the diagnosis and treatment of long bone infection following trauma and certainly warrants further investigation.

Statement of purpose

To determine whether the amount of fibula resection in fibula osteotomy influences outcome in deformity correction surgery.

Purposes of the study

To assess safety, lengths gained, frame time and perform cost analysis of the technique of submuscular plating to the femur and tibia following distraction osteogenesis.

Background

Tension band epiphysiodesis for lower limb length discrepancy in children Planned physeal growth arrest (epiphysiodesis) for the treatment of limb length discrepancy (LLD) in growing children is a well described treatment modality in the literature. We describe our experience of temporary epiphysiodesis using a tension band technique with the “8-plate” in the treatment of LLD in growing children.

Aims

Since 2005 we have performed submuscular plating to the femur and tibia after distraction osteogenesis in selected cases in order to shorten the time in external fixator. The aim was to assess safety, lengths gained, frame time and perform cost analysis

Aim

The purpose of the study was to assess the outcomes of the surgical management of humeral shaft non-unions.

Introduction

The treatment of chronic osteomyelitis involves a debridement of affected non-viable tissue and the use of antibiotics. Where surgery leaves a cavity, dead space management is practised with antibiotic impregnated cement. These depots of local antibiotics are variable in elution properties and need removal. We review the use of bioabsorbable synthetic calcium sulphate as a carrier of gentamicin and as an adjunct in treating intramedullary osteomyelitis.

The treatment of chronic osteomyelitis involves a debridement of affected non-viable tissue and the use of antibiotics. Where surgery leaves a cavity, dead space management is practised with antibiotic impregnated cement. These depots of local antibiotics are variable in elution properties and need removal. We review the use of bioabsorbable synthetic calcium sulphate as a carrier of gentamicin and as an adjunct in treating intramedullary osteomyelitis.

A retrospective review of cases treated consecutively from 2006 to 2010 in the Royal Liverpool University Hospital was undertaken. Variables recorded included aetiology, previous interventions, diagnostic criteria, radiological features, serology and microbiology. The Cierney-Mader system was used to classify. Treatment involved removal of implants (if any), intramedullary debridement and local resection (if needed), lavage and instillation of the gentamicin carrier, supplemented with systemic antibiotics. Follow-up involved a survival analysis to time to recurrence, clinical and functional assessment (AOFAS-Ankle/IOWA knee/Oxford Hip) and general health outcome (SF36).

There were 31 patients (22 male, 9 female). The mean age was 47 years (20-67). Twenty-five cases were post-surgery (6 open fractures) and 6 were haematogenous in origin. The median duration of osteomyelitis was 1.6yrs. The bones affected were 42% femur, 45% tibia, 3% radius and 10% humerus. 11 cases had diffuse as well as intramedullary involvement. 9 cases underwent segment resection and bone transport. We identified Staphylococcus Aureus in 16 and Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus in 6 cases. The median follow-up was 1.7 years (0.5-5.6). The median scores attained were: AOFAS-78, DASH-32, IOWA-71, Oxford-32. There were two recurrences.

Dead space management of intramedullary infections is difficult. We describe a method for delivery of local antibiotics and provide early evidence to its efficacy. The treatment success to date is 93%.

Bioabsorbable carriers of antibiotics are efficacious adjuncts to surgical treatment of intramedullary osteomyelitis.

The threshold for decompression in acute compartment syndrome is quoted as a pressure difference between the compartment and diastolic blood pressure of less than 30mmHg. This study reports the findings of continuous compartment pressure monitoring in children who underwent tibial osteotomies.

In this prospective observational study, twenty seven children who underwent tibial osteotomies had anterior compartment pressures monitored using a transducer-tipped probe for a minimum of 72 hours following surgery. Pressure data were collected hourly together with evidence of clinical signs, symptoms and patterns of analgesic use. Patients were also reviewed for late sequelae of compartment syndrome.

One case of compartment syndrome were encountered. Pressure differences (diastolic BP - compartment pressure) were found to vary widely, with many children exceeding the threshold for decompression but without manifesting other signs of compartment syndrome. Fasciotomies were not performed in view of the conflicting evidence and subsequent review confirmed the absence of late sequelae. In these children, low diastolic blood pressures were a common but normal feature. The prevalence of compartment syndrome was 3.7% (1/27). The positive predictive value of using the adult threshold was 7.1%; the negative predictive value was 100%.

We conclude that the threshold for decompression as applied to adults is unsuitable for use in children inasmuch as a positive result would lead to a correct diagnosis in only 7.1% of children. A negative test is more useful in correctly excluding compartment syndrome in 100% of the children studied.

This study sought to determine if treatment of resistant clubfeet by the Ilizarov method influenced the pattern of recurrence. Forty-seven children were identified as having undergone treatment by the Ilizarov method. Inclusion criteria for treatment with the Ilizarov method were clubfeet belonging to diagnostic categories that had recognised tendencies for resistance to standard methods of clubfoot management or a previous history of soft tissue releases performed adequately but accompanied by rapid relapse.

There were 60 feet with a mean follow-up of 133 months (46-224). Diagnoses included 34 idiopathic types, 7 arthrogryposis, 1 cerebral palsy, and 5 other. Summary statistics and survival analysis was used; failure was deemed as a recurrence of fixed deformity necessitating further correction. This definition parallels clinical practice where attainment of ‘normal’ feet in this group remains elusive, and mild to moderate relapses that remain passively correctable are kept under observation.

Soft tissue releases were common primary or secondary procedures. The mean time to revision surgery, if a soft tissue release was undertaken as a primary procedure, was 36 months (SD 22), and 39 (SD 23) months if undertaken for the second time. This compares with 52 months (SD 32) if Ilizarov surgery was used. Using survival analysis, there is a 50% chance of a relapse sufficiently marked to need corrective surgery after 44 months following the first soft tissue release, 47 months if after the second soft tissue procedure and 120 months after the Ilizarov technique.

We conclude that resistant club feet, defined as those belonging to diagnostic categories with known poor prognoses or those that succumb to an early relapse despite adequate soft tissue surgery, may have longer relapse-free intervals if treated by the Ilizarov method.

To assess outcomes following a radical approach to cases of compartment syndrome in which a significant degree of muscle necrosis is found, 4 paediatric and adolescent patients with a delayed diagnosis of compartment syndrome in which muscle necrosis in single or multiple compartments were treated by radical debridement of necrotic tissue and reconstruction of the anterior compartment through transfer of peroneus brevis to extensor digitorum and hallucis longus tendons. Where suitable, a free vascularised and innervated gracilis muscle transfer to the tibialis anterior tendon stump was carried out with anastomosis of the nerve to gracilis to the deep peroneal nerve.

Free gracilis muscle transfer was functional in one of the two patients whilst peroneus brevis transfer to extensor digitorum and hallucis tendons was functional in all three patients. In one patient, radical debridement resulted in loss of the entire anterior compartment requiring permanent ankle foot orthosis. All others had recovery of protective foot sensation and at minimum follow-up of 12 months were walking unaided. Infection was not seen in any patient.

Prompt fasciotomy, debridement and reconstruction for late diagnosis of compartment syndrome proved limb-saving in our patients.