Aims. The aim of this study was to explore parents’ experience of their child’s recovery, and their thoughts about their decision to enrol their child in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of surgery versus non-surgical casting for a displaced distal radius fracture. Methods. A total of 20 parents of children from 13 hospitals participating in the RCT took part in an interview five to 11 months after injury. Interviews were informed by phenomenology and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results. Analysis of the findings identified the theme “being recovered”, which conveyed: 1) parents’ acceptance and belief that their child received the best treatment for them; 2) their memory of the psychological impact of the injury for their child; and 3) their pride in how their child coped with their cast and returned to activities. The process of recovery was underpinned by three elements of experience: accepting the treatment, supporting their child through challenges during recovery, and appreciating their child’s resilience. These findings extend our framework that highlights parents’ desire to protect their child during early recovery from injury, by making the right decision, worrying about recovery, and comforting their child. Conclusion. By one year after injury, parents in both treatment groups considered their child “recovered”. They had overcome early concerns about healing, the appearance of the wrist, and coping after cast removal. Greater educational support for families during recovery would enable parents and their child to cope with the uncertainty of recovery, particularly addressing the loss of confidence, worry about reinjury, and the appearance of their wrist. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(5):426–434

Aims. The aim of this study was to explore parents and young people’s experience of having a medial epicondyle fracture, and their thoughts about the uncertainty regarding the optimal treatment. Methods. Families were identified after being invited to participate in a randomized controlled trial of surgery or no surgery for displaced medial epicondyle fractures of the humerus in children. A purposeful sample of 25 parents (22 females) and five young people (three females, mean age 11 years (7 to 14)) from 15 UK hospitals were interviewed a mean of 39 days (14 to 78) from injury. Qualitative interviews were informed by phenomenology and themes identified to convey participants’ experience. Results. The results identify parents’ desire to do the best for their child expressed through two themes: 1) ‘uncertainty’ (being uncertain about the best treatment option); and 2) ‘facilitating recovery’ (sharing the experience). Parents and young people were shocked when confronted with uncertainty about treatment and they felt responsible for the decision. They searched for further information, drew on their own experience, and struggled to weigh up risks of the treatments. Discussion with surgeons provided crucial support for decision-making, and young people were involved to a varying degree. In facilitating recovery, parents balanced increasing activity with protecting their child, but lacked knowledge about pain management, and how to improve strength and function of the arm. They hoped for a return to normal, including competitive sports. Conclusion. Surgeons are aware of the impact of injury on children and their parents; however, they may be less aware of the turmoil created by treatment uncertainty. Confident surgeons who appreciate and contextualize the importance of pre-existing experience and beliefs are best placed to help the family develop confidence to embrace uncertainty, particularly regarding participation in clinical trials. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(6):359–364

The Oxford Ankle Foot Questionnaire for Children (OxAFQ-C) is a validated patient reported outcome tool for paediatric foot and ankle conditions. It includes three domains with a maximum score of 100: physical, school and play, and emotional. The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to examine the differences between self-reported child and parent responses of different age groups, genders, and child-parent combinations. During a ten-month period, paediatric patients aged eight to 16 years and their parents completed the OxAFQ-C during routine clinic visits, providing a total 116 child-parent questionnaire dyads. Demographics and diagnostic information was obtained through medical record review. Parent and child responses in each domain were compared for concordance and for effect of demographic variables on the results. Means and standard deviations for parent and child questionnaires for each domain were reported and compared using a two-sample Wilcoxon rank-sum test. A multivariate regression model was used to assess the correlation between demographic characteristics with domain scores. Absolute agreement between patient and parent questionnaires was assessed using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) with a two-way random effects model. Seventy patients (60.3%) were female and 46 (39.7%) were male, the majority of parent respondents were mothers (85.3%), followed by fathers (11.2%). Mean patient age was 12.4 (± 2.2) years. Higher scores were reported by the child in every domain, though only the emotional domain score showed statistical significance (p = 0.024) between the parent scores. Male children scored significantly higher than females in school and play domain, (mean 82.38 vs 71.13, p = 0.037) and in the emotional domain (means 90.89 vs79.10, p = 0.002). Parents of males scored significantly higher than parents of females only in the emotional domain (means 86.95 vs 72.67, p = 0.001). Children younger than 13 years old scored significantly higher than older children in the emotional domain (p = 0.004). Child and parent responses for the OxAFQ-C are statistically concordant in the physical and school and play domains. Though children consistently scored themselves higher than their parents did in all domains, only differences in responses for the emotional domain were significant. The level of agreement between parent and child increases with in patients over 13 years of age. Both females and parents of females report lower scores than males and their male parents. Though the use of OxAFQ-C is supported and confirms parent perception of their child's foot and ankle condition is accurate, further research is needed to better understand gender and age differences on response concordance

The management of closed fractures of the humerus with an associated nerve palsy remains controversial. With very little written about this injury in children, we present the case of a three-year-old child with a closed humeral shaft fracture in whom surgical exploration and reconstruction of the radial nerve with a sural nerve graft was performed three months after injury. The child regained full function. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such case to be reported in the English literature

Background. We herein report a case of isolated hip pain in a four year old boy. The unique aspect of this case study is the unusual history, presentation, ultrasonography, MRI and blood culture results, which lead to the diagnosis and treatment of adductor pyomyositis with a rare organism (Streptococcus Mitis) in a temperate country. The objectives of this case study is to discuss the key learning outcomes with respect to assessment and management of this case. Methods. The patient presented with a one day history of malaise, fever, left groin pain and inability to weight bear on the left leg. There was no history of any trauma, predisposing infections or recent travel. A working diagnosis of transient synovitis / septic arthritis of the hip was made on clinical examination. Results. Plain radiograph and ultrasound of the hip was normal with no effusion. Two consecutive blood cultures suggested Streptococcus Mitis bacteriaemia and MRI scan confirmed pyomyositis of the left hip adductors that was too small to drain. Streptococcus Mitis is a normal commensal organism of the oral cavity however it can lead to opportunistic infections particularly endocarditis. Echocardiogram revealed no cardiac complications, in particular no endocarditic vegetation. Patient was treated with intravenous benzylpenicillin for a week followed by oral phenoxymethylpenicillin for a week. Conclusion. Adductor pyomyositis must be considered as a differential diagnosis in a child with unusual presentation of hip pain. When an ultrasound is normal, MRI scan is warranted to confirm diagnosis. Septic screen should include blood cultures. The commonest causative organisms are the Staphylococcus family. However if Streptococcus Mitis is isolated, cardiac sources of infection resulting in septic emboli must be investigated. Repeated MRI scans are required particularly if the patient does not respond to medical management. Level of Evidence. IV

Introduction: The limping child poses a diagnostic challenge. The purpose of this study was to create a clinically useful algorithm of presenting variables to allow the exclusion of ‘musculoskeletal sepsis’ as a differential diagnosis in the child presenting with a limp. Materials & Methods: This study represents the data collected on all limping children admitted to our centre over a 3-year period. Analysis was based on 229 admissions. Comparison was made between the group with septic arthritis or osteomyelitis and the group without infection, using univariate analysis. With logistic regression analysis, a model consisting of three independent multivariate predictors was constructed, to exclude infection. Results: Patients with septic arthritis or osteomyelitis differed significantly from patients without infection with regard to duration of symptoms, presence of constitutional symptoms, temperature, white cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), (p-values < 0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the best model to describe our patient population was based on three variables: duration of symptoms between 1 and 5 days, temperature > 37.0°C and ESR > 35mm/hr. When all three variables were present, the predicted probability of musculoskeletal infection was 0.66. When none of the three were present, the predicted probability of infection was 0.01. Discussion: Diagnosis of septic arthritis or osteomyelitis is especially difficult in the early phase and there is no single variable that can serve as a definitive test. The significance of constitutional symptoms and duration of symptoms on univariate analysis emphasises the importance of careful history taking. C-reactive protein, while considered for inclusion, was excluded due to its limited availability at our institution. Conclusion: The multivariate model enables us to rule out musculoskeletal infection with 99% certainty in limping children with none of these three presenting variables

Child abuse is often called a New Zealand Epidemic in the popular media. It encompasses sexual, physical, emotional, and neglect. As Orthopaedic surgeons, our primary involvement is with the physical side. The diagnosis of a femoral fracture in very young children has been reported as highly suggestive of NAI, with rates ranging from 11% to 60%. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of children presenting to the Starship Hospital who had sustained a femoral fracture as a result of Non-Accidental Injury (NAI). All confirmed cases with concurrent diagnoses of NAI and femoral fracture presenting to the Starship over a ten year period from Jan 1999 to 2009 were reviewed. These patients were then compared with all patients with femoral fracture who were referred to the child protection team and with all patients presenting with traumatic femoral fracture during this period. Cases were examined with regards to demographics, circumstances of injury, comorbidities and fracture characteristics. Compared to all femoral fractures, those as a result of NAI were significantly younger. All were aged 3 years or less, with the majority aged 12 months or less. In this age group, approximately a third of those with femoral fracture had a confirmed diagnosis of NAI. In the NAI group, multiple fractures including bilateral femoral fractures were more common. Prematurity was a common co-morbidity. Approximately half of the patients had been seen in hospital for any reason prior to the index admission. More than half of the cases of confirmed NAI presented primarily to the Orthopaedic service. It is important for Orthopaedic surgeons to be able to identify those children with fractures who may be at risk of NAI. In particular, this includes children under the age of 1 who present with femoral fractures

Giant-cell tumour of the synovium is known to affect the fingers or toes of adults. It has seldom been described in the spine and rarely in the thoracic vertebrae or in a child. The lesions of giant-cell tumour of the synovium have a classical radiological appearance, but require a high index of suspicion for correct recognition. Unlike giant-cell tumour of the synovium at other well-known sites, spinal lesions lack the characteristic papillary architecture, thereby raising other diagnostic possibilities. We describe a giant-cell tumour of the synovium of the left facet joint of a thoracic vertebra in a nine-year-old girl. The tumour was treated successfully by surgical excision

We herein report a case of isolated hip pain in a four year old boy. The importance of this project is the unusual history, presentation, ultrasound, MRI and blood culture results and treatment, which lead to the diagnosis of adductor pyomyositis with a rare organism (Streptococcus Mitis) in a temperate country. The patient presented with a one day history of malaise, fever, left groin pain and inability to weight bear on the left leg. There was no history of any predisposing infections or recent travel. A working diagnosis of transient synovitis / septic arthritis of the hip was made on clinical examination. Plain radiograph and ultrasound of the hip was normal with no effusion. Two consecutive blood cultures suggested Streptococcus Mitis bacteriaemia and MRI scan confirmed pyomyositis of the left hip adductors that was too small to drain. Streptococcus Mitis is a normal commensal organism of the oral cavity however it can lead to opportunistic infections particularly endocarditis. Echocardiogram revealed no cardiac complications, in particular no endocarditic vegetation. Patient was treated with intravenous benzylpenicillin for a week followed by oral phenoxymethylpenicillin for a week. As it was a soft tissue infection, a short course of antibiotics was sufficient and he made a complete recovery. Adductor pyomyositis must be considered as a differential diagnosis in a child with unusual presentation of hip pain. When an ultrasound is normal, MRI scan is warranted to confirm diagnosis. Septic screen should include blood cultures. The commonest organisms are the Staphylococcus family. However if Streptococcus Mitis is isolated, cardiac sources of infection resulting in septic emboli must be investigated. Repeated MRI scans are required particularly if the patient does not respond to medical management

Introduction: Arthrodesis of the wrist must still be considered as a useful procedure in the treatment of certain deformities of the wrist joint that by performing this operation can improve the function or the aesthetics of the limb. Except those techniques of partial carpal arthrodesis, the surgical procedures of wrist arthrodesis requires a bridging from the radius to the metacarpal in order to stabilize the joint. When this procedure is performed in a growing child this can be a draw back. Material: We have developed a new procedure that producing the arthrodesis distally to the growing cartilage of the radius does not interfere with the growing at wrist level. Furthermore, the use of a wire shroud gives an active fixation reducing postoperative immobilisation and shortening healing time. Since 1986 we have performed this technique in 9 cases of children with mean age of 14 years. The pathology was in 5 cases Cerebral Palsy, in 2 cases Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and in 2 cases Obstetrical Brachial Plexus Palsy. Eight cases were males and 3 cases females. The indication for surgery was flexion deformity of the wrist in 8 cases and extension in 1 case. Four cases had carpal instability (including the 2 Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis). Results: The time of fusion was in all cases 2 months with primary arthrodesis and improved extremity. Functional improvement seemed to be most related to pre-operative conditions. Follow up ranged from 4 years to 6 years. Conclusions: The good results obtained with this procedure encourage us to present this new surgical technique to be applied in the still growing child

Introduction. Non accidental injury is an under diagnosed problem worldwide. It is for this reason that all healthcare workers should be equipped in making the diagnosis and be aware of their obligation according to the Children's Act. Purpose. The aim of the study was to determine if child abuse is adequately diagnosed at our institution and to identify areas of weakness in our current management protocol. Methods. Records of all children admitted under the age of 3 years with fractures from January to December 2010 were reviewed. The radiographs were retrospectively classified as likely child abuse or not according to the fracture pattern, by consensus between an orthopaedic surgeon and a radiologist. The x-ray findings were then correlated with the clinical notes, to determine if appropriate management had been instituted in each case. University ethics approval was obtained to undertake the study. Results. Included in the study are 53 children; it was found that 28 (52%) of these had fractures that could be regarded as being suspicious of a non accidental injury that warranted further investigation. The clinical notes revealed that of the patients at risk, 28 (100%) were referred to a social worker for further investigation and a skeletal survey was only performed in 11 (39%). Only one skeletal survey showed another fracture in a healing stage. Two patients were removed from their primary homes or caregiver. Conclusion. Our results suggest that non accidental injury according to fracture pattern is under diagnosed and investigated at our institution. Heightened awareness of child abuse is imperative and emphasis must be placed on appropriate investigation and referral where suspicion exists. NO DISCLOSURES

Introduction: Limp in a child is a common presentation to the emergency department. Most patients have no serious pathology. However, it is important not to miss specific problems and delay treatment. We therefore established a limping child protocol in conjunction with the emergency department, which was implemented in 2003. We aimed to assess our performance against agreed standards; 100% investigated as per protocol, and 100% admitted or seen in the next fracture clinic. Methods: We examined all emergency department case notes of children aged less than 14 years old who presented with a lower limb problem over a 1 year period. Patients diagnosed as having soft tissue injuries or fractures were excluded. We were left with 58 patients. Information concerning investigations and disposal from the emergency department was sought from the case notes and the hospital computer system. Results: Average age was 5.1 years. The protocol was followed correctly in only 21% of cases. 33% were followed-up incorrectly, and 22% received no documented follow-up. Discussion: There was poor compliance in the emergency department. Incomplete investigations, follow-up and documentation were the main problems. Up to one quarter of serious pathology may have been missed. We attribute these problems to high staff turn over and poor awareness of the protocol. We have introduced changes to improve our performance

A fracture of the neck of the radius when the head is not ossified can be difficult to assess and treat. In a four-year-old child we suspected from the radiographs that there was an O’Brien type-III injury after trauma. Partial manual reduction of the non-ossified radial head was completed using the Métaizeau technique of intramedullary Kirschner (K-) wiring aided by intraoperative arthrography. The child had a full range of movement at the elbow and wrist when reviewed 11 weeks after the injury, three weeks after removal of the K-wire. We suggest that intraoperative arthrography is a useful complement to the Métaizeau technique for successful reduction of fractures of the radial neck in the presence of a non-ossified radial head

Pyomyositis is rarely seen in temperate climates. Typically, it presents with the formation of an abscess requiring surgical drainage and it has been reported as a differential diagnosis for septic arthritis of the hip. We describe the occurrence of pyomyositis of the iliacus muscle in a ten-year-old girl which was diagnosed by MRI and blood culture. Formation of an abscess did not occur despite marked focal inflammation and swelling of the muscle. Conservative treatment with antibiotics alone led to complete clinical and radiological resolution of the infection. We could find no previous description of pyomyositis in a child in the British orthopaedic literature. Orthopaedic surgeons, particularly those with a paediatric interest, should be aware of this condition and its presentation, diagnosis and treatment

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of the Taylor Spatial Frame in the correction of rigid long standing foot deformities in older children. Method: Children presenting with rigid longstanding foot deformities were fitted with a Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF) utilizing specialized small foot rings. Prior to surgery an operative plan was devised including soft tissue release and osteotomies usually consisting of a curved midfoot osteotomy and a dome shaped hind foot osteotomy. About 30% correction was obtained at surgery and held with the TSF. Postoperatively a computerized program of correction over a period of 8 weeks was calculated for each foot beginning 5 days after surgery and including an initial lengthening at each osteotomy site of 1 cm. Results: A total of eight feet have been corrected utilizing this technique with the TSF. All feet have been successfully returned to a plantigrade position enabling the child to don normal footwear. Ankle-foot orthosis are utilized for one year following surgery. Although the feet are stiff none are painful and all children arev fully ambulatory and weight bearing. All have at least 10 degrees of ankle motion which is improving with time. Families have been very pleased with the improved anatomical appearance of the feet as well as the child’s ability to use normal footwear. Conclusion: The Taylor Spatial Frame is an efficient and safe method to effect excellent correction of a rigid club foot deformity in combination with osteotomies and soft tissue releases of the foot

We describe a five-year-old child with neurofibromatosis type I who developed a Charcot knee. Infiltration of the joint by tissue associated with the disease caused damage to the proprioceptive mechanism and resulted in severe joint instability, accelerated destruction and development of neuropathic arthropathy

Aims

This study evaluates the quality of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) reported in childhood fracture trials and recommends outcome measures to assess and report physical function, functional capacity, and quality of life using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) standards.

Aim. Case Report presentation of traumatic cartilage loss in a child. Method. We present a case report of a 3-year-old girl who sustained a severe open fracture dislocation of her talus with complete loss of full thickness articular cartilage and subchondral bone over 80% of the talar dome. At presentation there was also a Salter Harris I fracture of the fibular, and an extensive soft tissue defect including absent anterior joint capsule. She required a free anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap to reconstruct this defect. The talar dome defect was treated with a cell-free chondro-inductive implant. This was the first use of this implant in the UK and the first use of such an implant in a child anywhere in the world. Result. At 3 years post-operative, the patient underwent thinning of the ALT flap and trimming of an anterior tibial overgrowth, which was causing impingement. At surgery the talar dome cartilage was looked pristine, with a line representing the tidemark between the original cartilage and the new formed. Biopsies were taken and histopathology performed. This was a rare and difficult case that has achieved a satisfactory outcome at this follow up stage. Conclusion. Cell-free chondro-inductive implants may hold promise for the treatment full thickness articular cartilage defects in children

We investigated the reproducibility of the various radiological methods of assessment of hip dysplasia by making 474 assessments of hips and quantifying the inter-observer and intra-observer variation. There was a wide range of variability between the readings made by different observers and by one observer on two occasions. A measurement of acetabular index has to be given a range of +/- 6 degrees in order to be 95% confident of including the true measurement. We found the most helpful measurements to be the acetabular index, up to the age of eight years; the centre-edge angle, over the age of five years; and Smith's c/b ratio and neck-shaft angle. We feel, however, that the change in value over a series of radiographs in the same child is much more valuable. Single readings of all the radiological measurements investigated in this study were unreliable

Salmonella osteomyelitis occurs infrequently in children without a sickle cell disease, and its subacute form is rare. Diagnosis is often delayed because its slow onset, intermittent pain and it can be confused with bone tumors. An otherwise healthy 13-year-old boy was admitted from another center in order to discard bone tumor in proximal tibia, with compatible radiologic findings. There was no history of trauma or previous illness. Twenty days ago, he had flu symptoms and myalgia. On the physical examination the child was feverless, showed increased heat over his left knee, considerable effusion and painful restriction of movement. Inflammatory laboratory results revealed erythrocyte sedimentation rate 46mm/h and C-Reactive protein, 11,2 mg/L. Radiographs revealed a lytic lesion localized in the proximal metaphysis and epiphysis. The MRI showed an area of edema around the lytic lesion and surrounding soft tissues. Images supported the diagnosis of subacute osteomyelitis, (Brodie abscess). Empirically, intravenous cefuroxime was started. Forty-eight hours post admission, the patient underwent abscess surgical debridement, washout and cavity curettage. Samples were sent for cytology, culture and sensitivity and acid fast bacilli culture and sensitivity. Collection´s count cell was 173.000/ L white cells. Collection´s culture revealed Salmonella B sensitive to ciprofloxacin. Stool culture did not yield any growth. Intravenous cefuroxime was administered during 10 days. The patient responded well as evidenced by clinical and laboratory improvement He was discharged with his left leg immobilized in a cast during 1 month and treatment was completed with oral ciprofloxacin 500mg /12 h during 2 months. The patient had full range of knee motion after 2 months. Last reviewed, after two years of the income, he was completed recovered, and the radiograph showed bone healing without physeal neither damage nor limb leg discrepancy. The most effective therapy of a confirmed salmonella osteomyelitis is a combination of radical operative intervention and targeted intravenous antibiotics as in our case. Faced with a subacute osteomyelitis, we have to remember that it may mimic bone tumors. We highlight the isolation of Salmonella B in a patient without sickle cell disease