Introduction. Genu valgum is a common presentation in paediatric patients with congenital limb deformities. The aim of this study is to assess the outcome of guided growth surgery in paediatric patients referred via our physiotherapy pathway with isolated genu valgum and associated patellar instability. Materials & Methods. Patients were identified from our prospective patellar instability database. Inclusion criteria was acquired or congenital genu valgum associated with patellar instability in skeletally immature patients. The mechanical lateral-distal femoral angle was assessed on long leg alignment radiographs (mLDFA <85 degrees). Surgical treatment was the placement of a guided growth plate (PediPlate, OrthoPediatrics, USA) on the medial distal femoral physis (hemi-epiphysiodesis). KOOS-child scores were collected pre-operatively and post-operatively (minimum at 6 months). Results. Eleven patients (seven female) with mean age of 12(range 5–15) were identified. Five patients had congenital talipes equinovarus(CTEV), one fibular hemimelia, one di-George syndrome, one septic growth arrest and three had idiopathic genu valgum. Pre- and post-operative KOOS-child scores showed overall improvement: 58(range 36–68) to 88(65–99) and knee symptoms subscores: 64(43–71) to 96(68–100) p<0.01, t-test. Mean follow-up was 10 months (range 3–23). No subsequent dislocations/subluxations occurred during follow-up. Conclusions. Guided growth surgery is an effective way of treating symptomatic patellar instability in skeletally immature patients with genu valgum in the absence of other structural pathology. It was most common in our cohort in patients with unilateral CTEV. We would recommend to screen syndromic and congenital limb deformity patients for patellar instability symptoms in the presence of genu valgum

This study was performed at Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.

Anterior distal femoral hemiepiphysiodesis (ADFH) using intra-articular plates for the correction of paediatric fixed knee flexion deformities (FKFD) has two main documented complications: postoperative knee pain and implant loosening. This study describes a biomechanical analysis and a preliminary report of a novel extra-articular technique for ADFH.

Sixteen femoral sawbones were osteotomized at the level of the distal femoral physis and fixed by rail frames to allow linear distraction simulating longitudinal growth. Each sawbone was tested twice: first using the conventional technique with medial and lateral parapatellar eight plates (group A) and then with the plates inserted in the proposed novel location at the most anterior part of the medial and lateral surfaces of the femoral condyles with screws in the coronal plane (group B). Gradual distraction was performed, and the resulting angular correction was measured. Strain gauges were attached to the plates, and the amount of strain (and equivalent stress) over the plates was recorded. This technique was then applied to 9 paediatric FKFDs of different aetiologies. The preoperative FKFD and the amount of subsequent angular correction were measured.

The amount of angular correction was higher in group B at 5, 10-, and 15-mm of distraction (p<0.001). The maximum and overall stresses measured throughout the distraction process were higher in group A (p<0.001). The mean FKFD improved from 24 ± 9° preoperatively to 9 ± 7° after 10 ± 3° months (p<0.001). The correction rate was 1.81 ± 0.65° per month.

During ADFH, the fixation of the eight plates in the coronal plane at the anterior part of the femoral condyles may produce greater correction and lower stresses over the implants as compared to the conventional technique. Preliminary results from our initial series seem to support the effectiveness of this technique with respect to the degree of angular correction achieved.

Purpose

The correction obtained in the coronal plane knee deformity using guided growth was assessed in children with sick physes (Height<1SD of the normal children) to define the limits of this technique in sick physis

We present our experience of using tension band plates to achieve guided growth in children for correction of calcaneus deformity of the ankle.

11 consecutive patients (13 ankles) fulfilled the inclusion criteria over a 4-year period. All underwent surgical treatment using a flexible two hole plate and screws on the posterior aspect of distal tibial physis. Measurements were done on preoperative, intraoperative screening and 1-year post operative plain AP and lateral ankle radiographs. The anterior distal tibia angle (ADTA), lateral distal tibial angle (LDTA) and screw divergence angle (angle subtended by lines passing through the long axis of the screws) were used to assess the deformity correction. A 2 tailed student t-test was carried out on the initial and 1-year post-op measurements to determine statistical significance with a p value <0.05 considered as significant

There were 10 residual clubfoot deformities, 2 post-traumatic deformities and 1 spinal tumor causing deformity. The average age of the patients was 10 years 5 months (range 4 to 13 years). There were 9 males and 2 females. The ADTA showed a statistically significant change with a p value of 0.0008 with a mean correction of 8.6 degrees (range of 2.3 to 15.6 degrees). The SDA demonstrated a mean correction of 15.4 degrees (range 0.3 to 41.8 degrees), p=0.002. The LDTA did not change significantly (p= 0.08), thus confirming no coincidental coronal plane deformity had occurred. 5 ankles required revision of fixation due to metalwork reaching its maximum limit of divergence at an average of 1 year. 2 ankles had screw pulled out due to osteolysis around the screw. There were no cases of infection.

We report satisfactory short-term results of correction of calcaneus deformity using a flexible tension band plate and screws system.

Guided growth is commonly performed by placing an extra-periosteal two-hole plate across the growth plate with one epiphyseal and one metaphyseal screw. Recent work by Keshet et al. (2019) investigated the efficacy of the removal of the metaphyseal screw only (“sleeper plate”) after correction. They concluded the practice to be unnecessary as only 19% of patient show recurrence of deformity. The aim of this study is to examine the incidence of rebound and undesired bony in-growth of the plate (“tethering”) after metaphyseal screw removal only. In this retrospective case series, patient data on 144 plates inserted around the knee was obtained. Plates still in situ (n=69) at time of study and full hardware removal (n=50) were excluded. The remaining 25 plates had a metaphyseal screw only removed after deformity correction. We analyzed the rate of re-bound, tethering and maintenance of correction in two age groups at latest follow-up for a mean of 3.5 years (1.25 to five). Fisher's exact test with Freeman-Halton extension was used to analyze the two by three contingency table. Twenty-five plates were identified as “sleeper plates” in our series. 13 plates (52%) maintained the achieved correction after a mean of 21 months (four to 39), nine plates (36%) required screw re-insertion due to rebound after a mean of 22 months (12-48) from screw removal, and four plates (16%) showed tethering with undesired continuation of guided growth after a mean of 14 months (seven to 22) from screw removal. Younger patients (years at time of plate insertion) had higher rates of rebound and tethering (p=.0112, Fisher's exact test). All Tethering occurred in titanium plates, none occurred in steel plates. The sleeper plate is an acceptable treatment strategy for coronal deformities around the knee. Rebounding and tethering are potential outcomes that occur in younger patients and should be disclosed to patients; titanium plates may increase the risk of tethering, however further long-term follow-up is needed. We stress the importance of close post-operative follow up to identify tethering early and prevent over correction. The sleeper plate technique is a viable option in younger children with congenital abnormalities, however, continued monitoring of alignment is necessary after screw removal to check for rebound and tethering

Introduction. Angular deformity in the lower extremities can result in pain, gait disturbance, deformity and joint degeneration. Guided growth modulation uses the tension band principle with the goal of treatment being to normalise the mechanical axis. To assess the success of this procedure we reviewed our results in an attempt to identify patients who may not benefit from this simple and elegant procedure. Materials and Methods. We reviewed the surgical records and imaging in our tertiary children's hospital to identify all patients who had guided growth surgery since 2007. We noted the patient demographics, diagnosis, peri-operative experience and outcome. All patients were followed until skeletal maturity or until metalwork was removed. Results. 173 patients with 192 legs were assessed for eligibility. Six were excluded due to inadequate follow-up or loss of records. Of the 186 treated legs meeting criteria for final assessment 19.8% were unsuccessful, the other 80.2% were deemed successful at final follow up. Complications included infection and metal-work failure. Those with a pre-treatment diagnosis of idiopathic genu valgum/ varum had a success rate of 83.6%. Conclusions. In our hands, guided growth had an 80-percent success rate when all diagnosis were considered. Those procedures that were unlikely to be successful included growth disturbances due to mucopolysaccharide storage disease, Blounts disease and achondroplasia. Excluding those three diagnoses, success rate was 85.4%. We continue to advocate the use of guided growth as a successful treatment option for skeletally immature patients with limb deformity