Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) measure the conduction pathways from the periphery to the brain and can demonstrate the site of neurological impairment in a variety of locomotor conditions. SSEPs were studied in 44 children (64 feet) with surgically corrected club feet. Four children had unreproducible responses, 18 showed abnormal recordings and 22 showed normal responses. In a further 31 feet (21 children) subjected to motor electrophysiological tests, 16 (52%) were abnormal. Overall, 44 of 95 feet (46%) showed abnormal SSEPs or motor electrophysiological tests. Neurological abnormality was related both to the severity of the deformity and the surgical outcome. It was seen in 38% of feet with grade-2 and in 53% of feet with grade-3 deformity. A fair surgical result was obtained in 36% of feet with a conduction deficit and in only 6% with no abnormality. These results suggest an association between neurological abnormality as demonstrated by SSEPs or motor electrophysiological studies and the severity of deformity in club foot and its response to surgical treatment

Purpose. To document the incidence and nature of complications associated with hemiepiphysiodesis using a screw and plate device (8-plate, Orthofix). Methods. We reviewed case notes and radiographs of 71 children (130 segments) with lower limb deformities treated with temporary hemiepiphyseal arrest using the 8-plate. 96% of deformities were in the coronal plane, 4% sagittal. 72% of coronal deformities demonstrated valgus malalignment. We defined three types of complications:. early (perioperative) complications eg infection and/or wound breakdown, bleeding, neurological impairment. implant related complications such as soft tissue irritation, plate breakage or migration,. complications involving the growth plate including rebound deformity, early physeal closure or iatrogenic deformity. Complications were related to variables of patient age, gender, diagnosis, location of deformity and associated surgery. Results. The average age at surgery was 10 years (range 3-16). There were 41 boys, 30 girls. 3/70 patients were treated for an idiopathic deformity: the remainder were affected by a wide range of pathologies (20% skeletal dysplasia, 20% metabolic bone disease). Full correction has occurred in 38% of patients. The remaining 45 children are all showing improvement in their deformity. 10 patients (14%) have had a complication: 3 patients had early complications (wound infection, wound breakdown and intra-operative hypotensive crisis) and 2 patients have had implant related complications (irritation and migration). In a further 5 patients there have been physis related problems: 1 over-correction, 1 recurrence and 3 cases in which the timing of the procedure or the ill-health of the physis did not allow correction to occur. Conclusion. The 8-plate is an effective device in the management of deformity secondary to pathological conditions. 10% of patients had complications: the majority were minor but care should be taken regarding the timing of the procedure related to the growth potential of the pathological physis