Aim

The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of clinic based ultrasound screening by Orthopaedic surgeon for early diagnosis and treatment of developmental dysplasia of hip (DDH) in one stop clinic.

Type IIb, so called mobiled pseudoarthrosis according to Paley classification, is characterized by congenital pseudoarthrosis of proximal femur with an isolated small and stiff femoral head. We are unable to create a moveable hip joint but appropriate length of the affected extremity can be reached by gradual lengthening. In previous classification it is known as Type Aitken C or Pappas III.

Type IIIa, with diaphysial deficiency of femur, corresponds to Type D according to Aitken or to Type I and II according to Pappas.

In Type IIIa, the knee joint is developed and functional with the ROM more than 45 degrees. In Type IIIb the knee joint is more or less stiff and functionally unuseable.

These three groups present the most severe congenital short femur deformities, but their occurrence is fortunately very seldom – less than 1 in 300 thousand live births. Among 41 cases of congenital short femur Pappas I–IV which were collected during 30 years from the Czech population of 10 million – Pappas I was seen in one case, Pappas II in five cases, Pappas III in 16 cases and Pappas IV in 19 cases. From the 16 cases of Pappas III deformity was found in three of them – stiffness of isolated femoral head was found and these three patients were added to this group.

Method of Treatment: In Type IIb we use complex treatment consisting of six consecutive steps:

Distraction of the distal part of femur up to acetabular level

Lengthening between 15 and 39 cm was reached.

In Type IIIa, ilio-femoral fusion (knee-for-hip procedure) was performed in five cases. The functional results are excellent. There was no need for Syme amputation or rotationplasty. The prerequisite is at least 60 degrees arc of motion in the knee joint. Severe restricted ROM in the knee joint may lead to pseudoarthrosis.

In Type IIIb (2 cases), the residual fragment of distal femur with unfunctional knee joint was stabilized in socket formed after pelvic osteotomy in the level of original acetabulum. The removal of telescopic proximo-distal movement stabilized the supportive function of the extremity.

Purpose: To give the review of the foot deformities in the patients with myelomeningocele (MMC), their relationship to the level of the neurological lesion and therapeutic possibilities.

Material & Methods: Since 1998 till 2004 there were 20 patients with myelomeningocele treated in our clinic, in 19 patients was noted the foot deformity (total 34 feet). The deformity was unilateral in 4 patients, asymmetric in 2 patients (equinovarus + calcaneovalgus or planovalgus). The most frequent was equinovarus deformity (16 feet, 47%), next planovalgus deformity (9 feet, 26,5%), calcaneovalgus (7 feet, 20,6%) and equinovalgus (2 feet, 5,9%). In 28 feet the surgery was done. For the correction of the various deformities of the feet were used soft tissue releases or tendons transfer, in the older patient or after failed soft tissue release the bony operation was done (tarsal osteotomy, talo-calcaneal stabilisation, artrodesis).

Results: The aim of every type of surgery was to achieve the acceptable foot shape, with plantigrade step and possibility of weigh bearing, with minimal risk of the pressure necrosis. In the most patients the purpose was achieved, although some of them passed several surgeries. In 18 deformities only one surgery obtained the correction of the deformity, the but for the 10 feet subsequent surgery was required because of the residual or relapsing deformity. In 3 patients was noted the pressure necrosis, in 1 patient appeared the fracture of the distal tibia (epiphyseolysis) after the removal the postoperative plaster.

Conclusion: The orthopaedic care about the patients with MMC is only a part of the interdisciplinary approach of several specialists. The procedures for the correction of the neurogenic deformities of the feet, belong to the delicate surgery and is necessary very careful indication in relation with the type of deformity, which is dependent on the high of the lesion, and with the expectancy of walking. In the patients with good prognosis of walking is necessary to choose the procedure which guarantee weight-bearing and plantigrade step without the risk of ischemic skin defects.

Purpose: To analyse middle-term outcomes of treatment of patients with congenital luxation of hip using modified overhead traction.

Material and Methods: During the years 1991–2001, a total of 116 patients (138 hip joints) were treated. The group comprised 99 girls and 17 boys with the average age 4.7 months (ranging from 1.5–11 months). Patients were divided into two subgroups: patients who have been treated at our department from the determination of the diagnosis and those referred to our department from other facilities after unsuccessful conservative therapy. Only those patients were evaluated in whom the traction therapy was completed at least 2 years ago, the mean follow-up period was 4.5 years (2–10). After the initial preparatory horizontal traction, we moved to a 4-week overhead regimen wherein we increased the abduction by 10 degrees every five days. After completing the dystraction, every hip joint was examined using arthrography and where the reposition was possible, the therapy continued with the fixation in plaster spike for 6 weeks. Pavlik harnes were used for the final phase of the treatment.

Results: In the group of primarily treated patients, reposition was successful in 78 out of 91 hip joints (85.7%). In another 4 hip joints (4.4%), reluxation occurred after an average period of 3.5 weeks after the removal of the spike. Nine hip joints (9.9%), 7 of type IV and 2 of type IIIB, were non-repositionable. Much worse results were achieved in the group of patients who received previous treatment. Only 12 hip joints (25.5%) were maintained permanently repositionable but neither of them was of type IV. Reluxation within two weeks after the removal of the fixation occurred in another 5 hip joints (10.6%). A total of 30 hip joints (63.9%) could not be reposed due to arthrographic findings of reposition obstacles. All these patients were admitted for treatment after the 6th month of age. We have observed no case of avascular head necrosis in the group of 90 patients who received conservative treatment.

Conclusion: Traction therapy is a safe and mild method of treatment for congenital luxation of the hip joint. The rate of success of the therapy depends on the sonographic findings and age of patients at the beginning of therapy. Considerably worse results are achieved in the group of patients who have already received unsuccessful inadequate treatment.

The outcomes of the Berman-Gartland osteotomy in 26 feet (20 children) from 1995 to 1999 were evaluated. Average age at time of operation: 8 years, 3 months (range 37 to 194 months). Average age at follow-up: 2 years, 5 months (range 2 to 70 months).

The osteotomy is performed in tourniquet from three lengthwise incisions and fixed by Kirschner wires and plaster of Paris for six weeks. Only patients with idiopathic PEC were included in this study. Average age at time of primary operation was ten months. For analysis, the type and percentage of preceding operations were: pantalar release (40%), posterior release (12%), and tendo calcaneus elongation (8%). Eight feet (30%) were not primarily surgically treated. Indicated for metatarsal osteotomy were: footwear difficulty (92%), gait instability (65%), and muscle spasm (56%). Average adduction deformity of the forefoot was clinically assessed as 30 degrees (20 to 45 degrees). Forefoot rigidity was evaluated according to Black as grade II (14 feet) and grade III (12 feet).

Radiograph assessment was made by the use of T-I.MTT and C-V.MTT angle changes in the dorsoplantar weight-bearing view. We succeeded in correcting the average values of T-I.MTT angle from 28 degrees (range 20 to 43 degrees) preoperatively to 4 degrees (range 2 to 15 degrees) postoperatively, and C-V.MTT angle from 16 degrees (range 8 to 24 degrees) to 2 degrees (range -5 to 7 degrees). Isolated metatarsal varus deformity was found in 12 feet, in combination with talo-navicalar joint hypercorrection in nine feet, and in combination with residual talo-navicular joint subluxation in five feet.

Calcaneocuboid joint displacement was classified as grade I and II in 16 and 3 feet respectively. Preoperative residual displacement was not found in seven feet.

Complications were noted in three metatarsal nonunions (2% of 130 osteotomized metatarses), four pin migrations, one superficial infection, and one persistent forefoot swelling.

At final follow-up, clinical findings and outcomes were assessed as excellent in 16 feet (62%) and good in 10 feet (38%). We recorded no inferior result. An apparent relationship was not found between the type and timing of preceding operations and varus forefoot deformity persistence. In 19 feet (73%), residual grade I and grade II tibial subluxation of the cuboid bone was found.

The authors reviewed a group of 24 patients (26 hips) who had been managed with open reduction through an anterolateral approach from 1981 to 1985. Eight patients with an inadequate clinical (6) or roentgenographic (2) follow-up were excluded from the study. The purpose was to evaluate 18-year results of nine hips operated in pre-walking age up to 12 months and nine hips operated later. All patients were operated by the senior doctor. The goals of management are concentric reduction and its maintenance in order to provide the optimum environment for development of the hip joint.

The average age of the children at the time of operation was seven months (range 3–10 months) in the first group and 32 months (range 15–60 months) in the second group. Open reduction was performed if a stable reduction could not be achieved with traction as demonstrated with arthrography.

Evaluation of the first group: marginal dislocation was found in one hip (11.1%) and in the rest of cases the head was highly dislocated. A simultaneous derotational femoral osteotomy was added in the course of four reductions (44.4%) and in three of these cases a subsequent Salter osteotomy was performed. Five hips (55.6%) were reduced without additional femoral osteotomy and in three of these cases, a subsequent combination of Salter and derotational varisation osteotomy was performed. Average age at the time of the subsequent operation was 31 months (range 19–44 months).

In the second group, only high dislocations were found and each procedure was accompanied with simultaneous and subsequent interventions. At the final follow-up of the first group, the clinical findings were evaluated as Severin class A in eight hips (88.9%) and class B in one hip (11.1%). Three hips (33.3%) were Severin roentgenographic class I, and six hips (66.7%) were class II. Six hips (66.7%) showed avascular necrosis classified as Ogden-Bucholz Type I (3) and Type II (3). No significant degenerative changes were found. In the second group, the results were worse – two patients had already had THAs implanted.

The results are excellent or good in children operated in the pre-walking age. The results in patients operated later are worse. We consider this method to be useful for the treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip.