Purpose of the study: Duplication of the thumb is the most common congenital anomaly of the first ray. The characteristic feature of type IV is the diversity of the clinical forms and the presence of certain complex forms particularly difficult to treat (Hung IVD). We propose a new procedure for reconstruction of IVD type thumb duplication.

Material and method: This new procedure was used for thumb reconstruction in two boys with type IVD thumb duplication. Mean age at surgery was 10 months. Surgical technique. The future incisions were traced with a central skin resection removing the most hypoplastic nail entirely (generally the radial nail). At the bone level, a longitudinal osteotomy of the proximal phalanges was made over the entire length to remove the central part and obtain a width for the first phalanx comparable to that of the contralateral thumb. An oblique osteotomy was cut in the base of the distal phalanx of the ulnar hemithumb with resection of a radial corner. The same type of osteotomy was performed at the base of the distal phalanx of the radial hemithumb, but with preservation of the radial corner and resection of the rest of the radial thumb. The proximal hemiphalanges were sutured as were the bases of the distal phalanges. This produced automatic realignment and stabilisation of the interphalangeal joint without an ungueal intervention.

Results: The three children were reviewed at 24, 18 and 12 months. The Horii score was good in all cases.

Discussion: Type IVD duplications of the thumb are difficult to treat and may leave serious sequelae. Our technique is based on the principle of a central resection of the proximal phalanges associated with partial resection of the base of the distal phalanges. This enables realignment and stabilisation of the interphalangeal joint while avoiding the problem of ungueal dystrophy since only one nail is preserved. Our preliminary results are encouraging but must be confirmed with a longer term study.

Purpose of the study: The effect of idiopathic scoliosis surgery on walking capacity has rare been studied. Results published in the literature have been discordant: reduced velocity, step rate and stride length for Lenke et al; no change for Engsber et al. We conducted a prospective study to analyze gait parameters after surgery for idiopathic scoliosis.

Material and methods: This study was conducted in 46 patients who underwent surgery for idiopathic scoliosis. Mean age was 15 years (range 12–22). Mean angle was 56° (range 40–94°). A posterior approach was used for reduction and fusion in all patients. Mean postoperative angle was 20° (range 8–64°). There were no neurological, mechanical or infectious complications. Gait analysis was performed with a locometer to record spatial and temporal gait parameters preoperatively then postoperatively at 10 days, and 3, 6, and 12 months. ANOVA was performed.

Results: Preoperatively, mean±SD values were: velocity: 1.48±0.14 m/s; step rate: 132±9 steps/min; stride length 67±6.7 cm; balancing time: 0.39±0.03 s; double-stance time 0.07±0.03 s. These values were lower than reported for health adults using the same measurement instrument. All parameters were modified immediately after surgery (p< 0.05) but there was no significant difference between the pre- and postoperative values at 3, 6, and 12 months.

Conclusion: Corrective fusion via a posterior approach for the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis does not affect spatial and temporal gait parameters.

Purpose of the study: Surgical strategies for high-grade spondylolisthesis are controversial. The main subject of debate concerns the indications for reduction or in situ fusion. We present mid-term results obtained in a series of patients with high-grade spondylolisthesis treated by posterior reduction and fusion.

Material and methods: Sixteen patient who had undergone surgery for spondylolisthesis of the superior isthmus > 50% were reviewed. Mean age was 12 years (range 9–16 years). Preoperatively, all patients were symptomatic with lumbalgia, truncated radicular pain, and gait anomalies. Surgical treatment consisted in a single posterior approach, L5 laminectomy, curettage of the L5-S1 disc combined with excision of the S1 dome, L4-S1 instrumented reduction, anterior L5-S1 and posterolateral L4S1 arthrodesis. Postoperative immobilization was achieved with a resin lumbar cast with crural stabilization for three months then a lumbar orthesis for three months. Clinical and radiographic outcome was assessed at 44 months on average (range 10–260 months).

Results: Clinically, 14 patients were pain free and had resumed their former activities. One patient complained of intermittent pain. No improvement was observed in one patient. Radiographic results were: displacement 78% (range 52–100%) preoperatively and 30% (8–95%) at last follow-up. The L5S1 displacement angle was 14° kyphosis (range 8–30°) preoperatively and 9° lordosis (range 3–12°) at last follow-up excepting one case with complications. The pelvic incidence was 85° (range 65–100°) preoperatively and 74° (range 50–90°) at last follow-up. Complications: There was one early infection treated by wash-out debridement and antibiotics without removing implants. Disassembly of the implanted material in one patient with a poor clinical result led to complete recurrence and lumbosacral kyphosis. Sacral screw fracture was diagnosed in six patients on average one year after surgery but without any progression or recurrence of the displacement. There were no neurological complications.

Discussion and conclusion: Posterior reduction enables restoration of a good sagittal balance. More than the reduction, it is particularly important to restore the lumbosacral junction in a lordosis position to guarantee long-term stability. This technique is a difficult surgical challenge and raises the risk of recurrence and potential neurological complications.

Introduction: Upper root injuries (C5–C6±C7) account for 75 % of all obstetric brachial plexus palsies (OBPP). Among them, about thirty percent develop a medial contracture of the shoulder due to an imbalance between strong internal rotators and weak external rotators. This causes glenohumeral deformities. To decrease the internal contracture it had been proposed either to release the subscapularis (Sever procedure) or to perform a capsular release (Fairbank procedure). Arthroscopic capsular release was proposed in young patient to reduce the medial contracture.

Material & methods: Six children with an average age of 23 months and 1 case aged 12 years old, had a medial contracture of the shoulder secondary to a C5–C6 ( 3 cases) or C5–C7 (4 cases) obstetrical palsy. An arthroscopic evaluation of the deformities was performed in 3 cases. Next a surgical subscapularis release was applied in association with a latissimus dorsi transfer.

An arthroscopic evaluation of the joint associated with an arthroscopic capsular release (release of the coracohumeral ligament) was performed in 4 cases. In addition, the latissimus dorsi was transfered. Pre and Post operative passive external rotation were measured in degrees in R1 position.

Pre and post operative medial rotation were evaluated according to the Mallet classification. A comparative evaluation of the glenohumeral deformities were performed between pre-operative MRI and arthroscopic results.

Results: An arthroscopic evaluation of the glenohumeral joint was performed in 6 cases. In one case the arthroscopic evaluation could not be performed. In the 6 cases, arthroscopy confirmed the MRI lesion : 3 posterior subluxations, 1 posterior luxation and 2 normal joints. The subscapularis release allowed an increase in the passive lateral rotation of an average of 50°. However, a decrease of 1 point in the medial rotation was noted according to Mallet evaluation. The coracohumeral ligament arthroscopic release allowed an increase in the passive lateral rotation of an average of 60° without decreasing the passive medial rotation. Whatever the method used, a reduction of the subluxation of the glenohumeral joint was obtained.

Discussion & Conclusion: Medial contracture of the shoulder may begin in the first two years of life and an early reduction with muscular release and transfers was proposed. However, the precise nature of the progressive limitation of the external passive rotation remains unclear. Is the limitation due to a contracture of the medial rotators or a capsular retraction or a combination of both? Harryman demonstrated the role of the rotator interval capsule and coracohumeral ligament in limiting the external rotation. Our hypothesis was that capsular retraction occurred before the muscular contracture. As a result we decided to perform a capsular release in patients under 24 months. The results on the passive external rotation were similar with both methods. Although, the technique of an arthroscopic release was difficult and demanding, it appears that this technique is beneficial as it allows an evaluation of the joint deformity and treatment of the contracture in the same time.

Arthroscopic release is a safe but demanding technique which allows an increase in the external passive rotation in OBPP. It should be noted that this technique requires a significant practice.

In 12 infants aged under 16 months with unilateral club foot we used MRI in association with multiplanar reconstruction to calculate the volume and principal axes of inertia of the bone and cartilaginous structures of the hindfoot.

The volume of these structures in the club foot is about 20% smaller than that in the normal foot. The reduction in volume of the ossification centre of the talus (40%) is greater than that of the calcaneus (20%). The long axes of both the ossification centre and the cartilaginous anlage of the calcaneus are identical in normal and club feet. The long axis of the osseous nucleus of the talus of normal and club feet is medially rotated relative to the cartilaginous anlage, but the angle is greater in club feet (10° v 14°). The cartilaginous structure of the calcaneus is significantly medially rotated in club feet (15°) relative to the bimalleolar axis. The cartilaginous anlage of the talus is medially rotated in both normal and club feet, but with a smaller angle for club feet (28° v 38°). This objective technique of measurement of the deformity may be of value preoperatively.

We measured the clinical tibiofemoral (TF) angle and the intercondylar (IC) or intermalleolar (IM) distance in 427 normal European children (212 male and 215 female) aged from 10 to 16 years. In our study, girls had a constant valgus (5.5 degrees) and displayed an IM distance of < 8 cm or an IC distance of < 4 cm. By contrast, boys had a varus evolution (4.4 degrees) during the last two years of growth and displayed an IM distance of < 4 cm or an IC distance of < 5 cm. Values above these for genu varum or genu valgum may require careful follow-up and evaluation.