Aim

It has been suggested that the use of a pilot-hole may reduce the risk of fracture to the lateral cortex. Therefore the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a pilot hole on the strains and occurrence of fractures at the lateral cortex during the opening of a high tibial osteotomy (HTO) and post-surgery loading.

Chronic spastic hip dislocation in patients with spastic quadriplegia can lead to restricted range of movement and severe pain, inability to sit, respiratory and urinary infections, perineal hygiene problems and decubitus ulceration. The Castle procedure is designed to relieve pain and prevent these complications. This investigation evaluates whether the Castle procedure succeeds as a salvage procedure in a pediatric population.

Patients with cerebral palsy who had undergone a proximal femoral resection according to Castle’s description were identified. Exclusion criteria included age over nineteen years at time of surgery, acute hip dislocation, and diagnoses other than cerebral palsy. Eight children completed a chart and radiographic review, and a clinical review. A staff physician evaluated range of motion, apparent discomfort of the child, and the state of the perineal skin. A questionnaire was given the primary caregiver assessing post-operative improvement in pain, sitting duration, infections, ulcers, ease of postoperative care, and overall satisfaction.

Five males and three females with mean age at surgery of 13 ± 1 years, and an average follow-up of 42 ± 13 months were enrolled. All had proximal migration of the residual femur to at least the midpoint of the acetabulum. The average heterotopic ossification score post-op was Brooker one with no symptoms. Five of eight had mild discomfort, with two having moderate to severe discomfort. Five had reduced pain post-op such that they didn’t require analgesics, and were able to sit the entire day. One had a urinary infection post-op, and two had recurrent pneumonias and decubitus ulcerations postop. One child underwent a revision resection for pain and proximal migration, and one was rehospitalised for failure to thrive and pain control. Seven of eight caregivers were somewhat or very satisfied with the procedure, but only five of eight would recommend it to others. Problems identified by the caregivers included treatment failure, difficulty with post-operative care, and significant leg length discrepancy.

The Castle procedure is a successful salvage in severe spastic hip disease, but not universally so. Education concerning potential outcomes and rehabilitation period is also essential in achieving satisfaction.

Serial casting (SC) and Botulinum toxin-A (Btx-A) have been used to treat ankle equinus contractures in cerebral palsy. Previous studies that examined the effects of combining Btx-A injections with SC and either one of the treatments alone in terms of passive ankle range of motion (PROM) have shown mixed results [two-four]. Therefore, the goal of this study is to examine PROM and gait characteristics in children with CP who have undergone SC, either with or without Btx-A injections to the plantarflexors.

Patients who underwent SC +/− Btx-A injections were evaluated for improvement in PROM at the end of treatment. The participants’ age at beginning of SC treatment, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level, treatment duration, PROM, and gait characteristics observed by the treating physiotherapist were obtained from the charts. Only one side per treatment is included in this study (treated side for unilateral treatments, randomly chosen side for bilateral treatments). Table One shows the characteristics of the two groups.

Independent samples t-tests showed that the two groups are similar in terms of age, treatment duration and pre PROM. A repeated measures ANCOVA, using the pre- and post- treatment range of motion as the within subject variables, treatment type as the between subject variable, and GMFCS and age as the covariates showed that the PROM changed significantly regardless of treatment type (p< 0.001). However, the treatment type does not influence the outcome (p=0.411). The changes in range of motion obtained from the two types of treatments were not significantly different using the independent t-test (p=0.957).

Based on these results, it appears that both types of interventions resulted in significant changes in ankle passive range of motion, which is in agreement with Kay et al [4]. Similar ranges of motion at the end of the treatment were obtained from both treatments, and the treatments have similar success rates. Future work is needed to further explore the outcomes associated with serial casting only and Btx-A and serial casting treatments

The majority of pediatric proximal humerus fractures are successfully treated non-operatively. Significantly displaced fractures have traditionally been treated surgically with percutaneous pinning. This review of twenty-three surgically treated patients demonstrates a high rate of infection associated with percutaneous pinning. The technique of cannulated screw fixation offers a safe surgical alternative for the treatment of these fractures in the adolescent population.

To compare the results of percutaneous pinning to cannulated screw fixation for the treatment of pediatric proximal humerus fractures.

A high complication rate, including pin tract infection and loss of reduction, was observed in the percutaneous pinning group.

Given the rigid fixation afforded by cannulated screws and the minimal morbidity associated with proximal humeral physeal arrest in the older adolescent, this technique offers a safe alternative for the treatment of proximal humerus fractures.

Average age was 13.0 years for the pinning group and 14.7 years for the cannulated screw group. Regardless of fixation technique, all fractures healed completely with no difference in rates of physeal closure. Significant pin tract drainage was encountered in six of twenty patients treated with pinning: Two with Staphylococcus Aureus infection and one deep infection requiring surgical debridement. Loss of reduction and pin migration was noted in a seventh patient. The only complication observed in the cannulated screw group was a transient axial nerve paresthesia. There were no significant differences in operative time, rate of open reduction, or length of hospitalization (p> 0.05).

Twenty-three pediatric proximal humerus fractures treated operatively over a seven-year period were followed clinically and radiographically.

Thirty percent of the patients treated with pinning developed pin tract infections. Similar to femoral external fixation pins, proximal humeral pins also cross a large muscle group that may result in pin micro-motion. This may create persistent drainage that ultimately leads to infection.

Scaphoid fractures are rare injuries in the pediatric population. A clinical and radiographic review over a six-year period at our institution revealed ninety-nine suspected scaphoid fractures. All of these patients presented with post-traumatic tenderness in the anatomic snuffbox and were treated with thumb spica cast immobilization. Only 9% of these patients demonstrated radiographic evidence of scaphoid fracture on initial presentation. At subsequent follow-up, six additional patients revealed radiographic evidence of scaphoid fracture. Positive predictive value of snuffbox tenderness for scaphoid fracture was 6% for patients with initially normal radiographs.

To review the clinical and radiographic results of suspected pediatric scaphoid fractures, as well as to determine the predictive value of anatomic snuffbox tenderness for occult fracture.

Pediatric scaphoid fractures are rare injuries that were found to be non-displaced and to involve the waist and distal scaphoid in most cases. Snuffbox tenderness had a positive predictive value of 6% in the identification of occult fracture.

In cases of suspected scaphoid fracture and normal radiographs, reliance on anatomic snuffbox tenderness alone will result in unnecessary immobilization in the majority of children.

Ninety-nine potential injuries were identified. Average age was 13.9 years. Although all patients in this group had tenderness in the snuffbox, only nine of the original x-rays revealed a true scaphoid fracture. The ninety “clinical scaphoid fractures” were immobilized for twenty-three days on average. Of these, only six demonstrated future radiographic evidence of fracture. No injuries required surgery for non-union.

All pediatric scaphoid fractures that were diagnosed clinically or radiographically at our institution between 1998 and 2003 were reviewed. Initial and follow-up radiographs were examined for evidence of fracture.

Given the sequelae of untreated scaphoid fractures in adults, tenderness in the snuffbox has been used to diagnose “clinical scaphoid fractures”. Although never validated in children, this test continues to be used in this population. As the natural history of scaphoid fracture in children is more favorable than in adults, reliance on snuffbox tenderness alone has resulted in the over-treatment of this injury.