Aims. Temporary hemiepiphysiodesis (HED) is applied to children and adolescents to correct angular deformities (ADs) in long bones through guided growth. Traditional Blount staples or two-hole plates are mainly used for this indication. Despite precise surgical techniques and attentive postoperative follow-up, implant-associated complications are frequently described. To address these pitfalls, a flexible staple was developed to combine the advantages of the established implants. This study provides the first results of guided growth using the new implant and compares these with the established two-hole plates and Blount staples. Methods. Between January 2013 and December 2016, 138 patients (22 children, 116 adolescents) with genu valgum or genu varum were treated with 285 flexible staples. The minimum follow-up was 24 months. These results were compared with 98 patients treated with 205 two-hole plates and 92 patients treated with 535 Blount staples. In long-standing anteroposterior radiographs, mechanical axis deviations (MADs) were measured before and during treatment to analyze treatment efficiency. The evaluation of the new flexible staple was performed according to the idea, development, evaluation, assessment, long-term (IDEAL) study framework (Stage 2a). Results. Overall, 79% (109/138) of patients treated with flexible staples achieved sufficient deformity correction. The median treatment duration was 16 months (interquartile range (IQR) 8 to 21). The flexible staples achieved a median MAD correction of 1.2 mm/month/HED site (IQR 0.6 to 2.0) in valgus deformities and 0.6 mm/month/HED site (IQR 0.2 to 1.5) in varus deformities. Wound infections occurred in 1%, haematomas and joint effusions in 4%, and implant-associated complications in 1% of patients treated with flexible staples. Valgus AD were corrected faster using flexible staples than two-hole plates and Blount staples. Furthermore, the median MAD after treatment was lower in varus and valgus AD, fewer implant-associated complications were detected, and reduced implantation times were recorded using flexible staples. Conclusion. The flexible staple seems to be a viable option for guided growth, showing comparable or possibly better results regarding correction speed and reducing implant-associated complications. Further comparative studies are required to substantiate these findings. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(3):331–340

Aims

Studies of infant hip development to date have been limited by considering only the changes in appearance of a single ultrasound slice (Graf’s standard plane). We used 3D ultrasound (3DUS) to establish maturation curves of normal infant hip development, quantifying variation by age, sex, side, and anteroposterior location in the hip.

Aims

The aim of this study was to describe the incidence of refractures among children, following fractures of all long bones, and to identify when the risk of refracture decreases.

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The aim of this study was to explore clinicians’ experience of a paediatric randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing surgical reduction with non-surgical casting for displaced distal radius fractures.

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Open tibial fractures are limb-threatening injuries. While limb loss is rare in children, deep infection and nonunion rates of up to 15% and 8% are reported, respectively. We manage these injuries in a similar manner to those in adults, with a combined orthoplastic approach, often involving the use of vascularised free flaps. We report the orthopaedic and plastic surgical outcomes of a consecutive series of patients over a five-year period, which includes the largest cohort of free flaps for trauma in children to date.

Aims

To compare changes in gait kinematics and walking speed 24 months after conventional (C-MLS) and minimally invasive (MI-MLS) multilevel surgery for children with diplegic cerebral palsy (CP).

A total of 25 children (37 legs and 51 segments) with coronal plane deformities around the knee were treated with the extraperiosteal application of a flexible two-hole plate and screws. The mean age was 11.6 years (5.5 to 14.9), the median angle of deformity treated was 8.3° and mean time for correction was 16.1 months (7 to 37.3). There was a mean rate of correction of 0.7° per month in the femur (0.3° to 1.5°), 0.5° per month in the tibia (0.1° to 0.9°) and 1.2° per month (0.1° to 2.2°) if femur and tibia were treated concurrently. Correction was faster if the child was under 10 years of age (p = 0.05). The patients were reviewed between six and 32 months after plate removal. One child had a rebound deformity but no permanent physeal tethers were encountered. The guided growth technique, as performed using a flexible titanium plate, is simple and safe for treating periarticular deformities of the leg

We describe the results of a prospective study of 28 children with spastic diplegia and in-toed gait, who had bilateral femoral derotation osteotomies undertaken at either the proximal intertrochanteric or the distal supracondylar level of the femur. Preoperative clinical evaluation and three-dimensional movement analysis determined any additional soft-tissue surgery. Distal osteotomy was faster with significantly lower blood loss than proximal osteotomy. The children in the distal group achieved independent walking earlier than those in the proximal group (6.9 ± 1.3 v 10.7 ± 1.7 weeks; p < 0.001). Transverse plane kinematics demonstrated clinically significant improvements in rotation of the hip and the foot progression angle in both groups. Correction of rotation of the hip was from 17 ± 11° internal to 3 ± 9.5° external in the proximal group and from 9 ± 14° internal to 4 ± 12.4° external in the distal group. Correction of the foot progression angle was from a mean of 10.0 ± 17.3° internal to 13.0 ± 11.8° external in the proximal group (p < 0.001) compared with a mean of 7.0 ± 19.4° internal to 10.0 ± 12.2° external in the distal group (p < 0.001). Femoral derotation osteotomy at both levels gives comparable excellent correction of rotation of the hip and foot progression angles in children with spastic diplegia

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The Ponseti method is an effective evidence-based treatment for clubfoot. It uses gentle manipulation to adjust the position of the foot in serial treatments towards a more physiological position. Casting is used to hold the newly achieved position. At first, the foot resists the new position imposed by the plaster cast, pressing against the cast, but over time the tissues are expected to adapt to the new position and the force decreases. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis by measuring the forces between a clubfoot and the cast during treatment with the Ponseti method.

Aims

Following the introduction of national standards in 2009, most major paediatric trauma is now triaged to specialist units offering combined orthopaedic and plastic surgical expertise. We investigated the management of open tibia fractures at a paediatric trauma centre, primarily reporting the risk of infection and rate of union.

A retrospective study was performed in 100 children aged between two and 16 years, with a dorsally angulated stable fracture of the distal radius or forearm, who were treated with manipulation in the emergency department (ED) using intranasal diamorphine and 50% oxygen and nitrous oxide. Pre- and post-manipulation radiographs, the final radiographs and the clinical notes were reviewed. A successful reduction was achieved in 90 fractures (90%) and only three children (3%) required remanipulation and Kirschner wire fixation or internal fixation.

The use of Entonox and intranasal diamorphine is safe and effective for the closed reduction of a stable paediatric fracture of the distal radius and forearm in the ED.

By facilitating discharge on the same day, there is a substantial cost benefit to families and the NHS and we recommend this method.

Take home message: Simple easily reducible fractures of the distal radius and forearm in children can be successfully and safely treated in the ED using this approach, thus avoiding theatre admission and costly hospital stay.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;97-B:131–6.

Between 2005 and 2010 ten consecutive children with high-energy open diaphyseal tibial fractures were treated by early reduction and application of a programmable circular external fixator. They were all male with a mean age of 11.5 years (5.2 to 15.4), and they were followed for a mean of 34.5 months (6 to 77). Full weight-bearing was allowed immediately post-operatively. The mean time from application to removal of the frame was 16 weeks (12 to 21). The mean deformity following removal of the frame was 0.15° (0° to 1.5°) of coronal angulation, 0.2° (0° to 2°) sagittal angulation, 1.1 mm (0 to 10) coronal translation, and 0.5 mm (0 to 2) sagittal translation. All patients achieved consolidated bony union and satisfactory wound healing. There were no cases of delayed or nonunion, compartment syndrome or neurovascular injury. Four patients had a mild superficial pin site infection; all settled with a single course of oral antibiotics. No patient had a deep infection or re-fracture following removal of the frame. The time to union was comparable with, or better than, other published methods of stabilisation for these injuries. The stable fixator configuration not only facilitates management of the accompanying soft-tissue injury but enables anatomical post-injury alignment, which is important in view of the limited remodelling potential of the tibia in children aged > ten years. Where appropriate expertise exists, we recommend this technique for the management of high-energy open tibial fractures in children.

Permanent growth arrest of the longer bone is an option in the treatment of minor leg-length discrepancies. The use of a tension band plating technique to produce a temporary epiphysiodesis is appealing as it avoids the need for accurate timing of the procedure in relation to remaining growth. We performed an animal study to establish if control of growth in a long bone is possible with tension band plating. Animals (pigs) were randomised to temporary epiphysiodesis on either the right or left tibia. Implants were removed after ten weeks. Both tibiae were examined using MRI at baseline, and after ten and 15 weeks. The median interphyseal distance was significantly shorter on the treated tibiae after both ten weeks (p = 0.04) and 15 weeks (p = 0.04). On T₁-weighted images the metaphyseal water content was significantly reduced after ten weeks on the treated side (p = 0.04) but returned to values comparable with the untreated side at 15 weeks (p = 0.14). Return of growth was observed in all animals after removal of implants.

Temporary epiphysiodesis can be obtained using tension band plating. The technique is not yet in common clinical practice but might avoid the need for the accurate timing of epiphysiodesis.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:855–60.

Between June 2001 and November 2008 a modified Dunn osteotomy with a surgical hip dislocation was performed in 30 hips in 28 patients with slipped capital femoral epiphysis. Complications and clinical and radiological outcomes after a mean follow-up of 3.8 years (1.0 to 8.5) were documented. Subjective outcome was assessed using the Harris hip score and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index questionnaire.

Anatomical or near-anatomical reduction was achieved in all cases. The epiphysis in one hip showed no perfusion intra-operatively and developed avascular necrosis. There was an excellent outcome in 28 hips. Failure of the implants with a need for revision surgery occurred in four hips.

Anatomical reduction can be achieved by this technique, with a low risk of avascular necrosis. Cautious follow-up is necessary in order to avoid implant failure.

The association between idiopathic congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) and developmental dysplasia of the hip is uncertain. We present an observational cohort study spanning 6.5 years of selective ultrasound screening of hips in clubfoot. From 119 babies with CTEV there were nine cases of hip dysplasia, in seven individuals. This suggests that 1 in 17 babies with CTEV will have underlying hip dysplasia.

This study supports selective ultrasound screening of hips in infants with CTEV.

This study was designed to provide normal reference values for the centre-edge angle of Wiberg in the Chinese population by measuring 1494 radiographs according to the criteria of Tönnis. The mean angle was 23.1° (4.7° to 46.4°) in childhood (four to nine years), increasing to 28.9° (6° to 48°) in adolescence (10 to 18 years) and reaching 32.8° (13.7° to 58.8°) in adults. The angle was positively correlated with age, increasing by a mean of 0.78° annually before adulthood and by 0.070° annually in adults. A relative upward tendency after middle age might contribute to degenerative changes. No gender difference was discovered. The change in the angle with age was similar to that observed in other ethnic groups, showing moderate differences in the average of individual age groups, but the ethnic differences are not sufficient to explain the variation of incidence of developmental dysplasia of the hip in different races.

This study compares the initial outcomes of minimally invasive techniques for single-event multi-level surgery with conventional single-event multi-level surgery. The minimally invasive techniques included derotation osteotomies using closed corticotomy and fixation with titanium elastic nails and percutaneous lengthening of muscles where possible. A prospective cohort study of two matched groups was undertaken. Ten children with diplegic cerebral palsy with a mean age of ten years six months (7.11 to 13.9) had multi-level minimally invasive surgery and were matched for ambulatory level and compared with ten children with a mean age of 11 years four months (7.9 to 14.4) who had conventional single-event multi-level surgery. Gait kinematics, the Gillette Gait Index, isometric muscle strength and gross motor function were assessed before and 12 months after operation.

The minimally invasive group had significantly reduced operation time and blood loss with a significantly improved time to mobilisation. There were no complications intra-operatively or during hospitalisation in either group. There was significant improvement in gait kinematics and the Gillette Gait Index in both groups with no difference between them. There was a trend to improved muscle strength in the multi-level group. There was no significant difference in gross motor function between the groups.

We consider that minimally invasive single-event multi-level surgery can be achieved safely and effectively with significant advantages over conventional techniques in children with diplegic cerebral palsy.

We reviewed the clinical and radiological results of six patients who had sustained traumatic separation of the distal epiphysis of the humerus at birth.

The correct diagnosis was made from plain radiographs and often supplemented with ultrasonography, MRI and arthrography. An orthopaedic surgeon saw two patients within two days of birth, and the other four were seen at between nine and 30 days. The two neonates underwent unsuccessful attempts at closed reduction. In the remaining patients, seen after the age of eight days, no attempt at reduction was made. All six displaced fractures were immobilised in a cast with the elbow at 90° of flexion and the forearm pronated.

When seen at a mean of 58 months (16 to 120) after injury, the clinical and radiological results were excellent in five patients, with complete realignment of the injury. In one patient the forearm lay in slightly reduced valgus with the elbow in full extension.

Traumatic separation of the distal epiphysis of the humerus may be missed on the maternity wards and not diagnosed until after discharge from hospital. However, even when no attempt is made to reduce the displaced epiphysis, a good clinical result can be expected.