Brad W. Olney

Monteggia and equivalent lesions in childhood

One hundred two children with acute Monteggia lesions treated over a 25 year period were reviewed. Using the Bado classification system, type 1 (53%) and type 3 (26%) fractures were the most common. The type 1 equivalent injury associated with a proximal radius fracture is more common in children than previously reported. The majority of injuries could be treated with closed reduction, except the type 1 equivalent lesions, which required operative treatment in 10 of 14 children. Varus angulation of the ulna was the most common deformity after closed treatment. Nerve injuries occurred in 11% of the injuries, and resolved in all cases without operative treatment.

Treatment of spastic equinus by aponeurosis lengthening.

The aponeurosis lengthening described in this study was performed on 156 patients (219 procedures) with spastic equinus deformities. There was only one wound complication and no calcaneus deformities from overlengthening. The recurrence rate requiring relengthening was high (48% of the procedures), particularly if the initial operation was performed before the age of 5 years. The length of postoperative immobilization did not affect the recurrence rate. The aponeurosis lengthening technique described is a simple lengthening of the aponeurosis, leaving the soleus largely intact without the use of internal sutures. It has a negligible complication rate, but a high rate of recurrent equinus.

Talocalcaneal coalition resection: a 10-year follow-up.

Eight patients (nine feet) who underwent resection of persistently symptomatic talocalcaneal middle-facet coalitions were reevaluated > or = 10 years after surgery. Satisfactory results persisted in eight of nine cases with no deterioration of symptom relief. There was no loss of motion or development of degenerative joint changes. No patient required a secondary surgery. It appears that resection of symptomatic talocalcaneal coalition provides satisfactory results in the majority of patients, and its benefits are maintained 10 years after the procedure.

Combined innominate and femoral osteotomy for the treatment of severe Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.

Nine patients who underwent combined innominate and femoral osteotomy for the treatment of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease were evaluated. All had Catterall group III or IV involvement, the average number of radiographie “head-at-risk” signs was 3.2, and the average epiphyseal extrusion was 26%. At an average follow-up of 50.5 months, the clinical results were seven good and two fair. The radiographie results were four good, four fair, and one poor. We believe this procedure is indicated in the older patient with severe Perthes disease in whom femoral head subluxation or deformity makes containment difficult or impossible by more conventional methods.

Rotational control of various pediatric femur fractures stabilized with titanium elastic intramedullary nails

This study investigated the torsional stability of transverse, oblique, spiral, butterfly, and comminuted pediatric femur fractures reduced with titanium elastic nails. Twenty-five fractures were created in synthetic analog pediatric femora (five of each fracture type); each fracture was reduced with two 4-mm-diameter titanium elastic nails. Each reduced femur was tested for rotational stability using an MTS. Angular displacements and torques were recorded, plotted, and regressed, and the slope (torsional stiffness) was determined; analysis of variance was performed between fracture groups and rotational testing direction. The oblique fracture pattern exhibited the greatest torsional stiffness in internal rotation, the spiral fracture pattern the greatest stiffness in external rotation. All reduced fracture patterns possessed a torsional stiffness statistically equal to or greater than the torsional stiffness of the transverse fracture pattern. These results suggest this method of internal fixation provides a consistent means of rotational stability for a variety of fracture patterns in a synthetic model.

Residual deformity after treatment of pediatric femur fractures with flexible titanium nails.

Introduction Procurvatum or anterior bow deformity is a potential complication after treatment of femur fractures with flexible titanium nails (FTNs). This article reports on a clinical evaluation of angulation after treating pediatric femur fractures with FTNs. The article also reports on a complementary investigation of potential causes of these deformities using a biomechanical model. Methods All pediatric femoral shaft fractures treated with FTNs over a 4-year period were reviewed. Fracture location, pattern, angulation, and nail shoe tip orientation were recorded from postoperative radiographs. Malunion was defined as greater than 10 degrees of angulation on the AP radiograph or greater than 15 degrees on the lateral view. As an adjunct to the clinical study, a synthetic femur model was created using midtransverse fractures. These femurs were nailed using 2 FTNs inserted so as to create constructs having the following combinations of nail shoe tip orientation: both anterior (AA), both posterior (PP), both neutral (NN), or 1 anterior and 1 posterior(AP). The resulting angular deformities noticeable upon gross inspection were then measured. Results Of the 70 fractures reviewed, malunion occurred in 16 fractures, of which 11 had increased anterior bow. A majority of malunions was observed in older children with middle third of the femur fractures. They were significantly more prevalent in transverse fractures compared with all other fracture patterns. Clinically, increased anterior bowing did not occur if 1 of the nails was positioned to resist procurvatum, as seen in the lateral radiograph. Depending on nail tip orientation, the biomechanical femur fracture model showed significant differences in mean deformations after nail placement: AA had 12.6 degrees of posterior bow compared with 14.8, 3.7, and 0.3 degrees of anterior bow for PP, NN, and AP, respectively. Conclusion Anterior bowing greater than 15 degrees is the most common malunion noted in this series of femur fractures that were nailed using FTNs. We conclude that final nail shoe tip orientation influences the likelihood of anterior bow deformity. The likelihood of large anterior bowing may be reduced if at least 1 of the nails is inserted with the tip pointing in an anterior direction. Level of Evidence/Clinical Relevance Level III.

Three additional cases of focal fibrocartilaginous dysplasia causing tibia vara.

Three additional cases of unilateral tibia vara caused by focal fibrocartilaginous dysplasia are reported in children aged 5, 6, and 18 months. These three cases support the conclusion of our original case report that unilateral tibia vara is most likely a progressive deformity, but that documentation of the progression should be obtained before a valgus osteotomy is performed.

Outpatient treatment of upper extremity injuries in childhood using intravenous regional anaesthesia.

Intravenous (i.v.) regional anaesthesia was used in outpatient treatment of 400 upper extremity fractures and dislocations in children ranging in age from 3 to 16 years. All reductions were performed in the emergency department. Good analgesia was achieved in 90% of the patients, and only nine children (2.3%) had unacceptable reductions that required further treatment under general anaesthesia. Intravenous regional anaesthesia is a safe and effective procedure that facilitates outpatient treatment of upper extremity injuries in children.

Treatment of hip dysplasia in older children with a combined one-stage procedure.

This retrospective study was conducted to determine the efficacy and complication rates associated with treating children of ambulatory age with idiopathic developmental dysplasia of the hip with open reduction and combined femoral and pelvic osteotomies. Eighteen hips were reviewed in 13 patients. The average patient age at surgery was 29 months (range, 15–117 months), with an average followup of 43 months (range, 24–78 months). Preoperative Tonnis classification identified six Class II, seven Class III, and five Class IV hips. Followup Severin classification identified 16 Class 1A and two Class 2A hips. The average center edge angle on most recent followup was 47° (range, 25°-70°), and the acetabular index was 5° (range, 0°-20°). Avascular necrosis developed in one (5.5%) patient. Clinically, all patients were pain free with ambulation and had excellent results by McKay criteria. No patient required a second surgical procedure for recurrent subluxation or persistent acetabular dysplasia. The treatment of children who are of ambulatory age with developmental dysplasia of the hip using open reduction and combined osteotomies was safe and effective.

Proximal femoral resection for subluxation or dislocation of the hip in spastic quadriplegia

Management of a painful or contracted hip dislocation in individuals with severe spastic quadriplegia is difficult. Clinical and radiographic results of 12 proximal femoral resection-interposition operations performed in seven non-ambulatory persons (five males, two females; mean age 14 years, 8 months; age range 6 years 11 months to 19 years 8 months) with severe spasticity were reviewed to determine if pain relief and restoration of motion were maintained. At a mean follow-up of 7 years 7 months (median 9 years 6 months) all participants maintained a good sitting position and a functional range of motion with improved hygiene. Hip pain was improved in all participants compared with their preoperative status. Proximal femur migration occurred causing slight pain in one person. Heterotopic ossification was observed but was not clinically significant. Complications included traction pin loosening and infection and a late supracondylar femur fracture 3 months after the operation. Proximal femoral resection effectively decreased pain and restored hip motion in those with severe spastic quadriplegia leading to improved sitting and perineal care.