Muharrem Inan

Evaluation of the gluteus medius muscle after a pelvic support osteotomy to treat congenital dislocation of the hip

BACKGROUND Many authors have reported that the pelvic support osteotomy prevents a Trendelenburg gait by restoring the biomechanics of the abductor muscle in patients with congenital dislocation of the hip. However, we are not aware of any studies in which the hip abductor muscles were examined following pelvic support osteotomy. The purpose of this study was, first, to use magnetic resonance imaging to measure alterations in the length and volume of the gluteus medius muscle after pelvic support osteotomy and, second, to determine which factors influence the results of the Trendelenburg test. METHODS Eleven patients with a history of congenital hip dislocation who had been treated with a pelvic support osteotomy were examined clinically with the Harris hip score and the Trendelenburg test, radiographically to measure limb-length discrepancy and valgus angulation of the proximal part of the femur, and with magnetic resonance imaging to measure changes in the gluteus medius length and volume. RESULTS The pelvic support osteotomy achieved a functional and painless hip in all eleven patients. Five of the eleven patients had a persistently positive Trendelenburg gait at the time of the last follow-up visit, at an average of three years after the osteotomy. The muscle volumes were restored to 43% to 89% of the muscle volumes on the normal contralateral side, and the postoperative muscle volume correlated significantly with the result of the Trendelenburg test (r = -0.63; p = 0.03). There was a positive association between age and the result of the Trendelenburg test (p = 0.01): four of the five patients who had a positive test were at least thirty-one years of age at the time of the operation. There was no correlation between the Trendelenburg test and the change in the length of the gluteus medius muscle, which averaged 19.2 mm in the patients with a positive test and 19.3 mm in those with a negative test. CONCLUSIONS Patient age at the time of the operation and the postoperative change in the volume of the gluteus medius muscle have a significant influence on the result of the Trendelenburg test after a pelvic support osteotomy. Moreover, our study demonstrated that restoration of the muscle volume after a pelvic support osteotomy is not sufficient to prevent a Trendelenburg gait in older patients with congenital dislocation of the hip. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level IV.

A pelvic support osteotomy and femoral lengthening with monolateral fixator.

Pelvic support osteotomies for chronically dislocated hips improve stability but result in limb-length discrepancy and valgus deformity of the knee. We prospectively evaluated and followed up 16 patients (14 females, two males) to ascertain whether a monolateral external fixator could achieve a pelvic support osteotomy and eliminate the limb-length discrepancy without disturbing knee motion. The patients had a mean age of 25.3 years at the time of surgery. The Harris hip score, knee range of motion, and Trendelenburg sign were evaluated preoperatively and at followup. The average time from fixator application until removal was 7 months (range, 5.2-9.5 months). The followup averaged 52.5 months (range, 26-84 months). The mean Harris hip score increased from 50 points (range, 32-73 points) preoperatively to 87.6 points (range, 67-98 points) at last followup. Four patients retained a positive Trendelenburg sign. At the time of fixator removal, 88% of preoperative knee range of motion was retained, and preoperative knee motion was achieved at last followup in all patients. The monolateral external fixator was suitable for a pelvic support osteotomy, equalizing limb-length discrepancy, and obtaining lower extremity alignment. This method achieved a pain-free, functional hip and good knee motion. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic study, Level IV (case series). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Efficacy and safety of percutaneous epiphysiodesis.

Background: The aims of this study were to evaluate outcomes of percutaneous epiphysiodesis, as described by Bowen, in 97 patients and to assess complications and determine whether the effect of the epiphysiodesis will accurately follow the Moseley chart predictions. Methods: A total of 97 patients were reviewed retrospectively. Fifty-six girls and 41 boys, with a mean skeletal age of 12.6 years (range, 10-16 years) at the time of operation, were followed up until skeletal maturity, a mean of 3.8 years (range, 1-10 years). Results: The mean residual leg length discrepancy (LLD) in 88 patients at maturity was 1.3 cm (range, 0-3.5 cm). In 9 patients, the epiphysiodesis was combined with a femoral lengthening or femoral shortening. The residual leg length discrepancy in these 9 patients was 3.3 cm at maturity (range, 0-6.5 cm). Minor complications including knee effusion (n = 2), superficial wound infection (n = 1), and exostosis (n = 3) occurred in 6 patients. Failure of the epiphysiodesis was the only major complication seen (n = 3). Conclusions: This study shows that complications are infrequent when performing percutaneous epiphysiodesis and that the Moseley straight-line method accurately and efficaciously predicted the timing for percutaneous epiphysiodesis in all but one patient who had unpredictable growth from hemihypertrophy secondary to a hemangiomatosis.

Treatment of femoral nonunions by using cyclic compression and distraction

Eleven patients with femoral diaphyseal nonunions after intramedullary nailing were treated with cyclic compression and distraction with an external fixator over the nail. We evaluated the limitations of this technique and whether patients having this closed procedure could achieve union without additional operative procedures. Patients with hypertrophic nonunions (n = 4) were treated with gradual compression of the nonunion site. Cyclic compression and distraction was done in patients with oligotrophic (n = 2) or atrophic nonunions (n = 5) to stimulate consolidation. The average age of the patients was 32.9 years (range, 21-48 years), and the average followup was 40.5 months (range, 24-64 months). Union was achieved in an average of 5.8 months in all patients after one operation and without additional surgical intervention. However, pain necessitating strong analgesic agents and pin-related complications consisting of osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, and pin breakage in the atrophic nonunion group were a major limitation of this technique. Based on our study, the cyclic compression and distraction technique can be used in hypertrophic and oligotrophic nonunions that have failed one or more prior exchange nailings. However, it might not be an option for treatment of patients with atrophic nonunions unless pin-site problems are resolved. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic study, Level IV (case series-no, or historical control group). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Autosomal dominant inheritance of congenital dislocation of the hip in 16 members of a family

The effect of genetic factors on hip dislocation, acetabular dysplasia, and developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) has long been recognized. In this report, we presented a large family that showed single gene inheritance for DDH. Pedigree analysis of a pregnant woman revealed a history of DDH in 16 members of the family. Although the pedigree showed autosomal dominant inheritance with reduced penetrance, the prevalence of DDH was considerably high, almost accounting for one-third of the family members, and skipping only one generation. Of 16 cases, three patients were diagnosed at our center. The remaining 13 patients were diagnosed at other centers. Dislocation was diagnosed very late in most of the family members, while four cases were diagnosed at birth. All family members were informed by a detailed clinical letter and recommended evaluation for DDH at every birth.

Spinal fusion for scoliosis in Rett syndrome with an emphasis on early postoperative complications.

Study Design. Retrospective case-control study. Objective. To examine the postoperative complications of posterior spinal fusion in a population of patients with Rett syndrome (RS). Summary of Background Data. Scoliosis is a common feature of RS, a progressive neurologic disorder affecting almost exclusively females. Despite this, there is little published information regarding the surgical treatment of scoliosis in this disorder. Methods. Sixteen consecutive female patients with RS treated by posterior spinal fusion and unit rod instrumentation for progressive scoliosis between 1995 and 2003 were evaluated. Only patients with a minimum of 2-year follow-up were included. Preoperative medical conditions and postoperative complications were recorded. As a control group, we randomly selected 32 spastic quadriplegic patients who underwent the identical procedure during the same time period, selected from our database and matched according to age, level of neurologic impairment, and medical complexity. Results. There was a high rate of early medical complications in the RS patients, with 28 major and 37 minor complications. Only 1 patient did not have a major medical complication, and every patient had at least 1 minor gastrointestinal and/or respiratory complication. Major respiratory complications occurred in 10 patients (63%) and comprised 61% of all major complications. Major gastrointestinal complications occurred in 6 patients (37%) and comprised 21% of all major complications. Other major complications included disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (1 patient), subacute bacterial endocarditis (1 patient), sacral decubiti requiring surgical debridement (2 patients), and extensive bilateral heterotopic ossification of the hips (1 patient). There were no cases of instrumentation failure, pseudarthrosis, deep infection, or need for rod revision. Postoperative complication scores were similar to those in patients with spastic quadriplegic pattern cerebral palsy. Conclusion. Spinal fusion for scoliosis in RS can give a satisfactory technical result, but a high rate of early postoperative medical problems should be anticipated.

Pectoralis major release to improve shoulder abduction in children with cerebral palsy.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the surgical results after pectoralis major muscle release in children with cerebral palsy and to assess a caregivers satisfaction in patients care after this procedure. Twenty-one shoulders in 13 patients were analyzed at least 12 months after surgery. All but 1 patient involved in our study had quadriplegic type of cerebral palsy involvement. In 17 limbs, only pectoralis release was performed; in 4 limbs, latissimus dorsi release was added. After clinical examination, a questionnaire was used to determine the caregivers assessment. The passive range of abduction and flexion was maintained at an angle greater than 90 degrees in 10 patients. External rotation was restricted in 6 patients. All caregivers would recommend this surgery to another patient. All but one reported improvement in care of the patients after surgery. The indication for this surgical procedure is limited only to the selected cerebral palsy cases in which custodial care is impaired by shoulder adduction contracture. The 2 main indications for the procedure are the limitations in the ability to bathe the axilla and the difficulty in dressing.

The proximal femoral growth plate in Perthes disease.

We hypothesized the extent of involvement of the proximal femoral growth plate in Perthes disease determined the final radiographic outcome after containment by shelf acetabulo-plasty. We retrospectively evaluated the extent of growth plate involvement using a modified version of the method described by Yasuda and Tamura. In our modification, we used only the epiphyseal border for measurements, which was clearly visible as a thin white line, unlike Yasuda and Tamura who used the metaphyseal and epiphyseal borders. We could not clearly demarcate the metaphyseal border in the radiographs of our patient population between 1944 and 1998, which consisted of 69 patients who had surgery at a mean age of 9 years (range, 6.0-14.1 years). From these measurements, we formulated an index termed “growth plate involvement.” Radiographic results were classified as described by Stulberg et al A growth plate involvement index less than 0.25 resulted in a good radiographic outcome. We found 93.2% sensitivity and 100% specificity in predicting Stulbergs outcomes. The growth plate involvement index is a reliable and reproducible measurement method and may be used prospectively as a useful prognostic factor to predict radiographic outcomes after containment acetabuloplasty.Level of Evidence: Level II, prognostic study (retrospective study). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Successful treatment of high congenital dislocated hips in older children by open reduction, pelvic and femoral osteotomy with external fixator stabilization (average 8.2 years of age).

A new technique using a hinged external fixator to stabilize an open reduction with pelvic and femoral osteotomies has been developed for treating high-dislocated hips in older children with developmental dislocated hip (DDH). This technique was performed in 11 patients (12 hips) at a mean age of 8.2 years. At follow up, radiographic results showed no redislocation/subluxation and clinical results demonstrated 11 hips as excellent/good and only one hip as poor from persistent stiffness. In conclusion, this new technique produces acceptable results in the treatment of older children with high dislocation of the hip from DDH.

Isolated zone III vertical fracture of first sacral vertebra--a case report.

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