Hip Displacement in Cerebral Palsy: The Role of Surveillance

IntroductionHip displacement is common in cerebral palsy (CP) and is related to the severity of neurological and functional impairment. It is a silent, but progressive disease, and can result in significant morbidity and decreased quality of life, if left untreated. The pathophysiology of hip displacement in CP is a combination of hip flexor-adductor muscle spasticity, abductor muscle weakness, and delayed weight-bearing, resulting in proximal femoral deformities and progressive acetabular dysplasia. Due to a lack of symptoms in the early stages of hip displacement, the diagnosis is easily missed. Awareness of this condition and regular surveillance by clinical examination and serial radiographs of the hips are the key to early diagnosis and treatment.Hip surveillance programmesSeveral population-based studies from around the world have demonstrated that universal hip surveillance in children with CP allows early detection of hip displacement and appropriate early intervention, with a resultant decrease in painful dislocations. Global hip surveillance models are based upon the patients’ age, functional level determined by the Gross Motor Function Classification system (GMFCS), gait classification, standardized clinical exam, and radiographic indices such as the migration percentage (MP), as critical indicators of progressive hip displacement.ConclusionDespite 25 years of evidence showing the efficacy of established hip surveillance programmes, there is poor awareness among healthcare professionals in India about the importance of regular hip surveillance in children with CP. There is a need for professional organizations to develop evidence-based guidelines for hip surveillance which are relevant to the Indian context.     

Cuboid nutcracker fracture in children: Management and results

Introduction

Compression fractures of the cuboid bone in children and adolescents are rare. Fracture morphology, associated lesions, treatment options and long-term outcomes of this very rare injury are published in a few case reports. This study with review of the literature aims to support the understanding of fracture pattern and optimize pathways of decision making.

股骨近端空心锁定板内固定治疗股骨颈骨折临床疗效观察

目的：：研究股骨近端空心锁定板内固定治疗股骨颈骨折的临床效果。方法：对2008年2月至2010年4月我院入院治疗的108例股骨颈骨折患者进行了研究，随机分为两组，对照组给与空心钉进行治疗，观察组采用股骨近端空心锁定板内固定治疗，比较两组治疗方案的手术时间、出血量、住院时间以及下床时间，比较两组治疗方案的手术并发症发生率，并比较两组患者三年期临床疗效。结果：观察组患者手术出血量明显少于对照组，手术时间、住院时间以及下床时间明显短于对照组，两组比较差异明显，有统计学意义( P<0.05)；两组患者手术并发症均以疼痛、骨不连以及感染为主，其中观察组上述并发症的发生率为13.0％，明显低于对照组33.3％，两组比较差异有统计学意义( P<0.05)；观察组患者三年临床总有效率为79.6％，对照组患者三年期临床总有效率为51.9％，两组比较差异明显，有统计学意义( P<0.05)。结论：股骨近端空心锁定板内固定治疗股骨颈骨折临床效果显著，可以明显缩短手术时间以及住院时间，降低手术并发症，并且三年临床总有效率更高，值得临床推广应用。     

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and neck of femur fractures: Standardising the perioperative management and time to surgery

Demographic projections for hip fragility fractures indicate a rising annual incidence by virtue of a multimorbid, ageing population with more noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs are characterised by slow progression and long duration ranging from ischaemic cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to various cancers. Management of this disease burden often involves commencing patients on oral anticoagulants to reduce the risk of thromboembolic events. The use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in clinical practice has increased due to their rapid onset of action, short half-life and predictable anticoagulant effects, without the need for routine monitoring. Safe and timely surgical intervention relies on reversal of anticoagulants. However, the lack of specific evidence-based guidelines for the perioperative management of patients on DOACs with hip fractures has proved challenging; in particular, the accessibility of DOAC-specific assays, justification of the cost-benefit ratio of targeted reversal agents and indications for neuraxial anaesthesia. This has led to potentially avoidable delays in surgical intervention. Following a literature review of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics of commonly used DOACs in our region including the role of surrogate markers, we propose a systematic, evidence-based guideline to the perioperative management of hip fractures DOACs. We believe this standardised protocol can be easily replicated between hospitals. We recommend that if patients are deemed suitable for a general anaesthesia, with satisfactory renal function, optimal surgical time should be 24 h following the last ingested dose of DOAC.     

Intra-articular Hymovis injection for managing hip OA in active sportsmen. A 24-month observational retrospective clinical investigation

BackgroundHip Osteoarthitis (OA) risk is sport-specific and depends on frequency, intensity, and type of mechanic stress the hip is subjected to. This retrospective observational study aims to investigate the safety and performance of Hymovis (HYADD-4) injection, a hexadecyl (C-16) HA-derivative, when used to manage symptomatic hip OA in active middle-aged sportsmen over a 24-month observation period.MethodsThe retrospective analysis included clinical records of active sportsmen, aged between 40 and 65 years, and suffering from symptomatic Kellgren-Lawrence grade II to III hip OA, treated with two (24 mg/3 ml) Hymovis injections, two weeks apart, every 3–4 months, for two years. When available, data on MRI examination were included in the analysis as well as Heidelberg Sports Activity Score (HAS) and Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS) questionnaires.ResultsThirty patients (56.4 ± 7.3 years) were included in the study, sixteen cyclists and 14 tennis players. For all patients, HAS and most HAGOS scores improved significantly (p < 0.05) at the first control visit (4 months) and further improved over time. For all other scores an important clinical benefit was experienced by more than 50% of participants. No adverse events were recorded.ConclusionTreatment of hip OA in active sportsmen with Hymovis seems a safe and effective approach for the management of OA symptoms, by potentially protecting cartilage and subchondral bone from further damage.     

The effects of increased forward trunk lean during stair ascent on hip adduction and internal rotation in asymptomatic females

BackgroundIncreased hip adduction and internal rotation can lead to excessive patellofemoral joint stress and contribute to patellofemoral pain development. The gluteus maximus acts as a hip extensor, abductor, and external rotator. Improving hip extensor use by increasing one’s forward trunk lean in the sagittal plane may improve frontal and transverse plane hip kinematics during stair ascent.Research questionDoes increasing forward trunk lean during stair ascent affect peak hip adduction and internal rotation?MethodsTwenty asymptomatic females performed five stair ascent trials (96 steps/min) on an instrumented stair using their self-selected and forward trunk lean postures. Three-dimensional kinematics (200 Hz) and kinetics (2000 Hz) were recorded during the stance phase of stair ascent. Biomechanical dependent variables were calculated during the stance phase of stair ascent and included peak forward trunk lean, hip flexion, hip adduction, hip internal rotation angles, and the average hip extensor moment.ResultsDuring the forward trunk lean condition, decreases were observed for peak hip adduction (MD = 2.8˚; 95% CI = 1.9, 3.8; p < 0.001) and peak hip internal rotation (MD = 1.1˚; 95% CI = 0.1, 2.2; p = 0.04). In contrast, increases were observed during the forward trunk lean condition for the peak forward trunk lean angle (MD = −34.7˚; 95% CI = −39.1, −30.3; p < 0.001), average hip extensor moment (MD = −0.5 N·m/kg; 95% CI = −0.5, −0.4; p < 0.001), and stance time duration (MD = −0.02 s; 95% CI = −0.04, 0.00; p = 0.017).SignificanceIncreasing forward trunk lean and hip extensor use during stair ascent decreased peak hip adduction and internal rotation in asymptomatic females. Future studies should examine the effects of increasing forward trunk lean on hip kinematics, self-reported pain, and function in individuals with patellofemoral pain.