Contemporary Epidemiology of and Risk Factors Associated with Removal of a Pathologically Normal Appendix in Children with Suspected Appendicitis

BackgroundThe goal of this study was to characterize contemporary performance benchmarks and risk factors associated with negative appendectomy (NA) in children with suspected appendicitis.MethodsA multicenter retrospective cohort analysis of children undergoing appendectomy for suspected appendicitis was performed using data from the 2016–2021 NSQIP-Pediatric Appendectomy Targeted Public Use Files. Multivariable regression was used to evaluate the influence of year, age, sex, and WBC count on NA rate, and to generate rate estimates for NA based on different combinations of demographic characteristics and WBC profiles.Results100,322 patients were included from 140 hospitals. The overall NA rate was 2.4%, and rates decreased significantly during the study period (2016: 3.1% vs. 2021: 2.3%, p < 0.001). In adjusted analyses, the highest risk for NA was associated with a normal WBC (<9000/mm³; OR 5.31 [95% CI: 4.87–5.80]), followed by female sex (OR 1.55 [95% CI: 1.42–1.68]) and age <5 years (OR 1.64 [95% CI 1.39, 1.94]). Model-estimated risk for NA varied significantly across demographic and WBC strata, with a 14.4-fold range in rates between subgroups with the lowest and highest predicted risk (males 13–17 years with elevated WBC [1.1%] vs. females 3–4 years with normal WBC [15.8%]).ConclusionsContemporary NA rates have decreased over time, however NA risk remains high in children without a leukocytosis, particularly for girls and children <5 years of age. These data provide contemporary performance benchmarks for NA in children with suspected appendicitis and identify high-risk populations where further efforts to mitigate NA risk should be targeted.Level of EvidenceIII.     

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.     

Severe lumbar spinal stenosis combined with Guillain-Barré syndrome: A case report

BACKGROUNDGuillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare disorder that typically presents with ascending weakness, pain, paraesthesias, and numbness, which mimic the findings in lumbar spinal stenosis. Here, we report a case of severe lumbar spinal stenosis combined with GBS.CASE SUMMARYA 70-year-old man with a history of lumbar spinal stenosis presented to our emergency department with severe lower back pain and lower extremity numbness. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis of severe lumbar spinal stenosis. However, his symptoms did not improve postoperatively and he developed dysphagia and upper extremity numbness. An electromyogram was performed. Based on his symptoms, physical examination, and electromyogram, he was diagnosed with GBS. After 5 d of intravenous immunoglobulin (0.4 g/kg/d for 5 d) therapy, he gained 4/5 of strength in his upper and lower extremities and denied paraesthesias. He had regained 5/5 of strength in his extremities when he was discharged and had no symptoms during follow-up.CONCLUSIONGBS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinal disorder, even though magnetic resonance imaging shows severe lumbar spinal stenosis. This case highlights the importance of a careful diagnosis when a patient has a history of a disease and comes to the hospital with the same or similar symptoms.     

针灸治疗腰椎间盘突出症伴疼痛的效果研究

目的:探讨针灸治疗腰椎间盘突出症伴疼痛的效果。方法:研究对象为2018年1-12月于我院接受治疗的腰椎间盘突出症伴疼痛患者78例,以随机数表法分为对照组与研究组,各39例。对照组采取常规牵引治疗,研究组在此基础上应用针灸治疗。治疗1个月后评价两组临床疗效,并对比两组治疗前后疼痛评分。结果:研究组治疗总有效率为97.44%(38/39),高于对照组的79.49%(31/39)(P<0.05);治疗后研究组VAS评分低于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:针灸治疗腰椎间盘突出症伴疼痛疗效确切,能够有效改善症状,降低疼痛程度,值得临床推广。     

非手术治疗破裂型腰椎间盘突出症5年随访研究

目的:探讨非手术治疗破裂型腰椎间盘突出症的近中期疗效及预后转归。方法:选取2011年2月至2014年2月接受非手术治疗的75例单节段破裂型腰椎间盘突出症患者进行前瞻性研究,男53例,女22例;年龄18～58(35.62±9.96岁);病程5 d～6个月,平均(46.45±40.66) d。突出节段:L_(3,4) 4例,L_(4,5) 29例,L_5S_1 42例。放射痛左侧46例,右侧29例。选取治疗前,治疗后3个月、6个月、1年、2年、5年6个时间点对患者JOA评分、直腿抬高角度(SLRT)、指地距统计分析。计算末次随访时(治疗后5年)JOA改善率,根据JOA评分评定疗效;分析治疗前、末次随访(治疗后5年)椎间盘突出物体积变化,计算突出物体积吸收率,观察突出物吸收情况;分析JOA改善率与突出物吸收率之间关系。结果:71例患者完成随访,非手术治疗后3个月、6个月、1年、2年、5年JOA评分、SLRT、指地距与治疗前比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后5年与6个月、治疗后5年与2年、治疗后2年与6个月JOA评分比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05),其余各时间点两两比较,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后5年与6个月、治疗后5年与2年、治疗后2年与6个月SLRT、指地距比较,差异亦无统计学意义(P0.05),其余各时间点两两比较,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。末次随访JOA改善率为(62.69±2.47)%,按照JOA评分评定疗效,结果优26例,良26例,可14例,差5例,优良率73.24%;突出物体积由起始的(1 981.73±588.72) mm3减少至(1 011.82±395.47) mm3,总体吸收率(45.65±2.83)%,突出物发生明显吸收24例,部分吸收26例,未吸收19例,增大2例。JOA改善率与突出物吸收率作Spearman秩相关分析,发现两者呈中等以上正相关(r=0.679,P0.001)。结论:非手术治疗破裂型腰椎间盘突出症可取得良好疗效,明确了破裂型腰椎间盘突出症的病情特点及预后转归,同时部分患者发生"重吸收"现象。