Infantile idiopathic scoliosis.

This review of infantile idiopathic scoliosis highlights the clinical features, etiology, epidemiology, and treatment considerations that clearly distinguish this entity from the more common diagnosis of juvenile and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. A comprehensive understanding of infantile idiopathic scoliosis provides the basis for reliable prediction of those curves that are likely to spontaneously resolve and those that will relentlessly progress if left untreated.     

The Blalock-Taussig shunt in the first six months of life.

Because of increasing interest in the application of the Blalock-Taussig shunt in smaller infants, we reviewed the course of 18 infants aged 6 months or less who underwent this procedure. The mortality rate in 4 infants under 2 weeks of age was 50 per cent and that in those 2 weeks to 6 months of age, 28 per cent. The patency rate was 70 per cent. Because of late problems with the Waterston shunt and a comparable mortality rate, the Blalock-Taussig procedure is recommended for all infants, except perhaps those under 2 weeks of age.     

Open heart surgery in the first six months of life

Intracardiac repair of a variety of cardiac anomalies was performed in 104 infants aged 10 days to 6 mo, presenting with severe hypoxia and/or intractable heart failure. Thirty-eight patients (33 less than three mo of age) did not survive the operation or died during the first postoperative month. Above 6 mo of age, correction of heart defects is often carried out on an elective basis, and results are more favorable. A more convenient choice between corrective and palliative procedures is suggested to achieve better results in the difficult group of patients who require surgery within the first 6 mo of life.     

Infantile and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in the same individual

A patient with an infantile, resolving type of idiopathic scoliosis is presented. By the age of 10 years, 4 years after complete spontaneous correction, the girl had developed a structural, progressive idiopathic scoliosis to the opposite side.     

青少年特发性脊柱侧凸患者术后生活质量的影响因素分析

[目的]分析各因素对青少年特发性脊柱侧凸患者术后生活质量的综合影响,为提高患者生活质量提供参考。[方法]选择2011年1月~2015年1月在本院手术的青少年特发性脊柱侧凸患者79例,之前均未接受任何治疗,详细统计患者性别、年龄、居住地、胸弯Cobb角、腰弯Cobb角、冠状面C_7铅垂线与骶骨正中线距离、矢状面C_7铅垂线与骶骨后上角距离、顶椎旋转度、双肩平衡等,采用SRS-30生活质量问卷进行评估,而后用多重线性回归模型预测各因素与青少年特发性脊柱侧凸患者术后生活质量的相关性。[结果]患者术后均获得不同程度改善,术后胸弯Cobb角平均20.7°,腰弯Cobb角平均12.8°,双肩高度差平均6.8 mm,C_7PL-CSVL平均13.7 mm,SVA平均22.9 mm,术后患者生活质量总分128.3分,各维度平均得分分别为疼痛(4.53)、心理(4.46)、功能/活动(3.73)、自我形象(4.28)、满意度(4.45)。男性患者在功能/活动维度(P=0.05)及满意度(P=0.037)上得分显著高于女性患者,城乡患者间得分无明显差异。[结论]不同影响因素对SRS-30问卷各个维度的影响权重各异,青少年特发性脊柱侧凸患者术后的生活质量是各个因素综合作用的结果。     

Surgical treatment of truncus arteriosus in the first 6 months of life.

One hundred six infants were seen at the University of California Medical Center between 1974 and 1981 with the diagnosis of truncus arteriosus. One hundred of these underwent physiologic correction prior to 6 months of age. Six infants died prior to operation while undergoing intense medical therapy to improve their basic condition. There were 11 operative deaths with a mortality rate of 11%. Of the 86 long-term survivors, 55 have returned for conduit change because of either body growth or pseudointima proliferation of the conduit. There had been no mortalities at the time of conduit change, and 29 of these were repaired using a straight tube between the ventricle and pulmonary trunk, while 26 had valve conduits placed. Physiologic correction in the first 6 months of life has been accomplished with a low mortality rate and apparent good long-term results with none of the survivors having evidence of elevated pulmonary vascular resistance.     

Covariates of tramadol disposition in the first months of life

BACKGROUND: Data on contributors to between-individual variability in overall tramadol clearance and O-demethyl tramadol (M1) formation in preterm neonates and young infants are limited. METHODS: A population pharmacokinetic analysis of tramadol and M1 was undertaken using non-linear mixed effects model. Covariate analysis included weight, postmenstrual age (PMA), postnatal age (PNA), creatinaemia, (cardiac) surgery, cardiac defect, and cytochrome (CYP)2D6 polymorphisms, classified by CYP2D6 activity score. RESULTS: In 57 patients (25-54 weeks PMA), 593 observations were collected. Tramadol clearance was described using a two-compartment, zero-order input, first-order elimination linear model. An additional compartment was used to characterize M1. Tramadol clearance at term age was 17.1 litre h(-1) (70 kg)(-1) (CV, 37.2%). Size (37.8%) and PMA (27.3%) contribute to this variability. M1 formation clearance (CL2M1, i.e. the contribution of M1 synthesis to M clearance) was 4.11 litre h(-1) (70 kg)(-1) (CV, 110.9%) at term age. Size and PMA were the major contributors to the variability (52.7%); the CYP2D6 activity score contributes 6.4% to this variability. CONCLUSIONS: Overall tramadol clearance estimates confirm earlier reports while CL2M1 variability is explained by size, PMA, and CYP2D6 polymorphisms. The CL2M1 is very low in preterm neonates, irrespective of the CYP2D6 polymorphism with subsequent rapid maturation. The slope of this increase depends on the CYP2D6 activity score. The current pharmacokinetic observations suggest a limited micro-opioid receptor-mediated analgesic effect of M1 in preterm neonates and a potential CYP2D6 polymorphism-dependent effect beyond term age.     

Effect of bracing on the quality of life of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: There is considerable controversy regarding the effectiveness of bracing for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Furthermore, little work has focused on the effect of formal bracing on the health-related quality of life (QOL) of affected adolescents. PURPOSE: This study is an attempt to assess the QOL of adolescents with AIS who were treated with a brace in comparison to those who were not. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: This is a questionnaire-based study of patients presenting to our institution for evaluation and treatment of AIS. The study was conducted at Columbia University and the New York Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY. PATIENT SAMPLE: A total of 136 patients with AIS who were being observed and 78 patients who were braced were included in this study. OUTCOME MEASURES: The Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) were administered to 214 parents of adolescents undergoing evaluation for AIS. METHODS: Parents of AIS patients were administered the CHQ and PODCI to assess their child's QOL. Independent samples t tests were conducted to compare the QOL among braced versus observed patients. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the effect of gender, age, curvature and treatment type on QOL. RESULTS: There were few differences in QOL between braced versus observed patients, but boys tended to outscore the girls across most domains. Surprisingly, the QOL of adolescents undergoing bracing in this study was not significantly lower than age-adjusted norms. CONCLUSIONS: Brace wearing did not decrease the QOL of adolescents, compared with their observed counterparts, in our study population.     

Predicting quality of life six months after traumatic injury

BACKGROUND: Many factors are known to impact quality of life (QoL) after injury, but predictors of diminished QoL and the time course of recovery remain incompletely understood. This study examines predictors and correlates of QoL measured by the Short Form-36 (SF-36) one and six months postinjury. METHODS: Adults with nonneurologic blunt injury were prospectively enrolled. Demographic, injury, and socioeconomic data were collected. Patients were assessed with functional and psychologic measures. In all, 196 patients had 1-month data and 123 had 6-month data available. Scores were compared at each time point and also to population norms using t-tests. Multiple regression techniques were used to identify associations between the physical and mental component scores (PCS & MCS) of the SF-36 and patient characteristics. RESULTS: PCS scores improved significantly (32.8 +/- 0.9 versus 41.3 +/- 1.0, p < 0.05) whereas MCS scores (47.5 +/- 1.1 versus 47.2 +/- 1.1, p = NS) did not. Both remained significantly below population norms. Functional Independence Measure (FIM) at one month was predictive of PCS at 6 months. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was predictive of lower MCS, and depression was associated with poor MCS. Injury Severity Score was not associated with PCS or MCS. CONCLUSIONS: Overall physical and mental QoL measured by the SF-36 remains significantly below population norms 6 months after traumatic injury. It is possible to identify patients at risk for diminished QoL early during recovery by screening for functional status, PTSD, social support, and depression. Interventions to address these areas should be further studied with respect to their impact on long-term QoL.     

Normal ranges of hip motion in infants six weeks, three months and six months of age.

Flexion contracture, internal rotation and external rotation of the hip were reported in 40 infants at 6 weeks and 3 months and in an independent sample of 40 infants at 6 months of age. Population means and normal ranges of motion were determined for use in the evaluation of hip problems and their treatment. A mean hip flexion contracture of 19 degrees was present at 6 weeks of age, decreasing to 7 degrees by three months, but still persisting at 6 months suggesting that forceful extension of the hip in infants may be contraindicated. Hip flexion contracture decreased in every child from 6 weeks to three months. In all cases, external rotation was greater than internal rotation. Internal rotation greater than external rotation before the age of 6 months appears contrary to normal development. There was a significant correlation between the changes in hip flexion contracture and internal rotation from 6 weeks to 3 months. An interesting extension of this study would be a longitudinal follow-up of infants beyond 6 months of age to further define these developmental trends.     

Analysis of mortality within the first six months after coronary reoperation

BACKGROUND: Identify risk factors associated with mortality following repeat coronary revascularization (redoCABG) within the first 6 months following surgery. METHODS: Five hundred forty-one redoCABG patients (1987 to 1998) were studied by univariant and multivariant analysis. Mortality was assessed at three different points: hospital mortality (A) (36/541, 6.7%); mortality at 6 months (C) (75/541, 13.9%); and outpatient perioperative mortality, which is a death occurring from the time of hospital discharge to 6 months postoperatively (B) (39/541, 7.2%). RESULTS: Diabetes, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, renal insufficiency, lung disease, myocardial infarction (MI) before the first operation, MI between the first and redoCABG, lack of sinus rhythm, no IMA graft, acute/emergency operation, perfusion time, and perioperative MI were all identified as risk factors related to early mortality. MI before the first operation, antegrade cardioplegia, and the time period 1987 to 1992 all influenced hospital mortality (A). Diabetes, hypertension, renal insufficiency, lung disease, and valvular heart disease all influenced the outpatient mortality up to 6 months. Independent predictive factors for early mortality were: age more than 69 years; diabetes; vascular insufficiency; chronic lung disease; MI between first and redoCABG; no IMA-graft; acute preoperative MI; emergency operation; perfusion time; perioperative MI; and the time period 1987 to 1992. Risk factors for in-hospital death included MI between the first and redoCABG, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and the time period 1987 to 1992. Diabetes is an important risk factor during the outpatient perioperative phase. Emergency surgery and perioperative MI predict mortality regardless of the time period (A, B, or C). CONCLUSIONS: Early mortality after redoCABG is influenced by many variables during the first 6 months following surgery. Understanding these factors and their time course may better help to assess the true risk associated with reoperation for recurrent coronary insufficiency.     

Brain tumors during the first twenty-four months of life

One hundred patients with brain tumors were diagnosed and treated during the first 24 months of life. They represent 16% of 608 children with brain tumors treated from 1952 through 1984. The most common histological type of brain tumors during the first 24 months are benign astrocytoma, medulloblastoma, and choroid plexus papilloma. The tumor location is distributed relatively evenly among the cerebellum and the 4th ventricle, the cerebral hemisphere (including the lateral ventricle), and the suprasellar region and 3rd ventricle. The chief presenting signs and symptoms are a full fontanelle, macrocephaly, changes of behavior, and delayed developmental milestones. Localizing signs are infrequent. Ninety-two patients underwent craniotomy with a one-month surgical mortality rate of 12%. The surgical mortality rate was 5.6% among 36 recent patients diagnosed by computed tomography. The 5-year survival rate is 41% in the patients younger than 12 months and 74% in patients diagnosed during the 2nd year of life. This study indicates the validity of Collins' rule for medulloblastomas during the first 24 months of life, but not for benign or malignant astrocytomas.