The Delay in Diagnosis of Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis: A Review of 102 Patients

Objectives The aim of this study were (1) to evaluate the incidence of apparent missed diagnosis of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) by the primary care system and (2) to identify possible factors leading to a delay in diagnosis of this disorder.Setting and Design A retrospective review of emergency department records, outside medical charts, and preoperative and postoperative radiographs of children treated surgically for SCFE at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA) from 1989 to 1997 was done to assess the delay in diagnosis for SCFE. The primary care system included outside emergency department visits, urgent care clinic visits, and private office visits.Results Of 102 patients (69 men, 33 women; mean age at surgery, 11.9 years), 68% were above the 95th percentile mean weight for age. Pain in the hip and/or groin was documented in 60%. The mean duration of symptoms experienced before being seen at CHLA was 140 days (hours to 1.5 years) and the mean delay after the first primary care visit till being seen at CHLA was 76 days (hours to 1 year). Fifty-two percent of primary care visits for hip, groin, knee, or thigh pain in obese children did not lead to either a diagnosis of SCFE or a referral for orthopedic evaluation.Conclusions This study documents a 2 1/2-month delay and a 52% incidence of apparent missed diagnosis for SCFE by the primary care system. There seems to be a need for increased orthopedic education for primary care providers.     

Pediatric orthopaedic patients presenting to a university emergency department after visiting another emergency department: demographics and health insurance status

BACKGROUND: The disparity in access to and delivery of health care among children has become increasingly apparent. The purpose of our study was to analyze demographic information, including health insurance status, of children with extremity injuries seen at a University Hospital emergency department (UH ED) after visiting another ED for the same complaint. METHODS: A database of pediatric orthopaedic consults requested for extremity injuries at UH ED was reviewed. Information regarding patients' age, ethnicity, orthopaedic diagnosis, type of health insurance, time from injury to presentation at the first ED and at UH ED, mode of transportation to UH ED, and orthopaedic treatment rendered was analyzed. All patients with Medicaid, health maintenance organization-Medicaid, no insurance, or charity care were classified as having public insurance, whereas those with commercial insurance, including health maintenance organization and preferred provider organization plans, were placed in the private insurance category. RESULTS: Over a 30-month period, 125 children, of whom 18% had private health insurance, were noted to have recently visited another ED seeking treatment for an extremity injury. A closed fracture was diagnosed in 117 patients, 94% of whom were discharged from UH ED after cast application. There was no difference with regard to patients' age, sex, ethnicity, diagnosis, and time to presentation at the initial ED between private and public insurance groups. However, 52% of children with private insurance received orthopaedic care within 24 hours compared with 22% with public insurance (P = 0.013). Children with public insurance were more likely to have visited another health facility besides the initial ED before presenting to UH ED (P = 0.004). Moreover, 74% of privately insured patients presenting to UH ED arrived via ambulance compared with 34% with public insurance (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Most children with an extremity injury who received orthopaedic consultation at a tertiary-level ED after visiting another ED had an isolated fracture requiring cast treatment only. There was a trend for delay in receiving definitive orthopaedic care for patients with public health insurance compared with those with private insurance.     

A new look at the incidence of slipped capital femoral epiphysis in new Mexico

PURPOSE: Past epidemiological studies demonstrated a nearly fivefold lower incidence of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) in New Mexico compared with Connecticut. A recent study demonstrated some regional variability but did not address this earlier finding. We sought to reexamine the incidence of SCFE in New Mexico to improve the understanding of the epidemiology and ultimately the disorder itself. METHODS: The discharge databases for the 11 major medical centers in the state were reviewed for the ICD-9 code for SCFE (732.2) for 1995 to 2006. The data were analyzed by comparison with the 2000 New Mexico census data. The incidence data are reported as cases per 100,000 boys aged 10 to 17 years and girls aged 8 to 15 years, as per Kelsey's original article. RESULTS: The incidence of SCFE in New Mexico for the study period was 5.99. This is a doubling of the reported incidence in the 1960s (2.13) and represents a statistically significant change (P < 0.001). More detailed analysis of our data demonstrated a statistically significant increase during 3-year intervals: 1995-1997, 2.27; 1998-2000, 2.75; 2001-2003, 4.73; and 2004-2006, 7.38.The mean age of onset was 12.2 years. There was a male to female ratio of incidence of 1.94:1. Relative frequencies by race were as follows: 4.63x for African Americans, 2.20x for Hispanics, and 2.20x for Native Americans. A preponderance of cases was treated at the state's only tertiary pediatric orthopaedic center: 168 to 15 in the remaining 10 centers. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of SCFE has increased dramatically in New Mexico since Kelsey's epidemiological study in 1970.Obesity is a patient factor that has changed over this same period. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data for 2003/2004, the rates of obesity have tripled since 1971. In New Mexico, 25% of high-school children are estimated to be overweight. However, according to a recent study examining a national database (compiled from 27 states), the national incidence of SCFE remained fairly constant at 10.8 per 100,000.Interestingly, as more patients are seen at a tertiary center for children's orthopaedics, the rate of diagnosis in New Mexico has risen to resemble national trends. In the 1960, that center was located in a remote site and did not provide acute care for children's musculoskeletal issues. Increased obesity in children and improved access to pediatric orthopaedic evaluation may have contributed to a significant increase in reported incidence of SCFE in New Mexico.     

Inter-observer and intra-observer agreement in the radiographic diagnosis of avascular necrosis of the femoral head following slipped capital femoral epiphysis

Introduction  

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is a common pediatric hip disorder. Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head is a devastating complication of SCFE. The frequency of this complication reported in the literature has been variable. It was the objective of this study to estimate the inter- and intra-observer agreement between two experienced pediatric orthopaedic surgeons for the radiographic diagnosis of AVN following SCFE.     

Thoracolumbar fractures in patients with multiple injuries: diagnosis and treatment-a review of 147 cases

BACKGROUND: The initial evaluation and treatment of patients with multiple injuries are challenging. However, little is known about thoracolumbar fractures in patients with multiple injuries. We aimed to determine the incidence of missed injuries of the thoracolumbar spine in patients with multiple injuries, to examine the reasons for the delay in diagnosis, and to study the selection of treatment options in the management and timing of surgical intervention. METHODS: One hundred forty-seven consecutive patients with acute thoracolumbar fractures and multiple trauma at the authors' hospital between 1988 and 1997 were retrospectively reviewed. The incidence of missed injuries of the thoracolumbar spine and the reasons for the delay in diagnosis were determined. All these patients were observed for a minimum of 3 years after surgery, except four who died during their hospital stay. RESULTS: Delayed diagnosis of thoracolumbar fractures was made in 28 patients (19%). There was an increased incidence of pulmonary complications (p < 0.01) and increased length of hospital stay (p < 0.05) in patients treated nonoperatively compared with patients treated operatively. Although no significant differences in the recovery rate of neurologic function (p > 0.05) were noted between the groups, the surgical patients had highly significantly less pain compared with the nonoperative patients (p < 0.01). The relationship between the timing of thoracolumbar surgery and complications failed to show statistical significance (p > 0.05). Neither the severity of injury nor the timing of surgery had any significant effect on the recovery rate (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with blunt trauma caused by high-energy impact injuries are much more likely to have thoracolumbar fractures even if injuries elsewhere have been noted. Further radiographic studies of the thoracolumbar spine should be performed if there is any question related to a thorough and systematic examination. Choice of treatment options of thoracolumbar fractures in patients with multiple injuries is not different from that in patients with no associated injuries to other systems. Appropriate timing of thoracolumbar fracture fixation in patients with multiple injuries should not be dependent on a rigid protocol.     

The use of regional anaesthesia in patients at risk of acute compartment syndrome

A delay in the diagnosis of an acute compartment syndrome can be devastating to the patient. The increasing use of regional anaesthesia in the management of orthopaedic and trauma patients raises concerns about the potential for delay in the diagnosis of acute compartment syndrome. We undertook a postal survey to assess the usage of regional anaesthesia in patients with lower limb fractures. The study showed that regional anaesthesia is being used in patients at risk of compartment syndrome and without compartment pressure monitoring equipment being available. The anaesthetists questioned had seen cases of acute compartment syndrome being masked by regional anaesthesia. We recommend that there is an urgent need to establish joint guidelines between the orthopaedic and anaesthetic communities on the usage of regional anaesthesia in patients with lower limb fractures to reduce further morbidity from delays in the diagnosis of compartment syndrome.     

Fractures of the fifth metatarsal in children and adolescents

OBJECTIVE: Fractures of the fifth metatarsal are the most common metatarsal fractures in children. Their treatment is based on the adult literature. The purpose of our study was to identify the different types of fifth metatarsal fractures, to determine the mean time to healing, and to examine whether current adult recommendations can be extrapolated to children and adolescents. METHODS: A total of 103 patients met the inclusion criteria. The fractures were classified according to location. Type I represented an apophyseal injury. Type II represented tubercle fractures with intra-articular extension. Type III injuries represented Jones fracture. Metatarsal neck and shaft fractures were included separately. RESULTS: Apophyseal fractures did well with a short-leg walking cast for 3 to 6 weeks. Displaced intraarticular fractures had a significant delay in healing versus nondisplaced ones. Jones fractures had delays in healing if not treated surgically. Neck and shaft fractures did well with casting. CONCLUSIONS: Most fractures of the fifth metatarsal in the pediatric population do well clinically after a course of walking cast, unless the fracture is an intra-articular displaced fracture type or the fracture occurs in the proximal diaphyseal area. Fixation of Jones fractures in active adolescents should be considered to allow faster return to regular activities and prevent refracture. We recommend non-weight bearing casts for all angulated or displaced intra-articular injuries to avoid delays in healing and angulation. From our series, it is evident that most pediatric fifth metatarsal fractures behave as those found in adults and can be treated similarly.     

Intestinal perforation due to blunt trauma in children in an era of increased nonoperative treatment

Over the past decade, nonoperative management of most pediatric blunt abdominal trauma has emerged as accepted practice. It is possible that treatment of associated hollow visceral disruption might be missed or delayed because of this nonoperative approach. In a review of all cases of intestinal perforation from blunt trauma seen over the past 6 years, we found 12 cases of intestinal disruption in more than 600 cases of significant blunt trauma. Child abuse caused eight cases and four were motor vehicle related (MVR). Seven of eight battered children had a delay of more than 48 hours from injury to hospital presentation. Three of four MVR patients had an 18-hour delay from injury to operation. Ten of 12 patients survived. The two children who succumbed were both battered and were moribund and unstable when first seen and failed to respond to aggressive stabilization and surgery. Serial physical examinations, contrast radiographic studies, and peritoneal lavage were the most helpful diagnostic modalities. There were no significant complications and no patient required more than one operation (except for ostomy closure). All surviving patients are well at followup and seven of ten have been followed for more than 3 years; two are not yet 1 year from surgery and one is lost to followup. Several principles have emerged from this review: 1) motor vehicle trauma and child abuse are the major etiologic factors in childhood blunt trauma; 2) accurate and rapid diagnosis of intestinal perforation in children is difficult; 3) recovery in the presence of stable vital signs can be expected, even with the long delays; and 4) abused children must be carefully evaluated for abdominal trauma.     

Surgical site infection in the elderly following orthopaedic surgery. Risk factors and outcomes

BACKGROUND: Risk factor and outcomes data pertaining to surgical site infection in the elderly following orthopaedic operations are lacking. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for surgical site infections and to quantify the impact of these infections on health outcomes in elderly patients following orthopaedic surgery. METHODS: A risk factor and outcomes study was performed at Duke University Medical Center, a tertiary care center, and seven community hospitals in North Carolina and Virginia between 1991 and 2002. The study included elderly patients in whom a surgical site infection had developed following orthopaedic surgery and elderly patients in whom a surgical site infection had not developed following orthopaedic surgery (controls). Outcome measures included mortality during the one-year postoperative period and the total length of the hospital stay (including readmissions during the ninety-day postoperative period). RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-nine patients with a surgical site infection were identified, and 171 controls were selected. The mean age of the patients was 74.7 years. The most frequent procedures were hip arthroplasty (n = 74, 22%) and open reduction of fractures (n = 55, 16%). The most common pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus (n = 95, 56%). A risk factor for surgical site infection, identified in the multivariate analysis, was admission from a health-care facility (odds ratio = 4.35; 95% confidence interval = 1.64, 11.11). Multivariate analysis also indicated that surgical site infection was a strong predictor of mortality (odds ratio = 3.80; 95% confidence interval = 1.49, 9.70) and an increased length of stay in the hospital (multiplicative effect = 2.49; 95% confidence interval = 2.10, 2.94; 9.31 mean attributable days per infection, 95% confidence interval = 6.88, 12.13). CONCLUSIONS: Measures for prevention of surgical site infection in elderly patients should target individuals who reside in health-care facilities prior to surgery. Future studies should be done to examine the effectiveness of such interventions in preventing infection and improving outcomes in elderly patients who undergo orthopaedic surgery.     

The effects of quantitative gait assessment and botulinum toxin a on musculoskeletal surgery in children with cerebral palsy

BACKGROUND: The limits of nonoperative treatment for children with cerebral palsy, including physical therapy and orthotics, commonly lead to orthopaedic surgical intervention. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the influence of gait analysis and botulinum toxin type-A injections on the timing, prevalence, and frequency of orthopaedic surgery. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 424 children with cerebral palsy who had been born between 1976 and 1994. The children were divided into three groups: Group 1 comprised 122 patients who were managed throughout the entire study period according to best-practice guidelines in orthopaedics, Group 2 comprised 170 patients who were similarly managed but with input from gait analysis, and Group 3 comprised 132 patients who had gait analysis and also received botulinum toxin type-A injections. We analyzed the prevalence of orthopaedic surgical procedures at different ages (three to nine years) and the time to the first surgical procedure. RESULTS: The progression to orthopaedic surgery was significantly different among the three groups (p < 0.0001). The proportion of patients who had undergone at least one surgical procedure by the age of seven years was 52% (sixty-four of 122) for Group 1, 27% (forty-six of 170) for Group 2, and 10% (thirteen of 132) for Group 3. There was a delay in surgery in Group 2 as compared with Group 1 (p < 0.00001 at seven, eight, and nine years of age) and a significant decrease in the prevalence of orthopaedic surgical procedures for Group 3 as compared with Group 1 (p < 0.00001 at four to eight years of age) and Group 2 (p < 0.0025 at four to nine years of age). CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of children who have cerebral palsy, the introduction of gait analysis increases the age of the first orthopaedic surgical procedure and botulinum toxin type-A treatment delays and reduces the frequency of surgical procedures.     

Delays and difficulties in the diagnosis of lower urologic injuries in the context of pelvic fractures

BACKGROUND: This article describes the characteristics of missed lower urologic injuries at a level 1 trauma center using advanced trauma life support protocols. Between 1991 and 1996, 635 patients were treated for traumatic pelvic fractures. For the 43 patients with missed urologic diagnoses, the pelvic fracture pattern, initial evaluation, average delay to diagnosis and treatment, reason for the delay, and manner in which the lower urinary tract injury was discovered and treated were identified. RESULTS: Of 43 patients with pelvic fracture, 10 (23%) with concomitant urologic injury had initially missed diagnoses. Delay in diagnosis and treatment averaged 19 hours for missed intraperitoneal bladder ruptures and 6.7 days for missed extraperitoneal bladder ruptures. CONCLUSION: The findings show that 23% of all bladder and urethral disruptions associated with pelvic fractures were missed at initial evaluation. The pelvic fracture pattern, in addition to physical examination, should direct the urologic evaluation for trauma patients.     

The 2004 Marshall Urist award: delays until surgery after hip fracture increases mortality

The objective of this study was to analyze whether a delay in time from admission until surgical treatment increased the mortality rate for patients with a closed hip fracture. We used the day of the week of admission as an instrumental variable to pseudorandomize patients. We analyzed 18,209 Medicare recipients who were 65 years of age or older and had surgical treatment for a closed hip fracture. Patients for whom the delay between admission and surgery was 2 days or more had a 17% higher chance of dying by Day 30. Using instrumental variables analysis, we found a similar 15% increased risk of mortality in patients with delays until surgery of 2 or more days. Based on these results, we found that a delay of 2 or more days significantly increased the mortality rate. This suggests that delay to surgery independently affects mortality, therefore additional study on the effect of smaller delays on outcome is needed.     

Factors delaying surgical treatment of hip fractures in elderly patients

BACKGROUND: Published guidelines recommend early surgical treatment of hip fractures in elderly patients. Understanding the factors that delay surgical intervention is essential in order to introduce changes that will facilitate early treatment. AIM: To determine the factors delaying surgical treatment of hip fractures in elderly patients for more than 24 h. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Assessment of 163 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for hip fractures at the trauma unit of Manchester Royal Infirmary. RESULTS: Only 72/163 (44.2%) patients had their operation within 24 h of presenting to hospital. The remaining 91 patients had a total of 239 days delay (in excess of the initial 24 h) for surgical treatment. Active medical problems (56.5%) and a wait for medical investigations (19.7%) caused most delays. Lack of operating theatre time and Sunday trauma lists caused 23.8% of delays. CONCLUSIONS: Medical problems account for most delays of surgical treatment of hip fractures. A multidisciplinary approach, with early input by medical and anaesthetic teams, is essential in managing such patients. Established protocols may reduce waiting times for essential investigations.     

Comparison of the volume of scoliosis surgery between spine and pediatric orthopaedic fellowship-trained surgeons in New York and California

BACKGROUND: Controversy exists regarding the optimal fellowship training experience for surgeons who perform scoliosis surgery in pediatric patients. While many studies have demonstrated that higher surgical volumes are associated with superior outcomes, the volume of scoliosis procedures performed by pediatric orthopaedic-trained surgeons as opposed to spine surgery-trained surgeons has not been reported. METHODS: Validated, statewide hospital discharge databases from the states of New York and California were utilized to examine the volume of spinal fusion procedures performed for the treatment of scoliosis in patients who were eighteen years of age or less. Fellowship training of surgeons in New York who had performed more than fifty procedures from 1992 to 2001 (that is, more than five procedures per year) was determined, and the operative volumes of surgeons who had received pediatric orthopaedic as opposed to spine fellowship training were compared. Hospitals in California with either type of fellowship program were identified, and the operative volumes of hospitals and fellows with pediatric orthopaedic or spine fellowship training from 1995 to 1999 were compared. RESULTS: Among the 228 surgeons in New York who had performed one or more spinal fusion procedures in patients eighteen years of age or less from 1992 to 2001, only 13% (thirty) had performed more than five procedures per year. However, these thirty surgeons accounted for 75% (3858) of all 5136 procedures in this age-group. Surgeons who had completed a pediatric orthopaedic fellowship had performed a mean of 14.5 procedures per physician per year, whereas those who had completed a spine fellowship had performed a mean of 10.5 procedures per physician per year. Surgeons who had not completed either type of fellowship had performed a mean of 14.4 procedures per physician per year. In California, the mean annual volume of scoliosis procedures from 1995 to 1999 was 59.0 procedures per year at hospitals with pediatric orthopaedic fellowship programs and 15.7 procedures per year at those with spine surgery programs. The mean number of procedures per fellow at hospitals with pediatric orthopaedic fellowship programs was 31.6 procedures per fellow per year, and the mean number at hospitals with spine surgery programs was 12.7 procedures per fellow per year. Over time, there was a significant increase in the number of procedures per year at hospitals with both types of fellowship programs, but the percentage increase was greater for hospitals with pediatric orthopaedic fellowship programs than for hospitals with spine surgery fellowship programs (45.2% compared with 13.5%). CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that, on the average, a large number of surgeons in New York performed five scoliosis procedures per year or fewer. Among higher-volume surgeons in New York, those with pediatric orthopaedic fellowship training performed more scoliosis procedures on children and adolescents than those with orthopaedic spine training did. In California, the volume of scoliosis procedures at hospitals with pediatric orthopaedic fellowship programs was nearly four times greater than that at hospitals with spine fellowship programs and the volume of procedures per fellow was more than two times greater, and this disparity is widening over time. These data are an important element in establishing what type of fellowship best prepares surgeons for scoliosis surgery.     

Effect of delay of surgical treatment on rate of infection in open fractures in children

This study reviews all open fractures treated at a tertiary children's hospital from 1990 to 1995 to determine whether delaying surgical debridement influences the rate of infection in the pediatric population. One hundred four open fractures were followed until both clinical and radiographic union was evident. A 1.0% rate of infection requiring surgical drainage, and a 1.0% rate of soft-tissue infection managed with oral antibiotics alone was found. Infection rates for fractures treated within 6 h of injury was 2.5%, and for fractures treated with >6 h delay was 1.6%. No significant statistical difference in infection rate with delay in surgical debridement was found (p = 0.77). Delays of 5 and 16 h were found in the two fractures complicated by infection, compared with an average delay of 12 h for those that healed uneventfully. Our findings suggest that in children given early parenteral antibiotics, operative irrigation and debridement may be delayed >6 h without an increased risk of infection. As this series contains only 18 patients with grade III open fractures and nine patients whose surgery was delayed >24 h, conclusions should not be made in these groups.     

Role of an extended tertiary survey in detecting missed injuries in children

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on the incidence of delayed diagnosis of injuries in children. We sought to investigate the role of an extended tertiary survey in pediatric trauma patients. METHODS: All children that were admitted to The Children's Hospital at Westmead with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) >/= 9 were included in the study. The trauma fellow performed the tertiary survey the day after admission. This was repeated after extubation in ventilated patients and in head injury patients when they were more mobile and cooperative. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients satisfied the criteria for the study (50 boys and 26 girls). Age ranged from 1 month to 15 years. The median ISS was 14. Sixteen (16%) of the patients had missed injuries, of which skeletal injuries were the most common (10 of 12). Delayed diagnosis of injury occurred most frequently in children involved in motor vehicle injuries. Sixty-six (66%) of the injuries were detected within the first 24 hours. Inadequate assessment and head injury were the most common contributing factors. CONCLUSION: The incidence of missed injury (16%) in our study was comparable to reported figures in the adult literature. There was no correlation between missed injuries and intensive care unit stay or ISS. Head injury often delayed diagnosis and thus ongoing evaluation in this group is recommended. Missed injuries did not result in mortality, but there was significant associated morbidity. A tertiary survey should be part of the evaluation of the pediatric trauma patient.     

The management of compound leg injuries in the West Midlands (UK): are we meeting current guidelines?

The joint British Association of Plastic Surgeons and British Orthopaedic Association (BAPS/BOA) guidelines for the management of patients with open tibia fractures were published in 1991 and 1997 and provided a synopsis of injury epidemiology and best care. We present a retrospective review of 66 patients treated over a 2-year period (January 2001-February 2003) at a regional plastic surgery unit. There were 33 direct admissions and 33 transfers from other hospitals in which the average delay in transfer was 7.8 days (1-28) and in whom 26 (79%) patients had already undergone surgery. Plastic surgeons were involved in 46 (62%) of the 66 patient cohort and 27 (82%) transferred patients. The delay after admission until soft tissue cover was 3.8 days (0-15). Twenty-nine (44%) complications were recorded, 20 (69%) of these were in the transferred group and additional orthopaedic intervention was needed in 11 (42%) of patients who had been operated on in other hospitals. Despite widespread dissemination and teaching of the BAPS/BOA guidelines, complex extremity trauma is often not managed well in our region. There are unacceptable delays in admission, late communication, poor note keeping and follow up. The initial surgery/fixation is often sub-optimal and soft tissue reconstruction has to be considered at the least advantageous time period for the patient, leading to an increased hospital stay and complications.     

Pediatric disk herniation

Pediatric disk herniation is a rare condition that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the child with back pain or radiating leg pain. Because pediatric disk herniation is relatively uncommon, there is typically a delay in diagnosis compared with time to diagnosis of adult disk herniation. Pediatric disk herniations are often recalcitrant to nonsurgical care, but such measures should be attempted in patients who present with isolated pain symptoms and have a normal neurologic examination. Twenty-eight percent of adolescent disk herniations involve apophyseal fractures; this presentation has a higher rate of surgical intervention than do herniations without fracture. Surgical management of pediatric disk herniation involves laminotomy and fragment excision. Short-term data demonstrate excellent pain relief, with 1% of children requiring repeat surgery for lumbar disk pathology in the first year. Long-term data suggest that 20% to 30% of patients will require additional surgery later in life.