Surgical correction of spinal deformities after solid organ transplantation in childhood

A review of the current literature reveals no systematic analyses of the results of surgical correction of spinal deformity after pediatric organ transplantation. We therefore evaluated clinical and radiographic outcomes of spinal deformity correction after solid organ transplantation in childhood and adolescence. All 211 cases of heart, liver, and kidney transplantations performed in children in our country were reviewed. Six patients had undergone surgical correction of spinal deformity at a mean age 14.6 (range 12–17) years. Clinical data of the patients were evaluated. Radiographs of the whole spine were taken preoperatively, immediately after, at 2-year, and final follow-up visits. The Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) questionnaire was completed and a physical examination was performed at the final follow-up visit. The mean follow-up after spinal surgery was 4.9 years (range 2–7.6 years). Four patients developed scoliosis after organ transplantation without any evidence of scoliosis prior to organ transplantation. One patient with congenital scoliosis was operated on after kidney transplantation. One boy had osteoporosis and severe local kyphosis due to vertebral compression fractures. Four patients underwent anterior and posterior surgery, two posterior only. The mean preoperative Cobb angle of the thoracic curve was 54° (range 42–69°) in the patients with scoliosis. The postoperative values were 30° (26–38°) immediately after instrumentation and 39° (34–42°) at the final follow-up visit. The patient with vertebral compression fractures and progressive kyphosis had 70° curve before surgery, 23° immediately after the operation, and 60° at the final check up. The mean total score on the SRS questionnaire was 95.5 (range 90–101). There is a relatively high incidence (2.8%) of spinal deformities needing operative treatment after solid organ transplantation. Possible etiologies for spinal deformities are growth disturbance and muscle weakness due to the basic disease. The other important factors are related to immunosupressive medication, especially glucocorticoids needed after transplantation. Primary correction of these deformities was satisfactory, but during follow-up, a certain amount of recurrence of the curves was evident. Poor bone quality may explain some of the loss of correction.     

Morbidity Associated With High Gastrocnemius Recession: Retrospective Review of 126 Cases

To evaluate morbidity associated with surgical lengthening of the gastrocnemius, medical records were reviewed retrospectively for 126 patients (mean age, 49.7 years; range, 8-78 years) who had undergone open gastrocnemius recession. Ten patients had isolated recession; 116 had gastrocnemius recession with an additional foot or ankle procedure on the ipsilateral limb. During a mean follow-up period of 19 months (range, 6-50 months), all patients were examined for any postoperative complications associated with the recession. Complications were defined as the presence of postoperative infection, wound dehiscence, nerve problems, decreased muscle strength, scar problems, or calcaneus gait (overlengthening). Uncomplicated outcome was defined as absence of all these complications and return to regular activity, both occurring during a follow-up of at least 6 months. Postsurgical complications developed in 9 (6%) of the 126 patients: 6 (4%) had scar problems, 2 (1.33%) had wound dehiscence, 2 (1.33%) had infection, 3 (2%) had nerve problems, and 1 (0.67%) developed complex regional pain syndrome. No patient complained of either a limp or gait disturbance. Neither persistent decrease in muscle strength nor calcaneus gait was seen. These data suggest that the open gastrocnemius recession procedure has low associated morbidity.     

Posterolateral plate fixation with Pantalarlock® is more stable than nail fixation in tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis in a biomechanical cadaver study

BackgroundDespite the promising results of ankle joint arthroplasty, the tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) arthrodesis remains an established procedure in treatment of combined pathology of the ankle and subtalar joint. Despite the promising results in biomechanical investigations, nonunion rates of up to 24% are described in recent studies. The objective of this work was a comparative study of the biomechanical properties of the posterolateral plate fixation with retrograde intramedullary nail fixation.MethodsTwenty four fresh-frozen human lower leg specimens (12 pairs) were used for the comparative biomechanical testing. Every specimen was preconditioned with 100 N over 200 cycles. After every 250 cycles the force was increased by 50 N from 200 to 600 N. This was followed by cyclic loading in dorsi-/plantiflexion with 800 N for 3000 cycles. All specimens were subjected to bone densitometry (DXA) and computed tomography.ResultsSignificantly higher number of spacimens with nails (4) failed during the cycling testing in dorsi-/plantarflexion and futher two during the cyclic testing with 800 N. Two specimens with plates failed during the cyclic testing with 800 N. Statistical analysis showed that the specimens with the plate were significantly more stable in each test direction. The Pearson correlation demonstrated for the specimens with plate a linear relationship between the stiffness and the determined bone density.ConclusionsThe results demonstrate a significantly superior stiffness of the Pantalarlock®-plate in all testing directions compared with the HAN nail. Probably the position of the plate on the tension side of the joint and the combination of locking and lag screws provide the higher stiffness of the plate system. The correlation of the stiffness with bone density leads to more predictable results of the plate arthrodesis. We hope for a reduction of the pseudarthrosis rate and shorten the postoperative treatment phase. The authors expect advantages in the treatment of high risk patients with severe deformity of the ankle, bone defects, neuropathic deformity, poor bone quality and osteoporosis.     

自体鼻中隔软骨、耳软骨移植修复单侧唇裂继发鼻畸形

目的:分析单侧唇裂继发鼻畸形的发生机制,观察鼻中隔软骨、耳软骨对单侧唇裂继发鼻畸形的矫治效果,从而探讨理想的修复方法。方法:根据患者的临床特点,选取轻度单侧唇裂继发鼻畸形患者作为研究对象,采用自体鼻中隔软骨、耳软骨二期修复鼻畸形。结果:本组患者共12例,随访时间1～6个月,临床矫治效果良好。结论:鼻中隔软骨、耳软骨移植对轻度唇裂继发鼻畸形具有良好的治疗效果。     

Transfer of half the calcaneal tendon to the dorsum of the foot for paralytic equinus deformity

Summary Transfer of half of the calcaneal tendon to the dorsum of the foot will maintain correction of a paralytic equinus deformity. We have used this procedure on 97 feet since 1967. Seventy-six were reviewed and the overall results were excellent or good in 69%. The outcome was better in children with cerebral palsy (85% excellent or good) than in those with poliomyelitis (only 13% excellent or good).

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Résumé La déformation en équin du pied est l'anomalie la plus fréquente chez les enfants présentant différents types de paralysies. L'allongement du tendon d'Achille est insuffisante dans la plupart des cas, en l'absence d'un moteur actif. En 1957 Caldwell a décrit le transfert d'un hémi-tendon d'Achille sur la face antérieure du pied. Depuis 1967 nous avons pratiqué cette intervention 97 fois sur 88 malades. Nous avons revu 76 pieds et évalué les résultats en fonction de la correction, de la flexion dorsale active du pied, et de la marche. Ils ont été divisés en excellents, bons, passables et mauvais. Les résultats étaient excellents et bons dans 53 cas (69%), passables 14 fois et mauvais 9 fois. Les meilleurs résultats ont été obtenus dans les paralysies cérébrales (85% excellents ou bons). Les indications de cete opération sont: pied équin paralytique avec ou sans varus ou valgus, marche possible sans orthèse, fort triceps sural et absence de déformation osseuse.

     

矫形夹板固定治疗新生儿先天性马蹄内翻足

先天性马蹄内翻足是一种常见的先天性畸形,其发病率约占1%。典型的畸形包括中足和前足内收、后足内翻及足跟跖屈,随着年龄的增加病理改变会日渐加重。临床依照不同的年龄、不同的畸形程度,选择的治疗方法也不同。自1992年5月至2004年5月,我们采用自制的矫形夹板治疗出生1~25d新     

胎儿心脏外翻畸形超声诊断的漏诊与误诊分析

摘要：目的分析胎儿心脏外翻畸形超声诊断的漏诊与误诊原因,提高胎儿心脏外翻的检出时机和检出率。方法：选取北京四季青医院2010年至2019年3000例患者中经引产或上级产前诊断机构证实诊断为心脏外翻畸形的胎儿有4例,每一例心脏外翻畸形的诊断都有产前诊断机构对照;总结超声诊断心脏外翻畸形特点,观察心脏搏动位置,心脏大血管连结方向,以及胸腹壁是否连续性中断,及胸腹壁是否有不均质回声包块,并且能在包块内发现心脏搏动。尤其是上级医院与引产后和产前诊断中心超声结果比较,分析超声发生漏诊和误诊的原因。结果：该组病例中发现心脏外翻畸形4例,其中超声诊断3例, 漏诊1例,误诊1例,其中误诊1例为将Cantrell五联征误诊为胎儿多发畸形,分别独立诊断了心脏外翻畸形,胸裂,腹裂,脊柱结构异常。结论：全面认真分析胎儿心脏外翻畸形超声检查的漏诊与误诊原因,避免出现漏诊和误诊的各种因素,准确把我提高超声对心脏外翻畸形的检出时机,达到提高疾病检出率的目的。     

Correlation of anatomic and hemodynamic features with aortic valve leaflet deformity in doubly committed subarterial ventricular septal defect

Summary The records of 153 patients with doubly committed subarterial ventricular septal defect (DCVSD) who underwent intracardiac repair were analyzed to evaluate factors responsible for aortic valve leaflet deformity. The patients were divided into two groups according to their echocardiographic and angiographic features as well as anatomic findings at operation: DCVSD without (17/153, 11.1%) and with arterial valve offsetting (136/153, 88.9%). Aortic regurgitation (AR) was much more prevalent in the patients with (50.0%) than in those without leaflet deformity (2.2%,P < 0.01). Arterial valve offsetting is one of the major contributing factors to the development of leaflet deformity, accounting for 5.9% in the patients without offsetting and 46.3% in those with offsetting (P < 0.01). Among the patients with arterial valve offsetting, the pulmonary-to-systemic pressure ratio was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the patients without (0.76 ± 0.14) than in those with leaflet deformity (0.36 ± 0.12), suggesting that pulmonary hypertension might prevent the aortic valve leaflet from prolapsing in DCVSD. In addition, increased severity of aortic valve leaflet deformity and subsequent AR were observed with increasing age. These results suggest that aging and the presence of arterial valve offsetting as well as the absence of pulmonary hypertension might be factors responsible for aortic valve leaflet deformity and subsequent AR in DCVSD. The anatomic and hemodynamic features in DCVSD have a great impact on the development of aortic valve leaflet deformity and subsequent AR.     

Acute bone and joint infections in children: current concepts

Paediatric bone and joint infections can be associated with devastating consequences for the growing child. The diagnosis is challenging, requiring experienced clinical examination with adjunct diagnostic tests to aid the distinction between a multitude of differential diagnoses which includes transient synovitis, fracture, neoplasia, rheumatological conditions, blood disorders and infection. Emergent diagnosis is required to prevent consequences such as sepsis, chronic infection, angular deformity and disruption of longitudinal bone growth. The clinical presentation of bone and joint infections in children is varied and includes pain, erythema and swelling, fever, reduced range of movement and the inability to weight bear. Blood and tissue samples should be obtained, if possible, prior to commencing antimicrobial therapy in order to secure the best chance of identifying a causative organism and guide treatment. However, this should not delay treatment. Various imaging modalities can be helpful. Whilst there is some variation depending on the child's age, Staphylococcus aureus is the commonest causative organism in both septic arthritis and osteomyelitis. Septic arthritis and osteomyelitis in children should be treated jointly by paediatricians and orthopaedic surgeons, with input from the wider multi-disciplinary team. Trends towards reduced rates of surgical intervention and shorter antibiotic courses have been evident over recent decades. In this article we present a review of the continuously evolving concepts for the management of paediatric bone and joint infections.     

Is reverse frontal cranioplasty eligible for the correction of both the forehead deformities and the intracranial hypertension in craniosynostosis? Comparison of the preoperative and postoperative intracranial volumes

BackgroundThis study aimed to describe the surgical technique of reverse frontal cranioplasty (RFC), the aesthetical modification as well as the modification of intracranial volume (ICV) to assess its potential eligibility for the treatment of the intracranial hypertension (IH).Materials and methodsA retrospective monocentric study included the patients with a history of craniosynostosis with a forehead deformity who underwent RFC. A subjective outcome questionnaire (SOQ) was conducted with each patient or their parent to determine their level of satisfaction after RFC. Pre- and postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans were analyzed and compared to investigate the ICV change and fronto-nasal angle.ResultsEleven patients were included in the study (6 female and 5 male) with a mean age of 10.9 years old (range 3–23 years) and an average follow-up of 4.5 years (1–11 years). All patients responded to the questionnaire with a high level of overall satisfaction (mean 9.1/10). The mean preoperative FNA was 134° ± 5° while the mean postoperative angle was 126.4° ± 6, corresponding to an average decrease of 7.6° (95% CI, 4.0–11.2°; p < 0.001). One patient with preoperative IH had a clinical recurrence during the follow-up. The ICV was significantly higher after the surgery (p < 0.0001), with an average increase of 3.2% (95% CI, 2.3–4.1%).ConclusionReverse (RFC) is a useful technique for the correction of the frontal malformations related to craniosynostosis, such as a sloping forehead and/or a lack of the supraorbital projection. Regarding the limited gain of intracranial volume (ICV), it should not be used alone as primary cranial expansion surgery for craniosynostosis with intracranial hypertension (IH).