Double dome osteotomy for the treatment of cubitus varus in children

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to report double dome osteotomy used to correct paediatric cubitus varus and to avoid lateral prominence after correction.

Methods

Eighteen children with cubitus varus underwent double dome osteotomy. Preoperative templating created from radiographs was used to determine the bone cuts. Double dome osteotomy created a proximal and distal cut, then varus deformity and sagittal alignment were corrected. The osteotomies were fixed with K-wires and immobilised in a long-arm cast. Radiographics and clinical histories were evaluated. Ulno-humeral angle pre and postoperative, range of motion and lateral prominent index were evaluated.

Results

The osteotomy was performed in 18 patients, with an average age of 7.5 years. All patients ended up with flexion of 130° or greater with full and symmetrical pronation and supination. The average ulno-humeral angle difference compared to the uninjured side was 3.27°. The mean of the lateral prominent index was −0.91. The mean follow up was 50.3 months (30–115 months). All of the patients had excellent clinical and radiographic alignment. No revisions were made in this series. One transient radial nerve palsy and one superficial infection occurred.

Conclusion

This series demonstrates that double dome osteotomy can provide reliable correction of varus deformity and prevent lateral prominence with a minimal complication rate.     

Evertor muscle activity as a predictor for recurrence in idiopathic clubfoot

Background

Clubfoot is a complex three-dimensional deformity. Although brace compliance after initial correction was previously found to be significantly associated with recurrence in clubfoot, few previous studies have specifically examined evertor muscle function as a factor that contributes to recurrence in children with idiopathic and non-idiopathic clubfoot. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among brace compliance, evertor muscle grading, and recurrence rate in pediatric clubfoot patients.

Methods

Children with idiopathic clubfoot who were treated and followed for a minimum of 2 years were included. Patients who used their brace <20–23 h a day for the first 3 months and then <8–10 h per day during sleep and nap times thereafter were classified as group I. Patients who complied fully by using the brace 23 h a day for the first 3 months and then 8–10 h per day during sleep and nap times thereafter were classified as group II. Demographic and clinical data including age, gender, follow-up time, recurrence, evertor muscle grading, types of surgery, brace compliance, severity of initial deformity, age at onset, number of casts required for initial correction, and the need for Achilles tenotomy were collected and analyzed.

Results

Seventy-nine children with clubfoot were included. There were 47 males and 32 females, mean age was 3.2 years (range 2.1–6.3), and the mean follow-up time was 31.4 months. All patients had follow-up of at least 2 years. Primary correction was obtained in all children. There was no significant difference in mean age, mean follow-up time, or recurrence rate between groups. There was, however, a statistically significant difference in mean brace time between groups (p = 0.002). The recurrence rate was 26.2% in group I and 22.2% in group II. The recurrence rate in group a (Pirani score 0) was 3.9%, group b (Pirani score 0.5) 43.8%, and group c (Pirani score 1) 75% (p < 0.001). No significant association was found between severity of the initial deformity, age at the onset of treatment, number of casts required for correction, or reported brace compliance and recurrence or rates of surgery. Only poor or absent evertor muscle activity was found to be statistically significantly associated with risk of recurrence.

Conclusion

Good evertor muscle grading was found to be a significant protective factor against recurrence of idiopathic clubfoot. Thus, improvement in muscle balance around the ankle, especially the evertor muscle, should be emphasized to parents after the casting regimen is completed and correction is achieved.

     

Walking ability in patients with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita

Background:

Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) is a multiple joint condition which affects both lower and upper extremities and thus affects ambulation. Multiple surgeries are needed to correct limb deformity in order to promote walking. The objective of this study is to identify the most critical residual deformity that diminishes the ambulatory status.

Materials and Methods:

51 patients were included in this study, 14 patients were nonambulatory. The mean age at first surgery was 4.1 years (range 2-16 years). The mean length of followup was 44.0 months (range 22-168 months). Type of procedures and number of operations, residual deformity and walking ability were recorded. Residual deformity including hip flexion contracture more than 30°, knee flexion contracture more than 30°, scoliosis, hip dysplasia or dislocation, knee extension contracture or recurvatum, active motion of hips and knees and upper limb involvement were evaluated. Statistical analysis was done to evaluate factors that were statistically significant to affect walking ability in AMC patients.

Results:

At the latest followup, 31 patients were community ambulators, 3 patients were household ambulators, 3 patients were nonfunctional ambulatory, and 14 patients were nonambulatory. There were an average of 4.3 surgeries per patient. Statistical analysis of all factors was done and the results were significant with a P < 0.037 in knee flexion contracture >30 degrees with odds ratio of 4.58. Hip flexion contracture >30° was a trend toward significant with a P value of 0.058 and odds ratio of 4.53. Multivariate analysis showed that knee flexion contracture was significant with 4.58 (95% CI 1.01-20.6).

Conclusion:

AMC is a rare disease that causes disability, requiring multiple surgeries to correct deformities. Our study showed that residual knee flexion contracture was associated with nonambulatory status of patients with AMC.     

Effect of different cleansing agents and adhesive resins on bond strength of contaminated zirconia

PurposeThis study was observed the effect of cleansing agents and adhesive resins on shear bond strength (SBS), surface morphology and phase transformation of saliva and silicone disclosing medium contaminated zirconia.MethodsThe 110 zirconia specimens size 5 × 5 × 1 mm were fabricated and randomly divided into 5 surface treated groups: Non-contaminated (PC) Saliva and silicone disclosing medium contaminated without cleansing (NC) Surface contaminated and cleansing with Phosphoric acid (PO) Ivoclean (IC) or Hydrofluoric acid (HF). The twenty of each surface treated specimens were selected and bonded with Panavia F2.0 (P) and Superbond C&B (S) for SBS test (n = 10). The data was analyzed by Kruskal–Wallis H and Mann–Whitney U test. The remaining specimens of each surface treated groups were examined by SEM and XRD.ResultsThe saliva and silicone disclosing medium contaminated zirconia without cleansing group (PNC) had the lowest SBS when Panavia F2.0 was used for cementation (p < 0.05). The SBS of surface cleansing groups (PPO, PIC and PHF) were not different from the non-contaminated group (PPC) (p > 0.05). However, there were no difference in SBS among groups when cementation with Superbond C&B (SPC, SNC, SPO, SIC and SHF) (p > 0.05). There was no morphologic changing that could be observed by SEM. The XRD showed little phase transformation when surfaces were contaminated and cleaned.ConclusionsThe saliva and silicone disclosing medium contaminated zirconia should be cleaned with Phosphoric acid, Ivoclean or Hydrofluoric acid for 20 s prior to cementation with Panavia F2.0. However, the surface cleansing was not necessary when cementation with Superbond C&B.     

Do we need to do overcorrection in Blount’s disease?

Purpose

In order to prevent recurrent deformity, overcorrection in Blount’s disease has been a common practice by most paediatric orthopaedic surgeons. However, some patients have persistent valgus alignment resulting in awkward deformity. The femoro-tibial angle (FTA) was measured in this series of cases to determine the necessity of such practice.

Method

During 1998–2010, patients with Blount’s disease stage 2 by Langenskiold, aged from 30 to 40 months who had failed from bracing and underwent valgus osteotomy were included. Seventeen legs had postoperative FTA 7–13° (group 1) and 48 legs had postoperative FTA more than 13° (group 2). ROC curve was used to determine the appropriate FTA that was suitable to prevent recurrence.

Results

Four legs had recurrence (28.6 %) in group 1 and six legs (12.5 %) had recurrence in group 2. Chi-square test between two groups were not statistically significant in recurrence (p = 0.434). Age and BMI were not statistically significant between recurrent and non-recurrent groups. The ROC curve shows that overcorrection more than 15° did not show benefit to prevent the recurrence in Blount’s stage 2.

Conclusion

Our study showed that the overcorrection group had non-statistically significant recurrence compared to the non-overcorrection group, and overcorrection more than valgus 15° has no benefit to prevent recurrence.     

Comparison between closed reduction with percutaneous pinning and open reduction with pinning in children with closed totally displaced supracondylar humeral fractures: a randomized controlled trial

This was a randomized controlled trial of 28 children 1 year to 12 years of age with closed totally displaced supracondylar humeral fracture. The purpose of the study was to compare closed reduction and pinning (group A) and open reduction and pinning (group B). Each group consisted of 14 children. The general characteristics of both groups (age, sex side, displacement, nerve injury preoperatively) were statistically the same (P > 0.05). All cases healed with good alignment without cubitus varus, without infection and with a good range of motion except for one. The mean +/- standard deviation of the Baumann's angle difference between the injured and uninjured side were 2.32 +/- 1.6 degrees in group A (range, 0-6.5 degrees) and 2.45 +/- 1.8 degrees in group B (range, 0-6.5 degrees). This difference was statistically not significant (P = 0.8). By Flynn criteria, group A had good to excellent results in 100%, and group B had good to excellent results in 93% and fair in 7%. This difference was not statistically significant (P = 1). The satisfaction score (0-10) was significantly higher in group A for both parents' and evaluator's (blinded to treatment) perspective (P = 0.017 and 0.019, respectively). The author concludes that both treatments gave good results. Closed reduction should be performed first and, if it fails, then open reduction can be performed. This will produce good results in the hands of an experienced surgeon.     

Free non-vascularized fibular graft for treatment of large bone defect around the elbow in pediatric patients

Background

Large bone defect is a challenging problem in orthopedics practice. Several methods are available for bridging of these bone defects, including cancellous bone graft, free vascularized fibula graft, and bone transport with external ring fixator. The aim of this study was to describe our experience in nine pediatric cases of free non-vascularized autogenous fibular strut bone graft in which large bone defect and bone loss of >7 cm was caused by open fracture and infective nonunion around the elbow joint.

Objective

To describe our experience in nine pediatric cases of free non-vascularized autogenous fibular strut bone graft in which large bone defect and bone loss of >7 cm was caused by open fracture and infective nonunion around the elbow joint.

Method

This retrospective review was conducted in patients with large bone defect with bony gap >7 cm. Time to union, range of motion, complications, Mayo Elbow Performance Score, and Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI) were recorded.

Result

The large bone defects included in this study were managed by free non-vascularized fibular strut bone grafts (FNVFG) that were harvested subperiosteally. Nine patients with a mean age of 11 years (range: 6–17) underwent this procedure. Nine grafts (100%) united at both ends within an average of 9 weeks (range: 8–14). Mean length of defect was 9.3 cm (range: 8–13 cm). Mean postoperative Mayo Elbow Performance Score was significantly higher than the mean preoperative score (98.33 vs. 64.44, respectively; p < 0.001). Three fibulae were observed for hypertrophy. Mean Foot and Ankle Disability Index score was 100 both preoperatively and postoperatively in all patients.

Conclusion

Free non-vascularized fibular graft is a simple procedure and a reliable method for bridging large bone defect or loss caused by open fracture and/or infection around the elbow in pediatric patients.