Measurement of TT-TG can change with sequential MRIs due to variations in tibiofemoral rotation in patellofemoral instability patients.

PURPOSE: There are various anatomic risk factors for patellofemoral instability (PFI) that help guide surgical treatment, including the tibial tubercle to trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance. However, no study has analysed the temporal changes in TT-TG prior to surgical intervention. This study sought to understand the variations in TT-TG over time for pediatric patients suffering from PFI prior to surgical intervention. The authors hypothesised that the TT-TG would substantially change between time points. METHODS: Patients undergoing medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction between 2014 and 2019 by one of two fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons were identified. Patients were included if they had two preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed on the same knee within 7.5 months of each other prior to any surgical intervention and had an initial TT-TG greater than 10 mm. RESULTS: After considering 251 patients for inclusion, 21 patients met the final inclusion criteria. The mean age was 14.5 ± 2.5 years and 61.9% were female. TT-TG was initially noted to be 15.1 ± 1.8 mm. At mean time after sequential MRIs of 5.0 ± 1.9 months, TT-TG was noted to be 16.7 ± 3.2 mm. The differences between initial and subsequent TT-TG ranged from a 21.2% decrease to a 61.1% increase, with a mean difference of an 11.3% increase. Comparison between initial and subsequent TT-TG values demonstrated a significant difference (p = 0.017). Change in tibiofemoral rotation ranged from -9.2° to 7.5°. When comparing the change in TT-TG to change in tibiofemoral rotation, a significant correlation was found (p = 0.019). CONCLUSION: Despite only a mean time between MRIs of 5 months, variations in TT-TG ranged from a decrease of 21.2% to an increase of 61.1%. The significant relationship between the changes in TT-TG and changes in tibiofemoral rotation between MRIs suggest that TT-TG measurements may vary due to variations in tibiofemoral rotation at the time of individual MRIs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Simultaneous MPFL reconstruction and guided growth result in low rates of recurrent patellofemoral instability.

PURPOSE: Implant-mediated guided growth (IMGG) is used to address coronal plane deformity in skeletally immature patients. Few studies have reported on IMGG and simultaneous medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction for paediatric patients with concurrent genu valgum and patellofemoral instability (PFI). This study aimed to report on the outcomes of these simultaneous procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective review of paediatric patients undergoing simultaneous MPFL reconstruction and IMGG between 2016 and 2023. Mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA), hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA) and mechanical axis deviation (MAD) were measured on full-length hip-to-ankle plain radiographs. Measurements were taken preoperatively, prior to implant removal and/or at final follow-up with minimum 1-year clinical follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 25 extremities in 22 patients (10 female) underwent simultaneous IMGG and MPFL reconstruction. The mean age at surgery was 12.6 ± 1.7 years. The mean duration of implant retention was 18.6 ± 11.3 months. Nineteen extremities (76%) underwent implant removal by final follow-up. Preoperative HKA corrected from a mean of 5.8 ± 2.3° to -0.8 ± 4.5° at implant removal or final follow-up (p < 0.001), with mLDFA and MAD similarly improving (both p < 0.001). HKA corrected a mean of 0.7 ± 0.9° per month, while mLDFA and MAD corrected a mean of 0.5 ± 0.6°/month and 2 ± 3 mm/month, respectively. At the time of implant removal or final follow-up, 88% of patients demonstrated alignment within 5° of neutral. Only one extremity experienced subsequent PFI (4%). For 14 patients who underwent implant removal with further imaging at a mean of 7.8 ± 4.9 months, only one patient (7%) had a valgus rebound to an HKA > 5°. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous MPFL reconstruction and IMGG provided successful correction of lower extremity malalignment with only one recurrence of PFI. This approach is a reliable surgical option for skeletally immature patients with genu valgum and PFI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4 case series.

Hemiepiphysiodesis for Genu Valgum in Patients With Multiple Hereditary Exostoses.

BACKGROUND: Genu valgum is a well-known feature of multiple hereditary exostoses (MHE). Though prior reports have demonstrated successful treatment with hemiepiphysiodesis, details regarding the correction rate and comparison to an idiopathic population are lacking. This study aimed to detail our institution's experience with guided growth of the knee in patients with MHE and compare this to an idiopathic population. METHODS: All pediatric patients (age 18 and younger) with MHE who underwent lower extremity hemiepiphysiodesis at a tertiary care medical center between January 2016 and December 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA) and medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA, the primary outcomes) were measured in addition to mechanical axis deviation (MAD) and hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA). Patients were 1:2 matched based on age, sex, and physes instrumented to a cohort with idiopathic genu valgum. RESULTS: A total of 21 extremities in 16 patients with MHE underwent hemiepiphysiodesis of the distal femur, proximal tibia, and/or distal tibia. The mean age at surgery was 11.7±2.2 years. Mean MAD corrected from zone 1.9±0.7 to -0.3±1.5, while mLDFA corrected from 83.4±2.9 to 91.7±5.2 degrees and MPTA corrected from 95.3±3.6 to 90.5±4.0 degrees in distal femurs and proximal tibias undergoing guided growth, respectively. Three extremities (14.3%) experienced overcorrection ≥5 degrees managed with observation. There were no differences in correction rates per month for mLDFA (0.54±0.34 vs. 0.51±0.29 degrees, P =0.738) or MPTA (0.31±0.26 vs. 0.50±0.59 degrees, P =0.453) between MHE and idiopathic groups. For 11 extremities in the MHE group with open physes at hardware removal, they experienced a mean recurrence of HKA of 4.0±3.4 degrees at 19-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Hemiepiphysiodesis corrects lower extremity malalignment in patients with MHE at a similar rate compared with an idiopathic coronal plane deformity population. Rebound deformity of 4 degrees at 19 months after hardware removal in patients with remaining open growth plates should make surgeons conscious of the remaining growth potential when planning deformity correction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Predictors of Persistent Limp Following Proximal Femoral Varus Osteotomy for Perthes Disease.

INTRODUCTION: One of the most popular containment procedures for Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) is proximal femur varus osteotomy (PFO). While generally successful in achieving containment, PFO can cause limb length discrepancy, abductor weakness, and (of most concern for families) a persistent limp. While many studies have focused on radiographic outcomes following containment surgery, none have analyzed predictors of this persistent limp. The aim of this study was to determine clinical, radiographic, and surgical risk factors for persistent limp 2 years after PFO in children with LCPD. METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospectively collected multicenter database was conducted for patients aged 6 to 11 years at disease onset with unilateral early-stage LCPD (Waldenström I) who underwent PFO. Limp status (no, mild, and severe), age, BMI, and pain scores were obtained at initial presentation, 3-month, and 2-year postoperative visits. Preoperative and follow-up radiographs were used to measure traditional morphologic hip metrics including acetabular index (AI), lateral center-edge angle (LCEA), and femoral neck-shaft angle (NSA). Univariate analysis as well as multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze factors associated with mild and severe limp at the 2-year visit. RESULTS: A total of 95 patients met the inclusion criteria, and of these 50 patients underwent concomitant greater trochanter apophysiodesis (GTA) at the time of PFO. At the 2-year visit, there were 38 patients (40%) with a mild or severe limp. Multivariate logistic regression revealed no significant radiographic factors associated with a persistent limp. However, lower 2-year BMI and undergoing GTA were associated with decreased rates of persistent limp regardless of age (P<0.05). When stratifying by age of disease onset, apophysiodesis appeared to be protective against any severity of limp in patients aged 6 to 8 years old (P= 0.03), but not in patients 8 years or older (P= 0.49). CONCLUSIONS: Persistent limp following PFO is a frustrating problem that was seen in 40% of patients at 2 years. However, lower follow-up BMI and performing a greater trochanter apophysiodesis, particularly in patients younger than 8 years of age, correlated with a lower risk of postoperative limp.

Postoperative Strength Differences at Short-Term Follow-up Vary Based on Autograft Harvest Site After Adolescent Transphyseal Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical and patient-reported outcomes of adolescent patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with quadriceps tendon (QT) versus hamstring tendon (HT) autograft. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of adolescent patients aged 18 years or younger treated at a single tertiary care children's hospital who underwent primary transphyseal ACLR using QT or HT between January 2018 and December 2019. All patients had minimum 6-month follow-up. Outcomes included isokinetic strength testing, postoperative Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System and International Knee Documentation Committee scores, and complications; these were compared between the QT and HT cohorts. RESULTS: A total of 84 patients (44 HT and 40 QT patients) were included. The QT cohort had a higher proportion of male patients (62.5% vs 34.1%, P = .01). At 3 months, HT patients had a lower hamstring-quadriceps (H/Q) strength ratio (60.7 ± 11.0 vs 79.5 ± 18.6, P < .01) and lower Limb Symmetry Index in flexion (85.6 ± 16.1 vs 95.5 ± 15.7, P = .01) whereas QT patients had a lower Limb Symmetry Index in extension (67.3 ± 9.5 vs 77.4 ± 10.7, P < .01). The H/Q ratio at 6 months was lower in HT patients (59.4 ± 11.5 vs 66.2 ± 7.5, P < .01). Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System and International Knee Documentation Committee scores were not different at 3 months or latest follow-up. QT patients had more wound issues (20.0% vs 2.3%, P = .01). Patients receiving HT autograft had more ipsilateral knee injuries (18.2% vs 2.5%, P = .03), but there was no difference in graft failure for ACLR using HT versus QT (9.1% vs 2.5%, P = .36). CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences in patient-reported outcome measures between patients receiving QT autografts and those receiving HT autografts. Patients with QT grafts had more postoperative wound issues but a lower rate of ipsilateral knee complications (graft failure or meniscal tear). Differences in quadriceps and hamstring strength postoperatively compared with the contralateral limb were observed for adolescent ACLR patients receiving QT and HT autografts, respectively. This contributed to higher H/Q ratios seen at 3 and 6 months postoperatively for patients receiving QT autografts. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative therapeutic study.

Impact of Pediatric Orthopaedic Fellowship Training on Pediatric Supracondylar Humerus Fracture Treatment and Outcomes: A Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Supracondylar humerus (SCH) fractures are common pediatric injuries, typically requiring closed reduction and percutaneous pinning or open reduction. These injuries are managed frequently by both pediatric-trained (PTOS) and nonpediatric-trained (NTOS) orthopaedic surgeons. However, some literature suggests that complications for pediatric injuries are lower when managed by PTOS. Therefore, this meta-analysis sought to compile existing literature comparing patients treated by PTOS and NTOS to better understand differences in management and clinical outcomes. METHODS: Using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) methodology, a systematic review was conducted for all articles comparing SCH fractures managed by PTOS and NTOS in 4 online databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane). Study quality was assessed through the use of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Meta-analyses were then performed for postoperative outcomes using pooled data from the included studies. Statistics were reported as odds ratios and 95% CI. RESULTS: This search strategy yielded 242 unique titles, of which 12 underwent full-text review and 7 met final inclusion. All studies were retrospective and evaluated patients treated in the United States. There were a total of 692 and 769 patients treated by PTOS and NTOS, respectively. PTOS had shorter operative times [mean difference, 13.6 min (CI, -23.9 to -3.4), P=0.01] and less frequently utilized a medial-entry pin [odds ratios, 0.36 (CI, 0.2 to 0.9), P=0.03]. There were no differences in time to treatment, the necessity of open reduction, postoperative Baumann angle, or complications including surgical site infection or iatrogenic nerve injury. CONCLUSIONS: Despite shorter operative times and lower frequency of cross-pinning when treated by PTOS, pediatric SCH fracture outcomes are similar when treated by PTOS and NTOS. These findings demonstrate that these fractures may possibly be treated safely by both PTOS and experienced fellowship-trained academic NTOS who are comfortable managing these injuries in pediatric patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III; Meta-analysis.

Factors Influencing Why Children and Their Families Choose Surgery for Ganglion Cysts.

PURPOSE: Ganglion cysts of the hand/wrist are frequently managed without surgery but can be treated with surgical excision if there is pain or dysfunction. No studies have examined the specific factors predictive of surgical treatment for pediatric patients. METHODS: This was a study of pediatric patients (≤18 years) with ganglion cysts of the hand/wrist seen between 2017 and 2019 at 2 institutions. Baseline demographic data were collected in addition to cyst characteristics, Wong-Baker pain scores, and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System scores (pain, depression, upper extremity function, anxiety). Multivariable regression was used to determine the factors predictive of surgical intervention at ≥6 months of eligible follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 167 patients with a mean age of 10.1 ± 5.3 years were included for analysis. Forty-three (25.7%) underwent surgical excision of their ganglion cyst at means of 2.3 months after the initial visit and 12.6 months after cyst appearance. Sex and cyst location were similar between cohorts. Surgical patients were older (12.1 vs 9.4 years, respectively) and presented to the clinic later after an appearance (10.9 vs 6.5 months, respectively) compared to nonsurgical patients. Surgical patients also had higher pain scores at presentation (median, 3 vs 0, respectively). Cysts receiving surgery were larger than those without surgery (81.4% vs 55.3% >1 cm, respectively). Pain interference Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System scores were higher in the surgical than the nonsurgical group (45.2 vs 39.6, respectively). In a multivariable analysis, pain scores ≥4 (odds ratio, 3.4) were predictive of surgery for patients ≥3 years, whereas older age (odds ratio, 1.1) and a cyst size >1 cm (odds ratio, 3.3) predicted surgery across all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric patients with ganglion cysts who initially present at older ages with moderate/severe pain scores and larger cysts are more likely to ultimately choose surgical excision. Surgeons may observe a preference for earlier surgery in this subset of patients. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic II.

Hip Morphology in Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO) Patients Treated for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) as Infants Compared With Those Without Infant Treatment.

BACKGROUND: A subset of patients successfully treated for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) as infants have symptomatic acetabular dysplasia at skeletal maturity leading to periacetabular osteotomy (PAO). The purpose of this study was to compare femoral and acetabular morphology in PAO patients with late acetabular dysplasia after previous treatment for DDH with PAO patients who do not have a history of DDH treatment. METHODS: A single surgeon's patients who underwent PAO between 2011 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients previously treated for infantile DDH with a Pavlik harness, abduction brace, closed reduction and spica casting, or open reduction and spica casting were included. Patients with previous bony hip surgery were excluded. Preoperative radiographic measurements of each hip were recorded including lateral center edge angle, anterior center edge angle, and Femoro-Epiphyseal Acetabular Roof index. Computed tomography measurements included the coronal center edge angle, sagittal center edge angle, Tönnis angle, acetabular anteversion at 1, 2, and 3 o'clock, femoral neck-shaft angle, femoral version, and alpha angle. Control PAO cases without a history of DDH diagnosis or treatment were matched with the infantile DDH treatment group in a 2:1 ratio based on coronal center edge angle, age, and sex. RESULTS: There were 21 hips in 18 patients previously treated for infantile DDH (13 patients Pavlik harness, 3 abduction brace, 1 closed reduction, and 1 open reduction). The control PAO cohort was 42 hips in 42 patients who did not have previous DDH treatment. There was no statistically significant difference in any of the recorded measurements between patients previously treated for DDH and those without previous treatment including femoral version (P=0.494), anteversion at 1 o'clock (P=0.820), anteversion at 2 o'clock (P=0.584), anteversion at 3 o'clock (P=0.137), neck-shaft angle (P=0.612), lateral center edge angle (P=0.433), Femoro-Epiphyseal Acetabular Roof index (P=0.144), and alpha angle (P=0.156). CONCLUSIONS: Femoral and acetabular morphology is similar between PAO patients with persistent symptomatic acetabular dysplasia following DDH treatment and patients presenting after skeletal maturity with acetabular dysplasia and no previous history of DDH treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-case-control, prognostic study.

MRI Criteria for Meniscal Ramp Lesions of the Knee in Children With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of MRI criteria for identifying meniscal ramp lesions in children with concomitant anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, with arthroscopy used as the reference standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS. This retrospective study included 85 children who underwent a preoperative MRI examination and arthroscopically guided primary ACL reconstruction between June 1, 2017, and December 31, 2019. Blinded to arthroscopic findings, two radiologists reviewed all MRI examinations and reached consensus on the presence or absence of an effusion and various findings within the medial and lateral tibiofemoral joints. Chi-square, Fisher exact, independent t, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare MRI findings between patients with and without arthroscopically confirmed meniscal ramp lesions. RESULTS. At arthroscopy, 35 children (23 boys and 12 girls; mean [± SD] age, 15.7 ± 2.0 years) had ramp lesions and 50 children (22 boys and 28 girls; mean age, 15.1 ± 2.4 years) had intact meniscocapsular junctions. Knees in which a ramp lesion was observed were significantly more likely to have MRI findings of a medial meniscus tear (p = .005), peripheral meniscal irregularity (p = .001), junctional T2-weighted signal (p < .001), and a meniscocapsular ligament tear (p < .001). No significant difference was found between children with and without ramp lesions with regard to the presence of an effusion (p = .65) or a lateral meniscus tear (p = .08) or the extent of medial and lateral tibial plateau marrow edema (p = .67 and p = .83, respectively). CONCLUSION. MRI findings associated with an arthroscopic diagnosis of meniscal ramp lesion include medial meniscus tear, peripheral meniscal irregularity, junctional fluidlike signal, and capsular ligament tear.

Clinical Presentation and Characteristics of Hand and Wrist Ganglion Cysts in Children.

PURPOSE: Ganglion cysts are the most common mass of the hand or wrist. In adults, ganglions have a female predilection and are commonly located in the dorsal wrist. However, their presentation in children has not been well reported. This investigation sought to describe the presentation of pediatric ganglion cysts in a prospective cohort. METHODS: A multicenter prospective investigation of children (aged ≤18 years) who presented with ganglion cysts of the hand or wrist was conducted between 2017 and 2019. The data collected included age, sex, cyst location, hand dominance, pain, and patient-reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) scores for upper-extremity (UE) function. The patients were divided into cohorts based on age, cyst location, and cyst size. Multivariable analyses were performed to identify factors predictive of worse UE function and higher pain scores. RESULTS: A total of 173 patients with a mean age of 10.1 ± 5.3 years and female-to-male ratio of 1.4:1 were enrolled. The dorsal wrist was the most commonly affected (49.7%), followed by the volar wrist (26.6%) and flexor tendon sheath (18.5%). In older patients, dorsal wrist ganglions were more common than tendon sheath cysts (11.9 ± 4.1 years vs 6.2 ± 5.8 years) and were larger (86.7% were >1 cm) than cysts in other locations (34.5% were >1 cm). Patients aged >10 years reported higher pain scores, with 21.5% of older patients reporting moderate/severe pain scores versus 5.0% of younger children. This cohort of patients had an average PROMIS UE function score of 47.4 ± 9.5, and lower PROMIS scores were associated with higher pain scores. CONCLUSIONS: Ganglions in pediatric populations, which most commonly affect the dorsal wrist, demonstrate a female predilection. In younger children, cysts are smaller and more often involve the volar wrist or flexor tendon sheath. Older children report higher pain scores. Pediatric ganglion cysts do not appear to result in a clinically meaningful decrease in UE function. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic II.

Is There a Benefit to Weaning Pavlik Harness Treatment in Infantile DDH?

BACKGROUND: Following successful treatment of developmental hip dysplasia with a Pavlik harness, controversy exists over the benefit of continued harness use for an additional "weaning" period beyond ultrasonographic normalization versus simply terminating treatment. Although practitioners are often dogmatic in their beliefs, there is little literature to support the superiority of 1 protocol over the other. The purpose of this study was to compare the radiographic outcomes of 2 cohorts of infants with developmental hip dysplasia treated with Pavlik harness, 1 with a weaning protocol and 1 without. METHODS: This was a comparative review of patients with dislocated/reducible hips and stable dysplasia from 2 centers. All patients had pretreatment ultrasounds, and all started harness treatment before 3 months of age. On the basis of power analysis, a sufficient cohort of hips were matched based on clinical examination, age at initiation, initial α angle, and initial percent femoral head coverage. Patients from institution W (weaned) were weaned following ultrasonographic normalization, whereas those from institution NW (not weaned) immediately ceased treatment. The primary outcome was the acetabular index at 1 year of age. RESULTS: In total, 16 dislocated/reducible and 16 stable dysplastic hips were matched at each center (64 total hips in 53 patients). Initial α angle and initial femoral head coverage were not different between cohorts for either stable dysplasia (P=0.59, 0.81) or dislocated/reducible hips (P=0.67, 0.70), respectively. As expected, weaned hips were treated for significantly longer in both the stable dysplasia (1540.4 vs. 1066.3 h, P<0.01), and dislocated/reducible cohorts (1596.6 vs. 1362.5 h, P=0.01). Despite this, we found no significant difference in the acetabular index at 1 year in either cohort (22.8 vs. 23.1 degrees, P=0.84 for stable dysplasia; 23.9 vs. 24.8 degrees, P=0.32 for Ortolani positive). CONCLUSIONS: Despite greater total harness time, infants treated with additional Pavlik weaning did not demonstrate significantly different radiographic results at 1 year of age compared with those who were not weaned. However, differences in follow-up protocols between centers support the need for a more rigorous randomized controlled trial. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Can Rapid Progression in Nonambulatory Cerebral Palsy Scoliosis Be Predicted Using Humeral Head Ossification?

BACKGROUND: Patients with cerebral palsy scoliosis (CPS) experience higher complication rates compared with idiopathic scoliosis and often present for surgery with larger curves. Prediction of an inflection point for rapid deformity progression has proven difficult. A proximal humerus-based skeletal maturity staging system (HS) has been recently validated and is commonly visible on the posteroanterior radiograph. The authors hypothesize that this system can be used to identify a period at which CPS may progress rapidly, perhaps facilitating discussion of timely surgical intervention. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted for nonambulatory pediatric patients with CPS who presented between 2009 and 2018 at our institution. All patients were considered for inclusion regardless of operative or nonoperative management. Patients who were skeletally mature at initial evaluation or had prior spine surgery were excluded. The authors analyzed radiographs in each HS available. Survival was calculated for cutoffs of 60 and 70 degrees (numbers found to increase intraoperative and postoperative complications for CPS). RESULTS: Eighty-six patients with CPS were identified (54 male individuals). Major curves increased significantly between HS 1 and 2 (27.7 to 46.6 degrees, P=0.009) and HS 3 and 4 (53.1 to 67.9 degrees, P=0.023). The proportion of curves ≥70 degrees were significantly different between HS (P<0.001), with the greatest increase between HS 3 and 4 (24% to 51%; ≥70 degrees). The largest drop in the 60/70-degree survival curves was between HS 3 and 4. In a subanalysis, 69% of patients with curves ≥40 degrees but <70 degrees in stage 3 would progress ≥70 degrees by stage 4. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying a period of rapid curve progression may guide surgical planning before CPS curves become large, stiff, and more difficult to fix. Our findings suggest that humeral skeletal maturity staging is a valuable decision-making tool in neuromuscular scoliosis, with the HS 3 to 4 transition representing the time of the greatest risk of progression. Consider a surgical discussion or shortened follow-up interval for patients with CPS with curves ≥40 degrees who are HS 3. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

Hip Morphology in Early-stage LCPD: Is There an Argument for Anatomic-specific Containment?

BACKGROUND: Early containment surgery has become increasingly popular in Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease (LCPD), especially for older children. These procedures treat the proximal femur, the acetabulum, or both, and most surgeons endorse the same surgical option regardless of an individual patient's anatomy. This "one-surgery-fits-all" approach fails to consider potential variations in baseline anatomy that may make one option more sensible than another. We sought to describe hip morphology in a large series of children with newly diagnosed LCPD, hypothesizing that variation in anatomy may support the concept of anatomic-specific containment. METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospectively collected multicenter database was conducted for patients aged 6 to 11 at diagnosis. To assess anatomy before significant morphologic changes secondary to the disease itself, only patients in Waldenström stages IA/IB were included. Standard hip radiographic measurements including acetabular index, lateral center-edge angle, proximal femoral neck-shaft angle (NSA), articulotrochanteric quartiles, and extrusion index (EI) were made on printed anteroposterior pelvis radiographs. Age-specific percentiles were calculated for these measures using published norms. Significant outliers (≤10th/≥90th percentile) were reported where applicable. RESULTS: A total of 168 patients with mean age at diagnosis of 8.0±1.3 years met inclusion criteria (81.5% male). Mean acetabular index for the entire cohort was 16.8±4.1 degrees; 58 hips (34.5%) were significantly dysplastic compared with normative data. Mean lateral center-edge angle was 15.9±5.2 degrees at diagnosis; 110 (65.5%) were ≤10th percentile indicating dysplasia (by this metric). Mean NSA overall was 136.5±7.0 degrees. Fifty-one (30.4%) and 20 (11.9%) hips were significantly varus (≤10th percentile) or valgus (≥90th percentile), respectively. Thirty-five hips (20.8%) were the third articulo-trochanteric quartiles or higher suggesting a higher-riding trochanter at baseline. Mean EI was 15.5%±9.0%, while 63 patients (37.5%) had an EI ≥20%. CONCLUSIONS: The present study finds significant variation in baseline anatomy in children with early-stage LCPD, including a high prevalence of coexisting acetabular dysplasia as well as high/low NSAs. These variations suggest that the "one-surgery-fits-all" approach may lack specificity for a particular patient; a potentially wiser option may be an anatomic-specific containment operation (eg, acetabular-sided osteotomy for coexisting dysplasia, varus femoral osteotomy for valgus NSA). LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Outcomes and Complications in Management of Congenital Myopathy Early-Onset Scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: Congenital myopathies (CMs) are complex conditions often associated with early-onset scoliosis (EOS). The purpose of this study was to investigate radiographic outcomes in CM patients undergoing EOS instrumentation as well as complications. Secondarily, we sought to compare these patients to a population with higher prevalence, cerebral palsy (CP) EOS patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of a prospectively collected multicenter registry. The registry was queried for EOS patients with growth-sparing instrumentation (vertical expandable prosthetic titanium ribs, magnetically controlled growing rods, traditional growing rod, or Shilla) and a CM or CP diagnosis with minimum 2 years follow-up. Outcomes included major curve magnitude, T1-S1 height, kyphosis, and complications. RESULTS: Sixteen patients with CM were included. Six (37.5%) children with CM experienced 11 complications by 2 years. Mean major curve magnitude for CM patients was improved postoperatively and maintained at 2 years (P<0.01), with no significant increase in T1-S1 height or maximum kyphosis(P>0.05). Ninety-seven patients with CP EOS were included as a comparative cohort. Fewer CP patients required baseline respiratory support compared with CM patients (20.0% vs. 92.9%, P<0.01). Fifty-four (55.7%) CP patients experienced a total of 105 complications at 2 years. There was no evidence that the risk of complication or radiographic outcomes differs between cohorts at 2 years, though CP EOS patients experienced significant improvement in all measurements at 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: EOS CM children face a high risk of complication after growing instrumentation, with similar curve correction and risk of complication to CP patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

How Do Race and Insurance Status Affect the Care of Pediatric Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries?

OBJECTIVE: To identify associations between race or insurance status and preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative findings in a large cohort of pediatric anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Division of Orthopaedics at an urban tertiary care children's hospital. PATIENTS: 915 pediatric (<21) patients undergoing primary ACL reconstruction between January 2009 and May 2016. INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: Insurance status and race. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Delay to surgery, concurrent meniscal injury, sports clearance, postoperative complications, physical therapy, range of motion, and isokinetic strength reduction. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis revealed a significantly longer delay to surgery for black/Hispanic and publicly insured children compared to their counterparts (P = 0.02 and P = 0.001, respectively). Black/Hispanic patients were more likely to sustain irreparable meniscus tears resulting in meniscectomy than white/Asian patients (odds ratio 2.16, 95% confidence interval, 1.10-2.29, P = 0.01). Black/Hispanic and publicly insured children averaged fewer physical therapy (PT) visits (P < 0.001 for both). Nine months after surgery, black/Hispanic patients had significantly greater strength reduction than white/Asian patients. There were no differences in postoperative complications, including graft rupture, contralateral ACL injury, or new meniscus tear along the lines of race, although privately insured patients were more likely to suffer a graft rupture than publicly insured patients (P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: After ACL rupture, black/Hispanic children and publicly insured children experience a greater delay to surgery. Black/Hispanic patients have more irreparable meniscus tears and less PT visits. Black/Hispanic patients have greater residual hamstrings and quadriceps weakness 9 months after surgery.

Which Children Are at Risk for Contralateral Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury After Ipsilateral Reconstruction?

BACKGROUND: Following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, children are at significant risk for complications, including contralateral ACL rupture. The purpose of this study is to determine which children are at risk for a contralateral ACL tear after ipsilateral reconstruction. METHODS: After review of medical records, we contacted patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction between 2009 and 2016. Patients were included in the study if they were able to provide follow-up data either in person or remotely at least 2 years after surgery. Demographic data, sports participation, and intraoperative findings and techniques were recorded. All patients were also asked to confirm returning to sport information and postoperative complications (including contralateral ACL tear). Univariate analysis consisted of χ and independent samples t tests. Purposeful entry logistic regression was then conducted to control for confounding factors. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to assess contralateral ACL survival. RESULTS: A total of 498 children with average follow-up of 4.3±2.1 years were included in the analysis. The mean age was 15.0±2.3 years and 262 patients (52.6%) were female. Thirty-five subjects (7.0%) sustained a contralateral ACL tear at a mean of 2.7±1.7 years following index reconstruction. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed the median contralateral ACL survival time to be 8.9 years [95% confidence interval (CI): 8.3, 9.5 y]. In univariate analysis, 11.5% of female patients had a contralateral rupture compared with 2.1% of male patient (P<0.001). Patients with a contralateral tear had a mean age of 14.4±2.0 years compared with 15.1±2.3 years for those without an ACL injury in the opposite knee (P=0.04). After controlling for numerous factors in a multivariate model, female patients had 3.5 times higher odds of sustaining a contralateral ACL tear than male patients (95% CI: 1.1, 10.6; P=0.03). Each year of decreasing age raised the odds of contralateral injury by a factor of 1.3 (95% CI: 1.1, 1.6; P=0.02). Furthermore, children younger than 15 years had 3.1 times higher odds of contralateral rupture than those aged 15 and older (95% CI: 1.3, 7.2; P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: After adjusting for confounding factors in a multivariate model, female patients were at increased risk of contralateral ACL tear following ipsilateral reconstruction, as were younger children. Specifically, ACL rupture in the opposite knee was more likely in patients below the age of 15 years. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-prognostic study.

Where Have All the Fractures Gone? The Epidemiology of Pediatric Fractures During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health measures to encourage social distancing have been implemented, including cancellation of school and organized sports. A resulting change in pediatric fracture epidemiology is expected. This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fracture incidence and characteristics. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study comparing acute fractures presenting to a single level I pediatric trauma hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic with fractures during a prepandemic period at the same institution. The "pandemic" cohort was gathered from March 15 to April 15, 2020 and compared with a "prepandemic" cohort from the same time window in 2018 and 2019. RESULTS: In total, 1745 patients presenting with acute fractures were included. There was a significant decrease in the incidence of fractures presenting to our practice during the pandemic (22.5±9.1/d vs. 9.6±5.1/d, P<0.001). The presenting age for all fractures decreased during the pandemic (7.5±4.3 vs. 9.4±4.4 y, P<0.001) because of decreased fracture burden among adolescents. There were also a decrease in the number of fractures requiring surgery (2.2±1.8/d vs. 0.8±0.8/d, P<0.001). During the pandemic, there was an increase in the proportion of injuries occurring at home (57.8% vs. 32.5%, P<0.001) or on bicycles (18.3% vs. 8.2%, P<0.001), but a decrease in those related to sports (7.2% vs. 26.0%, P<0.001) or playgrounds (5.2% vs. 9.0%, P<0.001). There was no increase in time-to-presentation. Patients with distal radius torus fractures were more likely to receive a velcro splint during the pandemic (44.2% vs. 25.9%, P=0.010). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric fracture volume has decreased 2.5-fold during the COVID-19 pandemic, partially because of cessation of organized sports and decreased playground use. In endemic regions, lower trauma volume may allow redeployment of orthopaedic surgeons and staff to other clinical arenas. Given the rising proportion of bicycling injuries, an emphasis on basic safety precautions could improve public health. An observed increase in the prescription of velcro splints for distal radius fractures highlights an opportunity for simplified patient care during the pandemic. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

How Does Obesity Impact Pediatric Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction?

PURPOSE: To assess the relationship of elevated body mass index (BMI) on postoperative outcomes, including graft rupture, contralateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, new meniscus injuries, isokinetic strength testing, and range of motion (ROM) in a large group of pediatric patients. We also sought to calculate the risk of graft rupture in overweight patients with small femoral or tibial tunnels. The secondary objective was to evaluate the association between BMI and concurrent meniscus tears and the need for meniscectomy at the time of primary ACL reconstruction. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all pediatric patients undergoing primary ACL reconstruction at our institution. BMI percentile for age was used to categorize children as having normal BMI or being overweight or obese per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Demographic data, intraoperative findings and techniques, postoperative complications (including graft rupture, contralateral ACL tear, and meniscus injuries), ROM, and isokinetic strength testing were recorded. Univariate analysis was followed by stepwise, logistic regression to control for confounders. RESULTS: Of the 1,056 patients included, 535 (50.7%) were male and 521 were (49.3%) female, with a mean age of 15.1 ± 2.4 years. The average BMI was 23.1 ± 4.7. There were 675 (63.9%) children with normal BMI, 228 (21.6%) who were overweight, and 153 (14.5%) who were obese. In multivariate analysis, children with elevated BMI had a higher rate of concurrent meniscus tears compared with those with normal BMI (76.3% vs 70.2%; P = .02) and 1.6 times higher odds of requiring a meniscectomy (95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.2; P < .01). The 723 patients included in the analysis of postoperative complications had a mean follow-up duration of 26.2 ± 3.3 months Postoperatively, BMI did not impact the rate of graft rupture, contralateral ACL injury, or new meniscus tears. There was no increased risk of graft failure in overweight children with smaller graft size (≤8 mm). There was no clinically relevant difference in postoperative ROM or isokinetic strength testing. CONCLUSIONS: After ACL rupture, overweight and obese children sustained more overall meniscus tears and more irreparable meniscus tears than those with normal BMI. Graft size did not impact the risk of early graft failure in overweight patients. With an appropriate rehabilitation protocol, there was no increased risk of graft rupture, contralateral ACL injury, or new meniscus tear in early follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Gram Stain is Not Clinically Relevant in Treatment of Pediatric Septic Arthritis.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of pediatric septic arthritis (SA) can be challenging due to wide variability in the presentation of musculoskeletal infection. Synovial fluid Gram stain is routinely obtained and often used as an initial indicator of the presence or absence of pediatric SA. The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical utility of the Gram stain results from a joint aspiration in the diagnosis and management of pediatric SA. METHODS: All patients with suspected SA who underwent arthrocentesis and subsequent surgical irrigation and debridement at an urban tertiary care children's hospital between January 2007 and October 2016 were identified. Results of the synovial fluid Gram stain, as well as synovial cell count/differential and serum markers, were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 302 patients that underwent incision and drainage for suspected SA were identified. In total, 102 patients (34%) had positive synovial fluid cultures and 47 patients (16%) had a microorganism detected on Gram stain. Gram stain sensitivity and specificity for the detection of SA were 0.40 and 0.97, respectively. This yielded a number needed to misdiagnose of 4.5 (ie, every fifth patient was misdiagnosed by Gram stain). For gram-negative organisms, the sensitivity dropped further to 0.13, with only 2/16 gram-negative organisms identified on Gram stain. Stepwise regression showed that age, serum white blood cell, and absolute neutrophil count were significant independent predictors for having a true positive Gram stain result. Elevated synovial white blood cell count was a significant predictor of having an accurate (culture matching the Gram stain) result. CONCLUSIONS: The Gram stain result is a poor screening tool for the detection of SA and is particularly ineffective for the detection of gram-negative organisms. The clinical relevance of the Gram stain and cost-effectiveness of this test performed on every joint aspiration sent for culture requires additional evaluation. Patients with gram-negative SA may be at high risk for inadequate coverage with empiric antibiotics due to poor detection of gram-negative organisms on initial Gram stain. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-case-control study.

Existing Infection Facilitates Establishment and Density of Malaria Parasites in Their Mosquito Vector.

Very little is known about how vector-borne pathogens interact within their vector and how this impacts transmission. Here we show that mosquitoes can accumulate mixed strain malaria infections after feeding on multiple hosts. We found that parasites have a greater chance of establishing and reach higher densities if another strain is already present in a mosquito. Mixed infections contained more parasites but these larger populations did not have a detectable impact on vector survival. Together these results suggest that mosquitoes taking multiple infective bites may disproportionally contribute to malaria transmission. This will increase rates of mixed infections in vertebrate hosts, with implications for the evolution of parasite virulence and the spread of drug-resistant strains. Moreover, control measures that reduce parasite prevalence in vertebrate hosts will reduce the likelihood of mosquitoes taking multiple infective feeds, and thus disproportionally reduce transmission. More generally, our study shows that the types of strain interactions detected in vertebrate hosts cannot necessarily be extrapolated to vectors.