On the Rise: The Increasing Frequency of Pediatric Shoulder Stabilization Surgery in Children and Adolescents.

The management of shoulder instability in children and adolescents continues to evolve. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of shoulder stabilization procedures in a large, nationally representative pediatric population. The Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database was queried for patients 18 years and younger undergoing surgical shoulder stabilization between 2008 and 2017. Patients undergoing arthroscopic surgery were compared with patients undergoing complex (open or bony augment stabilization) procedures. Annual trends were calculated using linear regression. A total of 3925 procedures were performed, of which 92.9% were arthroscopic Bankart repairs. There was a significant increase in overall pediatric shoulder stabilizations and arthroscopic repairs between 2008 and 2017. Complex procedures were performed most often in the Northeast, but the annual frequency did not increase nationally. [Orthopedics. 2023;46(3):e167-e172.].

Sex and Gender Differences in Pediatric Knee Injuries.

The participation of females in sports has increased significantly since the passage of Title IX. Sports participation may place young athletes at risk for knee injuries, including patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. Differences in anatomy, hormone production, and neuromuscular patterns between female and male athletes can contribute to disparities in knee injury rates with female athletes more vulnerable to PFPS and ACL injury. Biological differences between sexes alone cannot fully explain worldwide differences in musculoskeletal health outcomes. Social, cultural and societal attitudes toward gender and the participation of girls and women in sports may result in a lack of accessible training for both injury prevention and performance optimization; one must recognize the effects of gender disparities on injury risk. More nuanced approaches to assess the complex interplay among biological, physiologic, and social influences are needed to inform best practices for intervention and sports injury prevention.

National trends in the treatment of femur fractures in the preschool population: Age and geography play a role.

BACKGROUND: Spica casting and elastic stable intramedullary nailing (ESIN) are options for diaphyseal femur fractures in preschool-age children (ages 3-6 years). Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) are only of moderate or limited strength, which may lead to variation in practice. The purpose of this study is to analyze the epidemiology of children undergoing these procedures in the United States. METHODS: The Pediatric Health Information System, a national database consisting of 49 children's hospitals, was queried for patients between the ages of 3 and 6 years undergoing spica casting or ESIN for a diaphyseal femur fracture between 2011 and 2017. Non-diaphyseal fractures, subjects with associated syndromes or neuromuscular disorders, and pathologic fractures were excluded. Census guidelines were used to categorize hospitals geographically into regions and divisions. Univariate analysis was followed by purposeful entry multivariate regression to adjust for confounders. RESULTS: Analysis included 4059 subjects. Spica casting was performed in 2878 children (71%) and ESIN in 1181 (29%). The median age of those undergoing spica casting was 3.0 years [interquartile range (IQR) 1 year] compared to 5.0 years for ESIN (IQR 2 years; p<0.01). When adjusting for covariates in a multivariate model, each year of increasing age resulted in 4.4 times higher odds that ESIN would be performed (95% CI 4.0-4.8, p<0.01). Compared to the Northeast, a child in the Midwest had 3.6 times higher odds of undergoing ESIN rather than spica casting (95% CI 2.6-5.1, p<0.01). Age at time of ESIN was lowest in the Midwest and highest in the Northeast (4.8±1.0 versus 5.3±0.9 years; p<0.01). There was no variation in the ratio of spica casting to ESIN performed in this age group between 2011 and 2017, including after release of the 2015 CPG. CONCLUSIONS: In the United States, there is substantial variation in the chosen treatment for diaphyseal femur fractures in preschool-age children. ESIN is more likely to be chosen for older children. It is also most likely to be performed in the Midwest and least likely in the Northeast. These findings may have implications in terms of cost and resource utilization and suggest the need for more clinical data to guide surgical indications.

The Anterolateral Ligament of the Knee.

The femoral attachment of the anterolateral ligament (ALL) of the knee is still under debate, but the tibial attachment is consistently between Gerdy's tubercle and the fibular head. The structure is less identifiable and more variable in younger patients. The ALL likely plays a role in rotational stability, but its impact on anterior stability is less clear. Numerous ALL reconstruction techniques have been described. Biomechanical analysis of these techniques has not shown clear benefits, but this literature is limited by the heterogeneity of techniques, graft choices, and study methodology. Clinical studies of combined anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and ALL reconstruction are few but promising in lowering the risk of an ACL reinjury. To our knowledge, there are no studies showing the clinical outcomes of combined ACL and ALL reconstruction in pediatric patients, who are at higher risk for ACL graft failure than adults.

Timing of diaphyseal femur fracture nailing: is the difference night and day?

INTRODUCTION: Most hospitals are faced with reduced personnel, resources, and provider fatigue or shift changes when day turns to night. For these reasons, some have suggested that diaphyseal femur fractures should be fixed during the daytime. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the time of surgery affects the post-operative difference in femoral version (DFV) and femoral length (DFL) between the fixed and uninjured sides following intramedullary nailing (IMN). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over a 10-year period, 340 patients underwent IMN of a diaphyseal femur fracture (AO types 32-A to C) with a post-operative computed tomography scanogram for version measurement. Demographic and surgical data, including time operated was collected. "Daytime" was defined as 7:00 AM to 6:59 PM, while the remainder of the clock was "nighttime". Additionally, the night hours were split into 3 consecutive 4-h categories for further analysis. Stepwise, multivariate regressions were used to evaluate any effect of time of surgery on post-operative DFV or DFL. Other variables included in these statistical models were age, sex, mechanism of injury, open vs. closed fracture, trauma vs. non-trauma surgeon, and AO and Winquist classifications. RESULTS: Overall, 22.4% (76/340) of all fractures were fixed at night. The mean post-operative DFV and DFL from the uninjured side in these patients was 8.9° and 4.1 mm, respectively, compared to 9.0° and 4.8 mm in those treated during the daytime. This difference was not statistically significant when accounting for other factors (p>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in patients with >10 mm limb length discrepancy or >15 degrees DFV (p=1.0 for both). CONCLUSION: The time of day at which diaphyseal femur fractures are treated does not have an impact on post-operative femoral version or length. While certain other injuries may be better handled during daytime hours, acceptable IMN of mid-shaft femur fractures may be achieved during all hours at a level 1 trauma centre.