Is posterior vertebral arthrodesis at the end of the electromagnetic rod lengthening program necessary for all patients? Comparative analysis of sixty six patients who underwent definitive spinal arthrodesis and twenty four patients with in situ lengthening rods.

PURPOSE: Magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR) should be removed or changed at most two years after their implantation in the treatment of patients with early-onset scoliosis (EOS) (Safety notice July 2021). However, in the face of patients at high risk of intraoperative complications and relying on the principle of auto-fusion of the spine, some surgeons would prefer a more wait-and-see attitude. The aim of this study was to report on patients who did not undergo final fusion at the end of the lengthening program with MCGR and to compare them with those who did. METHODS: This was a multicenter study with ten centres. We collected all graduate patients with EOS who had received MCGR between 2011 and 2022. RESULTS: A total of 66 patients had final fusion at the end of the lengthening program and 24 patients kept MCGRs in situ. The mean total follow-up time was 66 months (range, 25.3-109), and the mean follow-up time after final lengthening was 24.9 months (range, 3-67.7). Regarding the main curve and thoracic height, there was no significant difference in the percentage of correction over the whole follow-up between the two groups (p = 0.099, p = 0.176) although there was a significant difference between the end of lengthening and the last follow-up (p < 0.001). After completion of the lengthening program, 18 patients who had final fusion developed 24 of the 26 recorded complications (92.3%). CONCLUSION: Contrary to the manufacturer's published safety notice, not all patients systematically benefited from the removal of the MCGRs. Although arthrodesis significantly improved the scoliotic deformity, no significant difference was found in terms of radiographic outcome between patients who underwent spinal fusion and those who kept the MCGRs in situ.

High failure rate of the Pavlik harness in dislocated hips: is it bilaterality?

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Pavlik harness treatment in patients with bilaterally dislocated Graf type IV hips and compare them to cases with unilaterally dislocated hips. METHODS: Twenty-one patients (42 hips) who presented with bilaterally dislocated hips with no prior treatment were studied. The comparison group consisted of 33 patients (33 hips) with unilateral hip dislocation treated with the same protocol. Successful treatment was defined as relocation of the hips within 3 weeks of Pavlik harness application. RESULTS: Twelve of 21 patients (57%) in the bilateral group (6 failed bilaterally, 6 unilaterally) and 18/33 patients (54.5%) in the unilateral group failed harness treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the Pavlik harness in dislocated hips is associated with a high failure rate. Patients presenting with bilaterally dislocated hips however, are at no greater risk for failure than patients presenting with unilateral hip dislocation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Flexible intramedullary nailing in children: nail to medullary canal diameters optimal ratio.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative axial deviations and delayed unions are possible complications after flexible intramedullary nailing (FIN). The goals of this study were to determine if a correlation exists between occurrence of the above complications and the ratio of the diameter between nail and medullary canal [nail diameter (ND)/MCD ratio], to study the interobserver variability in the measurement of MCD, and to define a threshold to be respected to optimize the results. METHODS: Eighty-one consecutive diaphyseal fractures treated by means of FIN were evaluated. The ND/MCD ratios were determined by 2 independent observers. Axial deviations were defined as 5-degree angulation or more observed before bone union. Absence of bone union at 3 months was considered as delayed union. Statistical analysis was made for interobserver variability of MCD, dependency between occurrence of complications and ND/MCD ratio and eventual confounding variables (age, weight, sex, and fracture location). RESULTS: Of the 81 fractures, 14 presented with an axial deviation and 3 with a delayed union. Interobserver variability of MCD diameter was excellent (intraclass correlation: 0.96). Occurrence of the above complications was significantly associated with a low ND/MCD ratio (P=0.0002) but with none of the examined confounding variables. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed absence of complications with a ND/MCD ratio >35% with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 89%. Related with the MCD measurements variability, a safe threshold of 40% can be suggested. CONCLUSIONS: In FIN, ND>40% to the MCD should be chosen to avoid complications, besides respecting the technical principles. Measuring the medullary canal diameter in order to choose correct nail size is reproducible between different observers. In adolescents with a medullary canal diameter of >10 mm in femur or tibia fractures, alternative methods of osteosynthesis than FIN should be considered. SIGNIFICANCE: This work statistically confirms that a ND/MCD ratio of >40% must be respected to avoid some complications in FIN. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Visuo-oculomotor deficiency at early-stage idiopathic scoliosis in adolescent girls.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) at onset is associated with oculomotor dysfunction and whether these oculomotor anomalies are correlated to the amplitude of the spine deformation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: AIS is related to abnormalities of postural control. To date, few studies have focused on visuo-oculomotor and vestibulo-ocular functions at early-stage AIS. METHODS: Fifty-three adolescent girls were diagnosed with AIS (mean age: 11.6 ± 2.1 yr) on clinical and radiological criteria (mean Cobb angle: 14.8° ± 5.0°). Visuo-oculomotor and vestibulo-ocular functions were studied with video-oculography, including saccades, smooth pursuit, caloric test, and pendular rotation, with visual vestibular ocular reflex and vestibulo-ocular reflex sequences. Two patient groups were defined according to the mean Cobb angle: group 1 included 29 patients with a Cobb angle from 5° to 14° and group 2 included 24 patients with a Cobb angle from 15° to 25°. RESULTS: The group 2 showed different saccade characteristics than group 1: higher latencies for saccade sequences characterized by temporal uncertainty and predictive direction; lower velocity regardless of the type of the saccades. No difference was observed for saccadic accuracy and smooth-pursuit gain. For the visual vestibular ocular reflex, group 2 showed lower total maximal slow-phase velocity than group 1, whereas the vestibulo-ocular reflex (tested in dark) did not differ between groups. No difference was observed concerning the caloric vestibular test. CONCLUSION: Patients with a Cobb angle of 15° or more presented normal vestibulo-ocular responses but altered visuo-oculomotor functions, especially for the saccadic latency and velocity. This could be the result of a dysfunction of oculomotor pathways at cerebellar and/or brainstem level. These central disorders may be incriminated in the development of AIS.

Idiopathic scoliosis: etiological concepts and hypotheses.

Scoliosis is diagnosed as idiopathic in 70 % of structural deformities affecting the spine in children and adolescents, probably reflecting our current misunderstanding of this disease. By definition, a structural scoliosis should be the result of some primary disorder. The goal of this article is to give a comprehensive overview of the currently proposed etiological concepts in idiopathic scoliosis regarding genetics, molecular biology, biomechanics, and neurology, with particular emphasis on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Despite the fact that numerous potential etiologies for idiopathic scoliosis have been formulated, the primary etiology of AIS remains unknown. Beyond etiology, identification of prognostic factors of AIS progression would probably be more relevant in our daily practice, with the hope of reducing repetitive exposure to radiation, unnecessary brace treatments, psychological implications, and costs-of-care related to follow-up in low-risk patients.

Flexed-knee gait in children with cerebral palsy: a 10-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: While several studies have evaluated the short-term effectiveness of conservative and surgical treatment of flexed-knee gait in children with cerebral palsy (CP), few have explored the long-term outcomes using gait analysis. The purpose of this study was to examine, through gait analysis, the 10-year outcomes of flexed-knee gait in children with CP. METHODS: Ninety-seven children with spastic CP who walked with a flexed-knee gait underwent two gait evaluations [age 6.1 ± 2.1 and 16.2 ± 2.3 years, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) I (12), II (45), III (37), IV (3)]. Limbs with knee flexion at initial contact >15° were considered walking with a flexed-knee gait and were included in the study (n = 185). Kinematic data were collected using an eight-camera motion analysis system (Motion Analysis, Santa Rosa, CA). Surgical and therapeutic interventions were not controlled. RESULTS: A comparison between the two gait studies showed an overall improvement in gait at 10 years follow-up. Significant improvements were seen in knee flexion at initial contact, Gait Deviation Index (GDI), Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), and gait speed (P < 0.01 for all). Outcome was also evaluated based on the severity of flexed-knee gait at the initial visit, with functional skills and overall gait (GDI) improving in all groups (P < 0.01 for all). The group with a severe flexed-knee gait exhibited the most improvement, while subjects with a mild flexed-knee improved the least. CONCLUSIONS: Children at a specialty hospital whose orthopedic care included gait analysis and multi-level surgery showed improvement of flexed-knee gait and gross motor function over a 10-year course, regardless of the initial severity.

Rectus femoris transfer improves stiff knee gait in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: Stiff knee gait is common among children with ambulatory cerebral palsy (CP). When surgery is indicated, rectus femoris transfer as a primary treatment enhances knee range of motion, reduces time to peak knee flexion, increases peak knee flexion, and reduces toe drag. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We determined whether (1) distal rectus femoris transfer improved knee range of motion, time to peak knee flexion, peak knee flexion, and toe drag in children with CP diagnosed with stiff knee gait; and (2) patients in some subgroups (eg, those with relatively high knee range of motion compared with those with low knee range of motion before rectus femoris transfer) had greater improvement in these parameters. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed gait data from 56 patients (99 limbs) preoperatively, short-term, and long-term. Subgroup analyses were performed to determine whether patients with high knee range of motion relative to those with low or moderate knee range of motion improved differentially after rectus femoris transfer. The minimum followup was 7 years (mean ± SD, 10 ± 2 years; range, 7-13 years). RESULTS: The mean peak knee flexion increased from baseline to short-term and to long-term followup. Patients with low peak knee flexion had the greatest improvement of peak knee flexion after rectus femoris transfer relative to the moderate and high peak knee flexion subgroups. Similarly, the greatest improvement after rectus femoris transfer for knee range of motion occurred in the low knee range of motion subgroup relative to moderate and high subgroups. Rectus femoris transfer improved mean time to peak knee flexion at short-term and long-term followup compared with baseline. Likewise, there was a decrease in toe drag at short- and long-term after rectus femoris transfer. CONCLUSION: Distal rectus femoris transfer selectively improved peak knee flexion, toe drag, and reduced time to peak knee flexion in ambulatory children with CP with stiff knee gait. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic study. See guidelines for authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Flexible intramedullary nailing for distal femoral fractures in patients with myopathies.

PURPOSE: Distal femoral fractures are quite common in nonambulating patients with myopathies, as they present marked osteoporosis. The deterioration of preexisting knee flexion contracture is a known problem, as these fractures are usually angulated posteriorly. The goals of treatment are to reduce immobilization and bed rest to a minimum, prevent function loss, and prevent refracture. The aim of our work was to investigate if these goals can be achieved by an operative treatment with closed reduction and flexible intramedullary nailing (FIN). METHODS: Six distal femoral fractures in four nonambulating patients with myopathies (three Duchenne muscular dystrophy and one nemaline myopathy) were treated with FIN between 2005 and 2011. Patient charts and radiographs were reviewed to determine if intra- or postoperative complications occurred and to detect the interval to wheelchair mobilization and hospital discharge. Pre- and postoperative knee flexion contracture was noted from the patient charts of our reeducation unit, where patients were already known preoperatively. RESULTS: Wheelchair mobilization without further immobilization after an interval of 2-3 days was possible. No aggravation of knee flexion contracture was detected in our patient series. No complications associated to the operative treatment itself and no refractures in the follow up occurred. CONCLUSION: Our experience showed that FIN is a low invasive and sufficiently stable osteosynthesis in such fractures. Left in place, nails will reinforce mechanical stability.

Wilmington robotic exoskeleton: a novel device to maintain arm improvement in muscular disease.

BACKGROUND: Upper-extremity movement is limited in individuals with muscular weakness. This paper describes a novel, articulated upper-extremity orthosis, the Wilmington Robotic Exoskeleton (WREX), which helps people overcome this movement deficit. METHODS: This prospective, case-controlled study involved an ambulatory patient with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita and 2 nonambulatory patients with spinal muscular atrophy type II. The WREX uses elastic bands to negate the effects of gravity; it allows a person with neuromuscular weakness to move their arm in 3 dimensions. The WREX can be fixed on a brace for ambulatory patients and on the wheelchair for nonambulatory patients. Assessment was performed through motion analysis (with and without the WREX), clinical examination, and qualitative questionnaire. RESULTS: Motion analysis showed a marked improvement in upper-extremity function with the WREX. The questionnaire illustrated enhanced functionality with the WREX including self-feeding, fine motor control, and use of a television remote control. Enhanced functionality resulted in improved quality of life by increasing participation in school, raising self-esteem, and increasing social interaction. Two unexpected outcomes were increased security with trunk inclination and amelioration of the effects of contractures. CONCLUSIONS: The WREX provided an increase in functionality and improved the quality of life of the patients. The device has become an integral part of the lives of the 3 patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III in Therapeutic Studies-Investigating the Results of Treatment.

Postural instability in early-stage idiopathic scoliosis in adolescent girls.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the amplitude of spine deformation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is an important factor for postural control at disease onset. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: AIS is related to disorders of postural control with potential involvement of vestibular, proprioceptive, and visual input. So far no assessment of postural control has been done in an AIS population at the onset of spine deformation. METHODS: Sixty-five female patients with AIS (mean age: 11.4 ± 2.3 years) were clinically and radiologically assessed at the time of diagnosis and evaluated in posturography, including static tests-with and without sensory conflict-and dynamic tests. Two groups were formed according to the mean Cobb angle of the primary curve. RESULTS: The mean Cobb angle was 14.8° ± 5.1°; 35 patients were included in group I with a Cobb angle of 5° to 14°, and 30 patients into group II with a Cobb angle of 15° to 25°. The latter group displayed higher body sways in static tests, characterized by a larger area covered by center of foot pressure in both eyes open and eyes closed conditions, and by higher lateral oscillations in only the eyes closed condition. Group II patients displayed poorer balance control, mainly in visual and somatosensory conflict conditions. Group II patients used fewer anticipatory strategies to stabilize body oscillations than Group I patients, especially in the more challenging sensory conflict and dynamic situations. CONCLUSION: Poorer postural performance, especially in sensory conflict situations, observed in patients with a Cobb angle greater or equal to 15°, reflect less effective central information processing.

Flexible intramedullary nail use in limb lengthening.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of the external fixation associated with flexible intramedullary nailing (FIN) on the healing index (HI) in limb lengthening. METHODS: We compared the healing index between 2 groups of children undergone the lengthening of upper and lower limbs carried out with the Ilizarov external fixator alone (group I, 194 cases of lengthening) or with the combination of the Ilizarov external fixator and intramedullary nailing (group II, 92 cases). Two nails of the diameter from 1.5 to 2.0 mm with the ray of curvature about 40 degrees to 50 degrees were used for the intramedullary nailing. RESULTS: The HI was less in every subgroup of Group II compared with Group I. A significant difference was noted in congenital pathologies: monofocal monosegmental lengthening at the level of femur and forearm, bifocal lengthening of the tibia, polysegmental lengthening; and in acquired discrepancy: monofocal tibial lengthening, bifocal femoral lengthening, and the forearm lengthening. The reduction of HI was between 60% and 85% in congenital pathologies: monosegmental femur and forearm, bifocal femur and tibia lengthening; and in acquired discrepancy: femur, tibia, humerus and forearm monosegmental lengthening, humerus and tibia bifocal lengthening, and polysegmental in upper and lower limbs. This difference varies from 1.9 days/cm to 19.1 days/cm. That means that the duration of the external fixator was decreased of 20% to 33% of the number of days between the Group I and the Group II. Maximum diminution of HI was noted for monofocal acquired forearm cases (51.3%) and bifocal acquired femoral lengthening cases which (59.9%). CONCLUSIONS: The flexible intramedullary nailing allows adding multiple advantages to the method of limb lengthening with the external fixator. Correctly applied the FIN indeed respects the bone biology that is essential during the limb lengthening. The major effect of application of the combination of Ilizarov frame fixation with FIN is a significant decrease of duration of the external osteosynthesis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Anatomically based comparison of the different transthoracic routes for colon ascension after total esogastrectomy.

Colon interposition is the method of choice to restore the digestive tract after esogastrectomy. The aim of this study was to compare the length of the four available routes for colon transposition (posterior mediastinum route, transpleural route, substernal route and subcutaneous route) and to achieve a specific evaluation of the transpleural route. Our study was conducted with anatomical (dissection) and radiological (2D CT scan reconstructions) protocols. For both, the posterior mediastinum route was always the shortest way and the subcutaneous route was always the longest. For the anatomical results, the transpleural route and the substernal route were similar in terms of length and for the radiological study, the transpleural route was shorter than the substernal route (P < 0.001) and shorter than the subcutaneous route (P < 0.001). We demonstrated that the transpleural route was acceptable for colon transposition in term of length, and could be an alternative when the substernal route is unavailable.

[Sports injuries and their prevention in childhood and adolescence]. / Traumatismes sportifs de l'enfance et de l'adolescence et leur prévention.

Sports injuries are common in children and adolescents. Typical musculoskeletal disorders include overuse injuries such as stress fractures and apophyseal avulsions. Gymnastics has one of the highest injury rates of all girls' sports. Intensive gymnastics can cause chronic spine and wrist trauma. Prevention of sport injuries should be a priority for parents, coaches and children themselves. Protection (helmet, padding) is mandatory for some activities. Proper education and preparation are necessary for all sports activities.

Multidimensional outcome assessment in cerebral palsy: is it feasible and relevant?

BACKGROUND: To examine feasibility and relevance of a multidimensional outcome assessment approach using instrumented 3-dimensional gait analysis, via the Gillette Gait Index (GGI), and a set of validated functional and health-related quality of life tools in diplegic cerebral palsy children, before introduction as a nationwide evaluation set. METHODS: A 3-year prospective government-funded multicenter study was conducted, recruiting patients during a 9-month period classified using the Gross Motor Function Classification System and the Rodda et al sagittal walking patterns. The Gross Motor Classification System Dimensions D and E, the 10-level Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire, the Energy Expenditure Index (EEI), the GGI out of 3D gait analysis, and health-related quality of life, assessed by self or proxy with the questionnaire "Vècu et Santè Perçu de l'Adolescent," were selected for the study. RESULTS: Cross-sectional data subset at inclusion of 160 spastic diplegic cerebral palsy patients, the largest series in our country, 6 to 18 years old (mean age, 11.0 years), are reported. The GGI correlated significantly (P < 0.001) with the Gross Motor Classification System, the Functional Assessment Questionnaire, and the EEI for all the patients, and all but one (EEI) correlated if grouped according to Gross Motor Function Classification System or Rodda. No systematic correlation was found between the quality of life scores and the other outcome tools. CONCLUSIONS: The outcome evaluation instrument set tested in our study helps to adopt common tools, to be integrated in an evidence-based practice and to compare health status and treatment outcome between countries, specifically in different linguistic environments like in European countries.

Use and abuse of flexible intramedullary nailing in children and adolescents.

UNLABELLED: Elastic stable intramedullary nailing (ESIN) has became a well-accepted method of osteosynthesis of diaphyseal fractures in children and adolescents for many reasons including the following: no need for postoperative cast, primary bone union with avoidance of growth plate injury, and minimum invasive surgery. OPERATIVE TECHNIQUE: The principle is to introduce 2 elastic nails, titanium or stainless steel, into the medullary canal through a metaphyseal approach. The bended nails must have their maximum of curve at the level of the fracture, and their orientation, most often face to face, is in charge of the reduction and, so far, the stabilization, of the fracture. The usual size of the nails is equal to 0.4 times the diameter of the medullary canal. As far as possible, a bigger diameter is better than a thinner one. Most fractures of the femur are treated with a bipolar retrograde ESIN when some distal fractures need an antegrade subtrochanteric approach. Forearm fractures need a combined retrograde radial and antegrade ulnar through the posterolateral part of the olecranon. Humerus and tibial diaphyseal fractures may also be treated with ESIN. Complications are mainly caused by technical errors including too-thin nails, asymmetry of the frame, and malorientation of the implants. Nonunion was never observed in fractures of the femur and the forearm; osteomyelitis rate is 2%, and mean overgrowth of the femur is less than 10 mm before the age of 10 years. Indications of ESIN are fractures of the diaphysis: all the fractures of the femur between the age of 6 years and the end of growth except for the severe open grade III fractures, all the unstable fractures of the forearm, and some unstable fractures of the humerus and the tibia during adolescence or before the end of growth. In addition, ESIN is indicated in polytraumatism and multiple injuries. CONCLUSIONS: The good results of this reliable technique are obtained when surgeons have a good knowledge of it, especially in the understanding of the principle of the correction of the fracture and its stability.