The role of tonsillectomy in pediatric IgA nephropathy.

OBJECTIVES: To review pediatric cases of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) in 6 patients who underwent tonsillectomy and had marked improvement of their renal symptoms and to review the appropriate indications for tonsillectomy for this disease. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENTS: Six children (age range, 8-15 years) with renal biopsy-proved IgAN who were referred by a pediatric nephrologist for recurrent tonsillitis. INTERVENTION: Tonsillectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Resolution of clinical features of IgAN, including proteinuria, gross and microscopic hematuria, and stabilization of renal function. RESULTS: The 6 patients in this series had marked clinical and laboratory improvement of their nephropathy. CONCLUSIONS: In a select group of pediatric cases of IgAN with mild to moderate disease and recurrent tonsillitis, tonsillectomy can be a useful adjuvant treatment to improve urinary symptoms and renal function. IgA nephropathy is a common indication for tonsillectomy in Japan but is seen less often in the United States. Otolaryngologists should be aware of this indication for tonsillectomy.

Current concepts in anterior surgery for thoracolumbar trauma.

Our goals in writing this article are to facilitate understanding of issues related to (1) why anterior fixation for thoracolumbar fractures are an important tool for managing these injuries, (2) when to perform these as a single procedure, or in combination with other procedures such as vertebrectomy and/or posterior stabilization and fusion, (3) to appreciate the biomechanical and design-related issues of available systems, and (4) what the clinical outcomes are following these procedures.