Quality of life and clinical outcomes in severely involved cerebral palsy patients and spastic hips undergoing Castle surgery: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: As progressive hip dislocation causes pain in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) and spasticity needs surgical correction, we aimed to describe clinical and radiographic outcomes in CP patients with painful hip deformity treated with the Castle salvage procedure. METHODS: We included all patients operated in the same hospital between 1989 and 2017 with painful spastic hips and femoral head deformity making joint reconstruction unfeasible. We collected clinical and functional data from medical records and evaluated radiographies to classify cases for femoral head shape and migration, type of deformity, spinal deformity, and heterotopic ossification. We investigated quality of life one year after surgery. RESULTS: We analyzed 41 patients (70 hips) with complete medical records. All had severe function compromise GMFCS V (Gross Motor Function Classification System) and heterotopic ossifications, all but one had scoliosis, and most had undergone other surgeries before Castle procedure. Patients were followed up for 77.1 months (mean) after surgery. The mean initial migration index was 73%. Seven patients had complications, being three patients minor (two femur and one tibial fracture) and four majors (patients requiring surgical revision). Quality of life was considered improved by most of the carers (35 children; 85.3%) as level 4/5 according to CPCHILD instrument. No child was able to stand or walk, but moving in and out of bed, of vehicles, and to a chair, remaining seated, or visiting public places was "very easy." CONCLUSION: We considered most patients (37 patients-90%, 66 hips-94%) as having satisfactory outcomes because they had no or minor complications, absence of pain, free mobility of the lower limbs and were able to sit in a wheelchair.

Allograft-enhanced latissimus dorsi transfer is better than the conventional technique for irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears. A retrospective matched cohort.

PURPOSE: Latissimus dorsi tendon (LDT) transfer (LDTT) to the greater tuberosity to treat irreparable posterosuperior rotator cuff tears (RCTs) in young active patients has been shown to have up to 36% of clinical failures, most of them happening because of either deltoid origin disruption or post-operative transfer rupture from the greater tuberosity. In an attempt to simultaneously prevent both complications, a modified technique includes the following adaptations to the original technique: reinforcement and augmentation of the LDT with a tendinous allograft, enabling the use of a single deltopectoral approach. The aim of this study is to compare mid-term outcomes of the traditional LDTT technique with this modified transfer. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study comparing two groups who underwent either the traditional (group 1; n = 19) or the modified technique (group 2; n = 27). Group homogenization was assured by statistical comparison of 24 baseline independent variables. The outcome variables were the gains to active shoulder range of motions (ROM) and UCLA scores (and all its subscores, independently), at a minimum follow-up of two years. A p value < .05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 25 months, both groups have shown improvements to most variables. However, group two (modified technique) achieved greater improvements to UCLA score (p = .009), active external rotation (p = .006) and internal rotation (p = .008). CONCLUSION: At mid-term follow-up, improvements to outcomes of the modified (single approach, allograft-enhanced) latissimus dorsi transfer were greater than those of the original technique.

Causes of knee pain evaluated by arthroscopy after knee arthroplasty: a case series.

BACKGROUND: The origin of persistent pain and joint limitation after knee arthroplasty are controversial and difficult to diagnose. Knee arthroscopy is indicated when the results of routine evaluation tests are not clear. The purpose of this study was to determine through arthroscopy the cause of post-knee-arthroplasty pain symptoms in patients without a prior diagnosis of cause of pain. METHODS: This prospective case series study described the outcomes of 34 patients (35 knees) with pain and limited function in the arthroplastic joint, who underwent diagnostic and therapeutic arthroscopy. Patients were clinically evaluated using range-of-motion tests and the Lysholm, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and Knee Society Score (KSS) scales. RESULTS: The procedure found cyclops in 17 knees, synovitis in 9 knees, arthrofibrosis in 6 knees, polyethylene wear with debris in two knees, and polyethylene bouncing in one knee with unicompartmental arthroplasty with a mobile polyethylene platform. It was effective for the relief of pain symptoms, with excellent or good outcomes in 80% of cases; there was a poor outcome in 11.43%, which maintained the presentation of pain and underwent revision arthroplasty, and, in 8.57%, did not undergo another surgery despite symptom persistence. CONCLUSIONS: Post-arthroplasty knee arthroscopy seems beneficial in patients with pain and without a pre-established diagnosis and who had already undergone conservative treatment unsuccessfully.

Rotational evaluation of humeral shaft fractures with proximal extension fixed using the MIPO technique.

INTRODUCTION: Diaphyseal fractures with proximal humeral extension can be treated using a helical model, so it is lateral on the proximal aspect and on the diaphyseal segment in the anterior surface. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate possible rotational deviations using minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) and to determine how it affects upper limb function. METHODS: We followed 11 patients for a period of two years. The proximal approach was anterior-lateral, and the distal approach was anterior, dividing the brachial muscle. For rotational evaluation, we used the semi-axial incidence described by Oztuna et al., assessing the degree of retroversion of the humeral head in relation to the elbow. During follow-up, we measured bilateral range of motion, shoulder function (UCLA), and upper limb function (DASH). RESULTS: For patients whose final result was an increase in retroversion, there was an average difference of 9°, with an increase in the final difference of external rotation of 3° compared with the other shoulder, and no difference between the final levels of internal rotation. In the patients whose final result was a decrease in retroversion, where the distal fragment was fixed in internal rotation, the difference observed was an average of 6°. These patients had an average decrease of the external rotation of 5° with an increase of the internal rotation by two levels. The final functional scores were "good" and "excellent" in all patients, with a mean UCLA of 31.8 points (28-34) and a mean DASH of 9.11 points (0.83-22.2). CONCLUSION: In all patients, there was a difference in the humeral head retroversion compared to the contralateral limb, but with little clinical repercussion and good or excellent functional scores.

The influence of femoral tunnel length on graft rupture after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: For ACL reconstruction, the minimum length of the femoral tunnel and the flexor tendon graft length needed within the tunnel for proper integration have not been defined. The aim of this study was to assess whether a short tunnel is a risk factor for poor prognosis and re-rupture by comparing the outcomes of patients with short femoral tunnels to those of patients with longer tunnels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study of 80 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction using flexor tendons via the medial transportal or transtibial technique was performed. Patients were categorized according to the amount of graft within the tunnel: ≤1.5 versus >1.5 cm; ≤2 versus >2 cm; ≤2.5 versus >2.5 cm; and ≤1.5 versus >2.5 cm. Patients were evaluated 2 years after surgery by performing a physical examination (Lachman, pivot shift and anterior drawer tests), using a KT1000 arthrometer, calculating objective and subjective International Knee Documentation Committee scores, conducting the Lysholm score, and recording re-ruptures. RESULTS: Of the 80 operated patients, nine were lost to follow-up. Comparative assessment of the patients with different amounts of graft within the tunnel indicated no significant differences in the evaluated outcomes, except for positive Lachman test results, which were more frequent in patients with tunnels with ≤2 cm of graft than in those with tunnels with >2 cm of graft. CONCLUSION: The amount of graft within the femoral tunnel does not appear to be a risk factor for clinical instability of the knee or re-rupture of the graft. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: case series, level IV. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Case series, level IV.

Surgical technique: Medial column arthrodesis in rigid spastic planovalgus feet.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of spastic planovalgus feet is challenging, especially in patients with severe and rigid deformities. The available techniques do provide some correction but not at the site of the deformity and sometimes the correction is lost over time. We describe a new surgical approach at the site of the deformity. TECHNIQUE: Indications for the surgery included adolescents or young adults with severe and rigid planovalgus deformities of the feet resulting from cerebral palsy. Through a medial approach, arthrodesis of the talonavicular, navicular-medial cuneiform, and medial cuneiform first metatarsal joints was internally fixed using a single-molded plate over the plantar surface of the foot, recreating the longitudinal arch. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 21 patients (35 feet) with spastic cerebral palsy in whom the new technique was indicated for severe and rigid deformity, gait dysfunction, and pain (mean age, 190 months; range, 96-345 months). The mean age of the patients was 16 years (range, 8-29 years). We analyzed the patients clinically and radiographically. The minimum followup was 2.5 years (mean, 58 months; range, 2.5-7.5 years). RESULTS: At last followup, 34 of the 35 feet (97%) had radiographic improvement of the deformity with no difficulties wearing shoes; one patient had persistent pain despite bone union. Union was achieved initially in eight patients (17 feet) and in another eight (10 feet) after revision surgery, of 27 of the 35 feet. The radiographic calcaneal inclination angle improved an average of 13°. The lateral talocalcaneal angle decreased from a mean of 43° to 26° after surgery. Four patients (five feet) had revision surgery for pseudoarthrosis, and another four patients (five feet) had revision surgery for other problems. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our preliminary observations, we believe stabilization of the medial column is a reasonable option for treating selected patients with severe and rigid planovalgus feet by providing a stable and pain-free foot, recreating the anatomy, and allowing the use of braces or regular shoes. Further studies with longer followup periods will be required to confirm these initial results and to verify if these findings persist over time. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, case series. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Pretensioning of quadruple flexor tendon grafts in two types of femoral fixation: quasi-randomised controlled pilot study.

Pretensioning of the flexor tendon graft of the knee is used to improve the stability of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions. The objective was to demonstrate the pretensioning of grafts of the semitendinosus and gracilis in situ with range of flexion and extension of 0-110°, and determine the appropriate number of cycles in two types of femoral fixation. ACL reconstruction was performed in 60 patients, aged 16-48 years, 90% male, with 50% right knees and 50% left knees, divided into two groups of 30 patients: One with the femur fixed using interference screws (direct form) and the other with the transcondylar cross-pin screw (from a distance). Total length of the grafts, their circumference and the measurements on the radiographs of length of the grafts submitted to pretensioning and the measurements with ten, 25 and 50 cycles of flexion and extension were determined. There was no significant difference in relation to the total tendon lengths and their circumferences. The lengths of the portions submitted to pretensioning were significantly different: 7.90 cm for the interference and 10.92 cm for the transcondylar (mean). After tensioning, in the interference and transcondylar groups, respectively, lengthening was 3.57 mm/3.97 mm with ten, 6.30 mm/7.03 mm with 25, and 6.83 mm/7.7 mm with 50 cycles. The greater the length of the graft, the greater the lengthening on pretensioning throughout the substance; the shorter the length, the earlier the end of the lengthening was achieved, close to 25 cycles; more than ten cycles were necessary, 25 being sufficient.