Conversations About Congenital Clubfoot: Investigating How Parents Share Information About a Structural Diagnosis With Their Children.

Background and objective Clubfoot is a common congenital musculoskeletal condition that is treated with manipulation and casting in the first few weeks of life, followed by bracing that extends into early childhood. While children typically do not recall treatment with Ponseti casting in infancy, childhood treatment and monitoring may result in a sense of heightened awareness. In light of this, this study explores how parents share information about clubfoot diagnosis and guide their children in understanding the importance of treatment. Methods Parents of clubfoot children aged 5-18 years were eligible to participate. Primary recruitment was done through social media via Facebook clubfoot support groups. Participants who gave consent completed an electronic survey and were invited to take part in a semi-structured interview to share additional experiences. Significant themes elicited from study interviews were analyzed along with survey responses. Results Survey responses were received from 74 parents, and 23 participated in the semi-structured interview. Of note, 91% of parents indicated discussing clubfoot with their children, beginning at a median age of three years. The age at which parents first discussed clubfoot with their child was significantly earlier for those who "strongly agree" that their children understand their condition versus those who "agree". Although 68% of parents indicated that receiving guidance from their orthopedic provider would be helpful for these discussions, only 18% noted receiving direct advice. Recurrent themes across interviews included being open and honest about the children's diagnosis and treatment, aiding the children in taking ownership of their diagnosis, and validating emotional responses throughout treatment.  Conclusions This study provides valuable insights into initiating conversations with children about structural diagnoses like congenital clubfoot. Recurrent themes from conversations with families provide information on helpful strategies to encourage early discussions about clubfoot diagnosis and treatment to aid children in taking ownership of their diagnosis.

Can Caregivers Forecast Their Child's Postoperative Disability After Elective Orthopedic Surgery?

Background While there has been a growing emphasis on evaluating the patient's perspective of health outcomes, caregiver expectations of post-orthopedic procedure disability and pain in a pediatric population are yet to be investigated. This study evaluates whether caregivers' preoperative expectations of pain and function differ from their child's early outcomes after surgical orthopedic intervention. Methodology Patients eight to 18 years old undergoing elective orthopedic surgery were enrolled. The caregivers of consented patients completed a survey at the child's preoperative appointment to predict their postoperative pain and disability. The child was given the same survey during their postoperative visit four to six weeks after surgery to assess actual levels of functioning following the procedure. Scores were analyzed to study correlations between patient and caregiver responses (n = 48). Results Caregivers underestimated their child's postoperative psychosocial functioning, as evidenced by the Psychosocial Health Summary Score, and overestimated pain, as demonstrated by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory scores showed caregivers had differing expectations of the impact surgery had across various aspects of the physical, emotional, social, and school functioning domains. Higher parental pain catastrophizing was associated with underestimated predictions of their child's psychosocial functioning after surgery. No significant difference was found in the patient's physical functioning, as shown by the Physical Health Summary Score. Conclusions Surgical intervention is a major event that can provoke anxiety for parents and caregivers. Understanding differences in caregiver perspectives and early postoperative patient outcomes provides physicians valuable insights. Explaining to caregivers that patient psychosocial factors and functional outcomes after surgery are commonly better than expected can alleviate anxiety and prevent catastrophizing. This knowledge can help guide caregiver expectations and plans for their child's postoperative pain control and functional recovery.

Diagnostic algorithm for a validated displacement grading of pediatric supracondylar fractures.

BACKGROUND: The first AO comprehensive pediatric long bone fracture classification system has been established following a structured path of development and validation with experienced pediatric surgeons. METHODS: A follow-up series of agreement studies was applied to specify and evaluate a grading system for displacement of pediatric supracondylar fractures. An iterative process comprising an international group of 5 experienced pediatric surgeons (Phase 1) followed by a pragmatic multicenter agreement study involving 26 raters (Phase 2) was used. The last evaluations were conducted on a consecutive collection of 154 supracondylar fractures documented by standard anteroposterior and lateral radiographs. RESULTS: Fractures were classified according to 1 of 4 grades: I=incomplete fracture with no or minimal displacement; II=Incomplete fracture with continuity of the posterior (extension fracture) or anterior cortex (flexion fracture); III=lack of bone continuity (broken cortex), but still some contact between the fracture planes; IV=complete fracture with no bone continuity (broken cortex), and no contact between the fracture planes. A diagnostic algorithm to support the practical application of the grading system in a clinical setting, as well as an aid using a circle placed over the capitellum was proposed. The overall κ coefficients were 0.68 and 0.61 in the Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies, respectively. In the Phase 1 study, fracture grades I, II, III, and IV were classified with median accuracies of 91%, 82%, 83%, and 99.5%, respectively. Similar median accuracies of 86% (Grade I), 73% (Grade II), 83% (Grade III), and 92% were reported for the Phase 2 study. Reliability was high in distinguishing complete, unstable fractures from stable injuries [ie, κ coefficients of 0.84 (Phase 1) and 0.83 (Phase 2) were calculated]; in Phase 2, surgeons' accuracies in classifying complete fractures were all above 85%. CONCLUSIONS: With clear and unambiguous definition, this new grading system for supracondylar fracture displacement has proved to be sufficiently reliable and accurate when applied by pediatric surgeons in the framework of clinical routine as well as research. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic study, Level II.

The Impact of the Digital Age and Social Media on Connecting the Clubfoot Community.

Background Internet chat rooms played an important role in the late 1990s promoting the Ponseti method as the preferred initial treatment for congenital clubfoot. The social media boom has created multiple new methods for caregivers to seek support from a global community using a variety of platforms that are now easily available. This study assesses the reach of information shared across social media platforms about congenital clubfoot and analyzes topics most commonly discussed among members in these groups. Methodology Posts and pages across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok were evaluated to identify the top clubfoot-related hashtags and accounts. In addition, content themes were analyzed for posts across all platforms. Results There were 122 clubfoot-focused Facebook groups for parent support, and the five Facebook groups with the highest number of posts during the study period were found to frequently discuss the following topics: successful treatment stories, questions about casting, bracing, relapse, and commercial items compatible with clubfoot treatment. Twitter pages contained information about live webinars, educational resources for parents and providers, and the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on clubfoot treatment. A search across visual platforms using "#clubfoot" yielded over 59,000 cumulative posts on Instagram and over 34.7 million total views on TikTok. Conclusions Parents of clubfoot patients are increasingly connecting through digital social media platforms, relying on them for information on clubfoot, and utilizing them as a network for social support. Clubfoot physicians should be aware of this content on social media to promote education and discussion that addresses parent concerns, provides accurate information, and guides expectations.

Arthrodesis of the Foot or Ankle in Adult Patients with Congenital Clubfoot.

Background Although clubfoot that was corrected in childhood rarely recurs in adulthood, persistent deformities or arthritic pain may require further treatment during adulthood. Little evidence exists on the operative procedures utilized in adult clubfoot patients, who were previously treated for congenital clubfoot in childhood, for residual or recurrent deformity or pain. Objective The objective of this study is to characterize the types and frequencies of procedures utilized in adult clubfoot patients, who were previously treated for congenital clubfoot in childhood. Methods A two-pronged approach was employed to describe the operative procedures used in adult clubfoot patients. First, a literature review of all reported cases of operative treatment in adult clubfoot patients who were previously treated in childhood was performed. Second, an analysis of the operative treatments used in adult patients with a diagnosis of congenital clubfoot was conducted using a large, administrative claims database. Results In the literature review, arthrodesis was the most cited operative treatment and reported in four out of the eight studies included. Osteotomies were also reported in the literature. In the database analysis, 94 hindfoot arthrodesis procedures were identified in 73 patients, out of 1,198 adult patients in the database with a diagnosis of congenital clubfoot. Sixty-two patients out of 1,198 adult clubfoot patients received osteotomies. An insufficient number of total ankle arthroplasties were reported for further analysis. Conclusions Operative treatment in adult clubfoot patients who were treated for congenital clubfoot in childhood includes hindfoot arthrodesis and osteotomy procedures. Total ankle arthroplasty has not been reported in the literature for these patients.

Spinal Screening MRI Trends in Patients with Multiple Hereditary Exostoses: National Survey.

Background Multiple hereditary exostoses (MHE) is a rare disease characterized by multiple osteochondromas. Osteochondromas growing into the spinal canal can produce devastating consequences, including permanent neurologic deficits and even death. Routine screening of the entire spinal canal with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a controversial topic lacking a clear consensus or recommendation to guide decision-making. This study presents a case of an intracanal osteochondroma at C1 identified by routine screening and a survey describing current practices of MHE experts. Methods MHE experts were surveyed. Survey questions addressed multiple aspects of care, including the type of practice center, the volume of patients with MHE, and current screening practices. Results A total of 104 experts were contacted, with a total of 26 experts participating in the survey and 23 completing the entire survey. Seventy-two percent of respondents do not perform a routine MRI screen of the spine. For experts that routinely screen, screening is performed across a wide/variable age range (4-18 years). Conclusion Screening protocols for MHE patients to identify osteochondromas within the spinal canal has struggled to reach consensus due to the rarity of the disease. Recent literature provides conflicting advice for patients without neurological symptoms. Our study demonstrates that even experts who are leading the field demonstrate wide practice variability. Most respondents do not routinely perform screening spinal MRI. Due to the wide variability, a national guideline is needed to help guide physician and parental decision-making for patients with MHE. Our case illustrates the potential benefit of identifying an osteochondroma within the spinal canal at a location where further growth could have devastating neurological sequelae.

The AO comprehensive classification of pediatric long-bone fractures: a web-based multicenter agreement study.

The first AO comprehensive pediatric long-bone fracture classification system has been proposed following a structured path of development and validation with experienced pediatric surgeons. A Web-based multicenter agreement study involving 70 surgeons in 15 clinics and 5 countries was conducted to assess the reliability and accuracy of this classification when used by a wide range of surgeons with various levels of experience. Training was provided at each clinic before the session. Using the Internet, participants could log in at any time and classify 275 supracondylar, radius, and tibia fractures at their own pace. The fracture diagnosis was made following the hierarchy of the classification system using both clinical terminology and codes. kappa coefficients for the single-surgeon diagnosis of epiphyseal, metaphyseal, or diaphyseal fracture type were 0.66, 0.80, and 0.91, respectively. Median accuracy estimates for each bone and type were all greater than 80%. Depending on their experience and specialization, surgeons greatly varied in their ability to classify fractures. Pediatric training and at least 2 years of experience were associated with significant improvement in reliability and accuracy. Kappa coefficients for diagnosis of specific child patterns were 0.51, 0.63, and 0.48 for epiphyseal, metaphyseal, and diaphyseal fractures, respectively. Identified reasons for coding discrepancies were related to different understandings of terminology and definitions, as well as poor quality radiographic images. Results supported some minor adjustments in the coding of fracture type and child patterns. This classification system received wide acceptance and support among the surgeons involved. As long as appropriate training could be performed, the system classification was reliable, especially among surgeons with a minimum of 2 years of clinical experience. We encourage broad-based consultation between surgeons' international societies and the use of this classification system in the context of clinical practice as well as prospectively for clinical studies.

Documentation of fracture severity with the AO classification of pediatric long-bone fractures.

BACKGROUND: The AO comprehensive pediatric longbone fracture classification system describes the localization and morphology of fractures, and considers severity in 3 categories: (1) simple, (2) wedge, and (3) complex. We evaluated the reliability and accuracy of surgeons in using this rating system. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a first validation phase, 5 experienced pediatric (orthopedic) surgeons reviewed radiographs of 267 prospectively collected pediatric fractures (agreement study A). In a second study (B), 70 surgeons of various levels of experience in 15 clinics classified 275 fractures via internet. Simple fractures comprised about 90%, 99% and 100% of diaphyseal (D), metaphyseal (M), and epiphyseal (E) fractures, respectively. RESULTS: Kappa coefficients for severity coding in D fractures were 0.82 and 0.51 in studies A and B, respectively. The median accuracy of surgeons in classifying simple fractures was above 97% in both studies but was lower, 85% (46-100), for wedge or complex D fractures. INTERPRETATION: While reliability and accuracy estimates were satisfactory as a whole, the ratings of some individual surgeons were inadequate. Our findings suggest that the classification of fracture severity in children should be done in only two categories that distinguish between simple and wedge/complex fractures.

Volkmann contracture and compartment syndromes after femur fractures in children treated with 90/90 spica casts.

Nine pediatric patients (mean age 3.5 yrs) with low energy femur fractures were treated with 90/90 spica casts and developed leg compartment syndromes, Volkmann contracture, and ankle skin loss. These cases are detailed and a proposed mechanism leading to this devastating complication is explained. The authors believe the technique of an initial below knee cast, and then using that cast for applying traction while immobilizing the child in the 90/90 spica is potentially dangerous. Alternative spica application methods are advocated.