Proximal Femur Guided Growth: A Systematic Review.

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) and those with avascular necosis (AVN) after treatment of developmental hip dysplasia (DDH) are at risk of developing coxa valga. Proximal femur guided growth is a minimally invasive option to correct this deformity. A systematic review of articles that described treatment of coxa valga with proximal femur guided growth (PFGG) and reporting on primary radiographic outcomes, demographic variables, surgical variables and complications. One hundred and seventy-nine hips underwent PFGG (117 with CP and 62 with lateral overgrowth). Average age at surgery was 8.1 years; average follow-up was 52.5 months. Migration percentage improved from 11.2% (p < 0.0001). Neck-shaft angle improved by 11.9° (p < 0.0001). The most common complication was screw growth out of the physis (30% of cases). PFGG can correct coxa valga, improve radiographic parameters, and in children with CP prevent further subluxation. This technique modulates proximal femur growth, induces changes to the acetabulum and can correct valgus deformity. Evidence Level III. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 32(4):049-052, 2024).

Operative Versus Non-operative Treatment of Medial Epicondyle Fractures in Pediatric Athletes: A Systematic Review.

Treatment of medial epicondyle fractures is controversial in pediatric orthopaedics with a recent trend towards operative fixation in overhead athletes. We performed a systematic review to compare outcomes in operative and non-operatively overhead athletes. A systematic review of the literature was performed. Articles investing pediatric athletes with medial epicondyle fractures treated operatively and non-operatively that reported functional and radiographic outcomes were compiled. We identified 6 studies with a total of 99 patients (52 treated operatively and 47 treated non-operatively). We found a significantly higher union rate with operative treatment (100%) compared to non-operative treatment (76%, p = 0.0025), with equivalent return to sport time and rate. Non-operative treatment had a lower complication and repeat surgery rates (p = 0.009). This study demonstrates lower complication rates and equivalent functional outcomes between operative and non-operatively treated medial epicondyle fractures in athletes. Non-operative treatment is a valid option in these patients. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 32(1):009-013, 2023).

Suture Button versus Screw Fixation for Distal Tibiofibular Injury and Expected Value Decision Analysis.

Patient preference for fixation technique of syndesmotic injury in the presence of an ankle fracture is not known. This study followed a five-step process for expected value decision analysis: decision tree, outcome probabilities, expected patient values, foldback analysis, and sensitivity analysis. Outcome variables were "well" (cases that did not require further procedures or suffer any complications related to surgery), surgical site infection (SSI), loss of reduction (LOR), hardware removal (HWR), and malreduction. The systematic review included 22 studies including 358 patients who underwent suture button fixation and 739 who underwent screw fixation. Outcome probabilities for suture button fixation were 76.4% well, 6.2% SSI, 5.4% LOR, 10.4% HWR, and 1.6% malreduction. Outcome probabilities for screw fixation were 47.1% well, 4.3% SSI, 8.1% LOR, 30.7% HWR, and 9.8% malreduction. After the survey and foldback analysis, overall utility values for suture button and screw fixation were 7.46 and 4.78, respectively. One-way sensitivity analysis revealed that the overall utility value for suture button fixation was greater than the utility value of screw fixation under all circumstances except when the rate of malreduction for suture button fixation was theoretically elevated to 85%. Level of evidence: therapeutic, level IV.