Suprapatellar pouch effusion is associated with an increased risk of neglected osteochondral fractures in primary acute traumatic patellar dislocation: a consecutive series of 113 children.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors of neglected osteochondral fractures in primary acute traumatic patellar dislocation in the pediatric population. METHODS: A total of 113 patients with primary acute traumatic patellar dislocation for whom coincident osteochondral fractures could not be confirmed by X-ray examination at initial diagnosis between January 2010 and February 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Medical history, physical examination, and radiographic images were recorded in detail. The greatest dimension of the suprapatellar pouch (SP) effusion on radiograph was measured. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were used to confirm the presence of neglected osteochondral fractures and measure the fragment size. Potential risk factors were calculated and correlated with reference to the neglected osteochondral fractures and fragment size using multivariate linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Weight, walking ability, effusion grade, and SP measurement had a significant correlation with neglected osteochondral fractures in primary acute traumatic patellar dislocation (p = 0.046; p < 0.001; p = 0.048; p < 0.001). The cutoff point was 53.5 kg for weight and 18.45 mm for SP measurement. In the neglected fractures group, SP measurement was statistically significant with larger fragment size (beta value = 0.457; p < 0.001), and the cutoff point was 26.2 mm. CONCLUSIONS: SP effusion is not only associated with an increased risk of neglected osteochondral fractures in primary acute traumatic patellar dislocation but also with larger fragment size. Knee radiograph, medical history, and physical examination can predict the need for further imaging examination and even surgery in primary acute traumatic patellar dislocation.

Modified Smith-Petersen approach with rectus-sparing reduces severe avascular necrosis for developmental dysplasia of the hip at walking age: minimum 5-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is one of the most common orthopedic malformations in children. Open reduction for DDH at walking age remains a major concern. The goal of this study is to evaluate the mid-term effect of a modified Smith-Petersen approach which preserves the rectus femoris on DDH at walking age, in particular avascular necrosis (AVN). METHODS: A retrospective review of DDH patients aged between 12 and 24 months was carried out between January 2010 and June 2016. Open reduction through the Smith-Petersen approach (Group A) and modified Smith-Petersen approach, which preserves the rectus femoris (Group B), were both used. Measurement of hip geometry included acetabular index, the International Hip Dysplasia Institute classification, and AVN degree. Clinical records included operation time, bleeding volume, and abduction angle. RESULTS: There were 101 children (119 hips) with DDH who met the inclusion criteria. There were 66 hips in Group A and 53 in Group B. The mean surgical age at open reduction was 17.0 ± 2.4 months, with a mean 104.9 ± 19.5 months at last follow-up. There was no statistical difference in surgical age between the two groups (17.2 vs. 16.4 months). There was no significant difference in the incidence of all types of clinically significant AVN between group A and group B (27.3 vs. 18.9%), but the incidence of severe AVN was lower in group B (19.7 vs. 5.7%, P = 0.026). In addition, the lower the age at the time of open reduction, the lower the severity of AVN (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: These mid-term data suggest that the modified Smith-Petersen approach with rectus-sparing could reduce severe AVN more than the classical Smith-Peterson approach in open reduction in DDH at walking age. In addition, early open reduction can reduce the postoperative degree of AVN.

Hip morphology in mucopolysaccharidosis type IVA through radiograph, magnetic resonance imaging and arthrogram assessment.

PURPOSE: This study examined the hip morphology of paediatric patients with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) type IVA (MPS IVA). METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of 42 hips in 21 children with MPS IVA. Pelvic radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 42 hips and arthrograms of 13 hips were analysed. The bony, cartilaginous and labral coverage of the acetabulum was determined by acetabular index (AI), centre edge angle (CEA) and femoral head coverage (FHC). RESULTS: The mean age at the time of radiography was 66.3 ± 21.7 months. The bony, cartilaginous and labral AI in the MRI assessment were 36.3 ± 5.3, 18.3 ± 4.7 and 12.1 ± 4.6 degrees, respectively. The inter-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) for the bony AI, CEA and FHC measurements on radiographs and MRI were 0.936, 0.879 and 0.810, respectively. In the MRI assessment, labrum in 12 of 42 hips appeared as a regular triangle, and it was flat on 30/42 hips. The average arthrographic AI (AAI) was 11.1 ± 2.7 degrees. The ICCs value of AAI versus cartilaginous and labral AI on MRI indicates good agreement but higher in labral AI. CONCLUSION: Hips in MPS IVA exhibited obvious cartilage and labrum compensation in response to abnormal ossification of bony acetabulum. Cartilage in MPS IVA hip increases the thickness in the longitudinal direction, while the labrum becomes flatten in the horizontal direction. The AAI may represent intraoperative labrum coverage. The femora-acetabular harmony is difficult to determine using radiography only, and pre-operative MRI and an intraoperative arthrogram are very important in a hip assessment in MPS IVA.

Early open reduction of dislocated hips using a modified Smith-Petersen approach in arthrogyposis multiplex congenita.

BACKGROUND: Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) is a rare syndrome with multiple joint contractures. Within the medical community, there is controversy surrounding AMC in terms of the ideal surgical approach and age for performing a reduction of dislocated hips. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of early open reduction of infant hip dislocation with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita following a modified Smith-Petersen approach that preserves the rectus femoris. METHODS: From 2010 to 2017, we performed this procedure on 28 dislocated hips in 20 infants under 12 months of age with AMC. The clinical and radiology data were reviewed retrospectively. The mean age at surgery was 6.9 ± 5.1 months, with a mean follow-up of 42.4 ± 41.1 months. RESULTS: After open reduction, the average hip acetabular index (AI), the international hip dysplasia institute classification (IHDI), and the hip range of motion significantly improved (all P < 0.001). After the surgery, 16 patients were community walkers, and four patients were home walkers. Three hips in two patients required secondary revision surgery for residual acetabular dysplasia with combined pelvic osteotomy and femoral osteotomy. Seven of the hips that had been operated on showed signs of avascular necrosis (AVN). Among them, four were degree II, two were degree III, and one was degree IV. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that greater age (in months) heightened the risk for secondary revision surgery (P = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: The modified Smith-Petersen approach preserving the rectus femoris is an encouraging and safe option for treating hip dislocation in young AMC patients (before 12 months). If surgery takes place at less than 12 months of age for patients with AMC, this earlier open reduction for hip dislocation may reduce the chances of secondary revision surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, retrospective non-randomized study.

Titanium elastic nailing versus locking compression plating in school-aged pediatric subtrochanteric femur fractures.

The treatment of children between 5 and 12 years of age suffering from subtrochanteric femoral fracture is challenging. The optimal choice of internal fixation for these patients is controversial. The purpose of this study is to compare the outcomes and complications of titanium elastic nail and open reduction with plate fixation of subtrochanteric femur fractures in school-aged children.A total of 67 children aged 5 to 12 years with subtrochanteric femur fractures treated with titanium elastic nails or open plating were identified at our institution from January 2007 to December 2017. We retrospectively compared 39 children treated with titanium elastic nails with 28 children treated with open reduction and plate fixation. The data included age, sex, body weight, fracture pattern, operation time, blood loss, and length of hospitalization. The follow-up investigations included radiograph of pelvis, bilateral hip range of motion, bilateral femoral neck shaft angle, and length of lower extremity. The outcomes were classified according to Flynn classification as excellent, satisfactory, or poor. All the demographic characteristics were compared with statistical analyses.All 67 fractures united properly. No major postoperative complications were noted in both groups. No significant difference was found between the titanium elastic nail and open plating groups in terms of sex, fracture pattern, and length of hospitalization. We noted a significant difference between 2 groups in terms of age, weight, operation time, and blood loss. In total, we observed 24 excellent and 15 satisfactory results in the titanium elastic nail group, and 19 excellent results and 9 satisfactory results in the open plating group. There was no significant statistical difference between involved and uninvolved side of hip regarding range of motion and femoral neck shaft angle in both groups.Titanium elastic nail and pediatric hip plate fixation represent safe and effective methods in the treatment of subtrochanteric fractures in school-aged children. Titanium elastic nail internal fixation is a minimal invasive and simpler technique and suitable for young children of lower body weight. Open plate fixation is a more rigid fixation associated with a lower complication rate.

Exome sequencing reveals a novel nonsense mutation of GLI3 in a Chinese family with 'non-syndromic' pre-axial polydactyly.

Polydactyly is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorder. In the current report, we present a five-generation Chinese family with non-syndromic pre-axial polydactyly with thumb polydactyly (pre-axial polydactyly type I (PPD-I)) as a major clinical feature. Using whole-exome sequencing (WES), a novel nonsense mutation c.714T>A (p.Y238*) of the glioma-associated oncogene family zinc-finger 3 gene (GLI3) was identified as the pathogenic mutation for this family. Our study has, for the first time, suggested the possible contribution of GLI3 in the patheogenesis of PPD-I, and demonstrated that WES provided an applicable diagnostic tool for identifying mutations in disorders with highly genetical heterogeneity such as polydactyly.