Using Virtual Reality to Reduce Anxiety and Improve Hospital Experience in Paediatric Orthopaedic Patients and Their Parents.

The hospital environment can be a stressful environment for paediatric patients and their parents, which is often characterised by heightened levels of pain and anxiety. To address these challenges, many innovative intervention methods has been explored. For example, immersive virtual reality (VR) headsets as a distraction method has become an increasingly popular intervention in recent years. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of VR using 'Rescape DR.VR Junior' in reducing pain, anxiety, and enhancing the overall hospital experience for paediatric orthopaedic patients and their parents. A total of 64 patients aged 4-18 years were included in this study, which utilised a control group (interacting with a play specialist) and a VR intervention group (including pre-operative patients and fracture clinic patients). Anxiety and pain levels were measured using a 10-point Likert scale before and after the intervention, and validated questionnaires were used to assess parental anxiety and overall hospital experience. The results indicated that VR intervention significantly reduced patient and parental anxiety both before surgery and in the fracture clinic setting (p < 0.5). However, no significant reduction in pain scores was observed in either environments. Comparatively, VR intervention was found to be comparable to traditional play methods in terms of reducing anxiety in the pre-operative environment. All patients and parents agreed that the use of VR distraction methods significantly improved their hospital experience. In conclusion, VR is an effective method for reducing child and parental anxiety and enhancing the hospital experience and can be used alone or in conjunction with a play specialist.

Bony hip reconstruction for displaced hips in patients with cerebral palsy: Is postoperative immobilization indicated?

Purpose: Decisions for postoperative immobilization after bony hip reconstructive surgery in cerebral palsy are controversial in current practice. The aim of this study was to check if choosing not to use any kind of postoperative immobilization is a safe practice. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a pediatric orthopedic tertiary referral center. The study included 148 patients (228 hips) with cerebral palsy, who had bony hip surgery. Medical records were reviewed for incidence of complications, methods of pain control, and length of hospital stay. Three radiographic measures (neck-shaft angle, Reimers migration index, and acetabular index) were performed on preoperative and postoperative X-rays. X-rays were also checked for mechanical failure of implant, recurrent dislocation/subluxation, and fractures in the first 6 months postoperatively. Results: In total, 94 (64%) were male and 54 (36%) were female. Seventy-seven (52%) were Gross Motor Function Classification System V, mean age at surgery was 8.6 years (2.5-18.4 years). Length of hospital stay was 6.25 days (SD 4.64 days). Medical complications that may have prolonged hospital stay occurred in 41 patients (27.7%). Radiological measurements showed significant improvement postoperatively (p = 0.001). Seven patients (4.7%) had another surgery in first 6 months (three for recurrent dislocation/subluxation, three for implant failure, and one for ipsilateral femur fracture). Conclusion: Avoiding postoperative immobilization following bony hip surgery in cerebral palsy is a safe practice and associated with reduced rate of medical and mechanical problems compared to the current literature. This approach should be utilized with optimal pain and tone management.

Lower limb alignment correction can improve knee stability in congenital absence of anterior cruciate ligament.

We report the 4-year postoperative outcome of a child with Manner Type I aplasia of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee and severe genu valgum. The child was experiencing pain, reduced mobility, and frequent left knee locking and instability. The patient was successfully treated with hemiepiphysiodesis (guided growth procedure) of the left knee joint to treat genu valgum deformity using 8-plates, resulting in improvement of knee stability. This spared her major ligament reconstruction of the knee to treat the aplastic ACL, and the patient was able to fully participate in physical activities with peers with no symptoms.

Surgical management of pes planus in children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review.

Purpose: Pes planus (or flatfoot) is the most common deformity in children with cerebral palsy. There are several surgical interventions used to treat it: single calcaneal osteotomies, extra-articular arthrodesis, double calcaneal osteotomy, calcaneo-cuboid-cuneiform osteotomy, intra-articular arthrodesis, and arthroereisis. There is currently no evidence on optimal treatment for flatfoot in children with cerebral palsy. Our purpose is to systematically review studies reporting complications, recurrence rates, and radiological outcomes of the surgical management of flatfoot in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: Five databases were searched to identify studies published from inception until July 2021, with keywords relating to flatfoot, cerebral palsy, and surgical interventions. We included prospective, retrospective, and comparative study designs in the English language. Data was extracted and tabulated in duplicate into Excel, and analysis was conducted using Python SciPy. Results: In total, 1220 studies were identified of which 44 met the inclusion criteria, comprising 2234 feet in 1364 patients with a mean age of 10.3 years and mean follow-up of 55.9 months. Radiographic outcomes showed improvement with all procedures; complications and recurrence rates were too poorly reported to compare. Only 6 (14%) studies were assessed as a low risk of bias. There was substantial heterogeneity of outcome measures. Conclusion: There is a lack of high-quality, comparative studies assessing the radiological outcomes, complications, and recurrence rates of surgical alternatives to treat flatfoot in children with cerebral palsy. There is currently no clear evidence on optimal surgical treatment. Level of evidence: IIa based on Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine.

Surgical management of an isolated symptomatic talonavicular coalition: a paediatric perspective.

Talonavicular (TN) coalition is a rare pathological union of the talus and navicular bones. We report the case of a 7-year-old girl with a symptomatic TN coalition, who underwent operative management with a lateral column lengthening procedure using autologous iliac crest bone grafting. There are no complications to report and the graft was incorporated at an early stage. At 3 year follow-up the patient has remained pain-free since the operation and maintained alignment. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of TN coalition treated with reconstructive surgery in a paediatric patient.

Is the Gothic Arch a reliable radiographic landmark for migration percentage in children with cerebral palsy?

INTRODUCTION: Reimers migration percentage (MP) is the gold standard for measuring hip displacement in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Hip surveillance registries proposed using the top of the Gothic arch (GA) as a modification in patients with acetabular dysplasia because the classical method (CM) described by Reimers may underestimate hip migration. The aim of this study is to assess the inter- and intra-observer reliability of the modified method (MM) versus the CM and identify their effect on the MP. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 50 children with CP, who had a hip radiograph at our institution between 1st April 2014 and 28th February 2018. All hip radiographs were carefully selected to show the presence of a GA. Four observers measured the MP using the CM and MM for each patient. Interclass coefficient was used to estimate inter- and intra-observer reliability. RESULTS: Inter-observer reliability was excellent for the CM with ICC 0.96 (95% CI 0.94 to 0.97) and good for the MM, ICC 0.78 (95% CI 0.51 to 0.89) p < 0.001. Intra-observer reliability was excellent for both methods raging from ICC 0.94 to 0.99 for the CM and ICC 0.89 to 0.95 for the MM. The mean MP was 19% for the CM and 28% for the MM (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The CM is more reliable than the MM to measure hip migration in children with CP. If the CM is used and acetabular dysplasia with a GA are present on the hip radiograph, then a 9% hip migration underestimation should be considered on decisions for both referral and surgical management. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

3D ultrasound to quantify lateral hip displacement in children with cerebral palsy: a validation study.

AIM: To assess the validity of a new index, lateral head coverage (LHC), for describing hip dysplasia in a population of children with cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD: LHC is derived from 3D ultrasound assessment. Twenty-two children (15 males, seven females; age 4-15y) with CP undergoing routine hip surveillance were recruited prospectively for the study. Each participant had both a planar radiograph acquired as part of their routine care and a 3D ultrasound assessment within 2 months. Reimer's migration percentage (RMP) and LHC were measured by the same assessor, and the correlation between them calculated using Pearson's correlation coefficient. The repeatability of LHC was investigated with three assessors, analysing each of 10 images three times. Inter- and intra-assessor variation was quantified using intraclass correlation coefficients. RESULTS: LHC was strongly correlated with RMP (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient=-0.86, p<0.001). LHC had similar inter-assessor reliability to that reported for RMP (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.97 and intra-assessor intraclass correlation coefficient=0.98). INTERPRETATION: This is an initial validation of the use of 3D ultrasound in monitoring hip development in children with CP. LHC is comparable with RMP in estimating hip dysplasia with similar levels of reliability that are reported for RMP.

C-reactive protein: what to expect after bony hip surgery for nonambulatory children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.

Bony hip reconstruction surgery in children with severe cerebral palsy is associated with high complication rates, usually postoperative chest and urinary tract infections. C-reactive protein (CRP) level is commonly used as an indication of infection; an understanding of its normal postoperative trends is crucial to allow early identification of abnormal levels and possible infection. Our aim was to describe the trends in CRP following bony hip surgery in children who had an uneventful postoperative course, on the basis that the children for whom CRP does not follow this course are likely to have a bacterial infection. A retrospective review was performed of 155 children with CP having bony hip surgery between 2012 and 2016. The median age was 9.9 years (interquartile range: 6.6-12.7). One hundred (64.5%) patients had a Gross Motor Function Classification System rating of V. All CRP levels measured in routine postoperative care were recorded, and medical records were examined for postoperative infective complications. The CRP levels of patients with clinically proven infections were excluded in order to describe what to expect in the absence of infection. Mean CRP peaked on the third postoperative day at 81 mg/l in those who had no postoperative infection. Twenty-five (16.1%) patients had a postoperative infection; their mean CRP was higher on all postoperative days and peaked at 128 mg/l on the third postoperative day. An understanding of the normal postoperative trends in CRP allows identification of those with abnormally raised levels. Postoperative CRP is consistently higher in children with an infective complication. We recommend that the CRP should be routinely checked following bony hip surgery in children with CP, and a careful search for infection undertaken in those with a raised level.

Adolescent hallux valgus: a systematic review of outcomes following surgery.

PURPOSE: The management of adolescent hallux valgus (AHV) remains controversial, with reservations about both conservative and surgical treatments. Non-operative management has a limited role in preventing progression. Surgical correction of AHV has, amongst other concerns, been associated with a high prevalence of recurrence of deformity after surgery. We conducted a systematic review to assess clinical and radiological outcomes following surgery for AHV. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was performed in the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE, Google Scholar and PubMed. The study was performed in accordance with the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Demographic data, radiographic parameters and results of validated clinical scoring systems were analysed. RESULTS: The published literature on AHV is largely heterogeneous and retrospective. Nine contemporary studies reporting on 140 patients (201 osteotomies) were included. The female to male ratio was 10:1. The mean age at operation was 14.5 years (range 10.5-22). The mean follow-up was 41.6 months (range 12-134). The mean post-operative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was 85.8 (standard deviation, SD ±7.38). The mean AOFAS patient satisfaction showed that 86 % (SD ±11.27) of patients were satisfied or very satisfied with their outcome. On the duPont Bunion Rating Score (BRS), 90 % rated their outcome as good or excellent. There was a statistically significant improvement in the inter-metatarsal angle (IMA, p = 0.0003), hallux valgus angle (HVA, p < 0.0001) and distal metatarsal articular angle (DMAA, p = 0.019). CONCLUSION: Based on the most current published evidence, contemporary surgical interventions for AHV show excellent clinical and radiological outcomes, with high patient satisfaction. The rates of recurrence and other complications are lower than the historically reported figures. There is a need for high-level, multi-centre collaborative studies with prospective data to establish the long-term outcomes and optimal surgical procedure(s).

The prevalence of bifid iliopsoas tendon on MRI in children.

OBJECTIVE: The variation in the anatomy of the iliopsoas tendon is important information for orthopaedic surgeons operating around the hip. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of bifid iliopsoas tendons in children on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: MRI hip and pelvis images of 50 sequential children aged 7-15 years were retrieved from our radiology database at the Evelina London Children's Hospital from 2007 to 2013. Included were 37 children with imaging of both hips and 13 children with imaging of one hip only. Therefore, our study was based on a total of 87 hips. RESULTS: At least 1 bifid tendon was noted in 13 children (26 %). Five children from a total of 37 (14 %) with both hips adequately imaged had bilateral bifid tendons. Among all 87 adequately imaged hips, 18 (21 %) were found to have two discrete distal iliopsoas tendons. CONCLUSIONS: Bifid iliopsoas tendon is noted anecdotally by surgeons but was only reported in scattered case reports and a few anatomical studies until very recently. Our finding is that a bifid iliopsoas tendon with two distinct tendinous components at the level of the hip joint is quite common. This has clinical significance, particularly in children's orthopaedic surgery when an adequate iliopsoas release is important.

Pre-operative patient education reduces length of stay after knee joint arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a pre-operative education programme on length of hospital stay after surgery for primary and revision knee arthroplasty patients. The programme was introduced at our hospital in October 2006 to encourage patients to play an active role in their recovery process after surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multidisciplinary team educated knee arthroplasty patients about their care pathway, knee surgery, pain management, expected discharge goals, in-patient and out-patient arthroplasty rehabilitation. Prospective data were collected from 472 consecutive patients who underwent (primary or revision) knee arthroplasty in the period between January 2006 and November 2007. Patients were separated into two groups, one that received conventional pre-operative treatment (n = 150; Conventional group) and another that received the pre-operative education (n = 322; Education group). Length of hospital stay was compare using the Mann Whitney U test. In-patient complications, hospital re-admissions within 24 h and 3 months of hospital discharge were compared using the chi-squared test. RESULTS: The mean length of stay was significantly reduced from 7 days in the Conventional group to 5 days in the Education group (P < 0.01). In addition, 20% more patients were discharged early (within 1-4 days) in the Education group compared to the Conventional group (P < 0.01). There was no difference in the percentage of in-patient complications and re-admissions in 24 h (P = 1.00) and 3 months of discharge (P = 0.92) between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that pre-operative education is a safe and effective method of reducing length of stay for knee arthroplasty patients.

Preoperative surgical marking: a case of seeing double.

Preoperative marking is an integral part of the care of patients undergoing surgical procedures. It occurs on a daily basis in hospitals and involves all members of the healthcare staff and the patient. Incorrect marking or errors can lead to devastating consequences for the patient and staff involved. We present an unusual case of seeing double arrows on a patient undergoing emergency orthopaedic surgery, despite standard preoperative marking procedures. This was recognised in the anaesthetic room and the correct site was confirmed. We aim to highlight this specific problem and remind all involved in preoperative marking of the dangers of a mirror imprint, thereby avoiding seeing double in the anaesthetic or operating room.

Intraoperative complications using the Bio-Transfix femoral fixation implant in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

The use of biodegradable Transfix femoral fixation technique is a safe and well-accepted method when performing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. We report on three cases of deformation and back out of the Bio-Transfix implant over the lateral, distal femoral cortex, with failure of the passing wire when advancing the graft into the femoral tunnel in one of these patients. Two of the patients presented with symptoms of iliotibial band friction syndrome, while the third patient was asymptomatic. The graft had clinically integrated demonstrating AP and rotational stability. The symptoms relieved after removal of the failed Bio-Transfix implants in the symptomatic patients. The aetiology of the implant failure and the alternative methods to avoid such complications are discussed.

An unusual presentation of a giant tumour-like lesion of the thigh.

Soft tissue swellings of the thigh, which become painful and are gradually increasing in size, should always raise the suspicion of a soft tissue tumour. We report a case of a clinically silent chronic granuloma formation, which presented 45 years later as a giant tumour-like lesion. A metallic foreign body implanted following an injury was found as the source of the tissue reaction. This is the longest period of delay to presentation described in the English literature for the clinical manifestation of a granulomatous reaction.