Development of Consensus-Based Best Practice Guidelines for the Peri- and Post-operative Care of Pediatric Patients with Spinal Deformity and Programmable Implanted Devices.

STUDY DESIGN: Modified Delphi consensus study. OBJECTIVE: To develop consensus-based best practices for the care of pediatric patients who have implanted programmable devices (IPDs) and require spinal deformity surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Implanted programmable devices (IPDs) are often present in patients with neuromuscular or syndromic scoliosis who require spine surgery. Guidelines for monitoring and interrogating these devices during the peri-operative period are not available. METHODS: A panel was assembled consisting of 25 experts (i.e., spinal deformity surgeons, neurosurgeons, neuro-electrophysiologists, cardiologists, and otolaryngologists). Initial postulates were based on literature review and results from a prior survey. Postulates addressed the following IPDs: vagal nerve stimulators (VNS), programmable ventriculo-peritoneal shunts (VPS), intrathecal baclofen pumps (ITBP), cardiac pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD), deep brain stimulators (DBS), and cochlear implants. Cardiologist and otolaryngologists participants responded only to postulates on cardiac pacemakers or cochlear implants, respectively. Consensus was defined as ≥80% agreement, items that did not reach consensus were revised and included in subsequent rounds. A total of three survey rounds and one virtual meeting were conducted. RESULTS: Consensus was reached on 39 total postulates across six IPD types. Postulates addressed general spine surgery considerations, use of intraoperative monitoring and cautery, use of magnetically-controlled growing rods (MCGRs), and use of an external remote controller to lengthen MCGRs. Across IPD types, consensus for the final postulates ranged from 94.4-100%. Overall, experts agreed that MCGRs can be surgically inserted and lengthened in patients with a variety of IPDs and provided guidance for the use of intraoperative monitoring and cautery, which varied between IPD types. CONCLUSION: Spinal deformity correction surgery often benefits from the use of intraoperative monitoring, monopolar and bipolar cautery, and MCGRs. Final postulates from this study can inform the peri- and post-operative practices of spinal deformity surgeons who treat patients with both scoliosis and IPDs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V- Expert opinion.

Elective musculoskeletal surgery is associated with postoperative weight changes in pediatric and adolescent patients.

Purpose: Patients of elective orthopedic surgeries often reduce activity levels during postoperative recovery. It is unclear whether these extended periods of modified activities lead to weight changes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in body mass index percentile in pediatric patients over 2.5 years following primary musculoskeletal surgeries. Methods: Institutional records for utilized current procedural terminology codes were used to identify patients aged 21 years or younger who underwent elective surgery at a single pediatric orthopedic institution between October 2016 and December 2018. Non-primary surgeries and patients without preoperative body mass index measurements were excluded. Demographic characteristics, height, weight, and body mass index within 30 months of surgery were collected. Body mass index relative to age was calculated. Analysis of body mass index changes at follow-up intervals of 3-7, 9-18, and 24-30 months after surgery was performed for the overall sample, within surgical categories, and within preoperative weight classifications. Results: A total of 1566 patients (53.1% female, average age 12.4 years) were included. Over one-third of patients were overweight or obese at presentation. The average change in body mass index percentile relative to baseline was increased at all follow-up intervals. Values reached significance at 9-18 months (p = .002) and 24-30 months (p = .001). While underweight and normal-weight patients had increased body mass index at all three timepoints, overweight or obese patients decreased. Conclusions: Patients undergoing elective orthopedic procedures may experience significant changes in body mass index percentile postoperatively. At extremes of weight, patients experience improvement toward the mean, but most patients may undergo body mass index increases beyond what would be expected during normal growth. Level of evidence: Retrospective level III.

Do Children With Medicaid Insurance Have Increased Revision Rates 5 Years After Posterior Spinal Fusions?

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic disparities in musculoskeletal care are increasingly recognized, however, no studies to date have investigated the role of the insurance carrier on outcomes after posterior spinal fusion (PSF) with segmental spinal instrumentation for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). METHODS: A US insurance dataset was queried using the PearlDiver Mariner software for all patients aged 10 to 18 undergoing PSF for a primary diagnosis of AIS between 2010 and 2020. Age, sex, geographic region, number of levels fused, and baseline medical comorbidities were queried. Complications occurring within 90 days of the index surgery were queried using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) and International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes. Revision surgery was also queried up to 5 years after the index PSF. Categorical variables were compared using the Fisher χ 2 tests and continuous variables were compared using independent t tests. All-cause revision within 5 years was compared using the Kaplan-Meier analysis and a log-rank test. Significance was set at P -value <0.05. RESULTS: A total of 10,794 patients were identified with 9006 (83.4%) patients with private insurance and 1788 (16.6%) patients insured by Medicaid. The mean follow-up in the database was 5.36±3 years for patients with private insurance and 4.78±2.9 years for patients with Medicaid insurance ( P <0.001). Children with AIS and Medicaid insurance had a significantly higher prevalence of asthma, hypertension, and obesity. A larger percentage of children with Medicaid insurance (41.3%) underwent a ≥13-level PSF compared with privately insured children (34.5%) ( P <0.001). Medicaid patients did not experience higher odds of postoperative complications; in addition, revision surgeries occurred in 1.1% and 1.8% of patients with private insurance and Medicaid insurance, respectively at 5 years postoperatively ( P =0.223). CONCLUSION: Despite worse baseline comorbidities and longer fusion constructs, AIS patients insured with Medicaid did not have higher rates of complications or revisions at 5-year follow-up versus privately insured patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-retrospective cohort study.

Angelman and Prader-Willi Syndromes: Sister Imprinting Disorders With High Complication Rates Following Spinal Deformity Surgery.

We sought to examine the modern surgical treatment of spinal deformity associated with sister imprinting disorders, Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and Angelman syndrome (AS), with emphasis on the specific complications encountered in these patient populations. Fifteen patients with PWS and 5 patients with AS who underwent surgical intervention for spinal deformity between 2000 and 2018 were identified. Postoperative complications were classified using the modified Clavien-Dindo-Sink (CDS) system and further categorized into specific subtypes including excessive drainage, dehiscence, implant failure, infection, and delayed wound healing. Perioperative and final follow-up radiographic data were analyzed. Mean age at surgery was 12.9 years (range, 4-21 years) with mean follow-up of 46.1 months (range, 1-145 months). There were postoperative complications in 17 patients (85%). Ten major complications (CDS ≥ 3) occurred in 9 patients (45%). These included 5 infections requiring reoperation, 1 seroma requiring drainage, 2 severe cervical-thoracic deformities requiring reoperation, 1 implant failure requiring reoperation, and 1 death secondary to fungal sepsis and thromboembolic disease. Eight additional patients (40%) had minor complications (CDS 1 or 2). Eight intraoperative complications occurred in 5 patients (25%), including loss of neuromonitoring signals and cerebrospinal fluid leaks. Surgical intervention for scoliosis in PWS and AS continues to have high complication rates secondary to medical and behavioral comorbidities found in these patient populations. The exact etiology of the high complication rates encountered cannot be definitively stated, but both syndromes frequently present with a number of unique features that may predispose patients to develop surgical complications. [Orthopedics. 2023;46(4):e223-e229.].

The evolving stall rate of magnetically controlled growing rods beyond 2 years follow-up.

PURPOSE: Magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR) have become the dominant distraction-based implant for the treatment of early onset scoliosis (EOS). Recent studies, however, have demonstrated rising rates of implant failure beyond short-term follow-up. We sought to evaluate a single-center experience with MCGR for the treatment of EOS to define the rate of MCGR failure to lengthen, termed implant stall, over time. METHODS: A single-center, retrospective review was conducted identifying children with EOS undergoing primary MCGR implantation. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of implant stalling, defined as a failure of the MCGR to lengthen on three consecutive attempted lengthening sessions with minimum of 2 years follow-up. Clinical and radiographic variables were collected and compared between lengthening and stalled MCGRs. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was conducted to assess implant stalling over time. RESULTS: A total of 48 children met inclusion criteria (mean age 6.3 ± 1.8 years, 64.6% female). After a mean 56.9 months (range of 27 to 90 months) follow-up, 25 (48%) of children experienced implant stalling at a mean of 26.0 ± 14.1 months post-implantation. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that only 50% of MCGR continue to successfully lengthen at 2 years post-implantation, decreasing to < 20% at 4 years post-implantation. CONCLUSION: Only 50% of MCGR continue to successfully lengthen 2 years post-implantation, dropping dramatically to < 20% at 4 years, adding to the available knowledge regarding the long-term viability and cost-effectiveness of MCGR in the management of EOS. Further research is needed to validate these findings.

Pain Catastrophizing Influences Preoperative and Postoperative Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) often report chronic back pain; however, there is inadequate research on psychological factors associated with pain in this patient population. Pain catastrophizing, a psychological factor that describes a pattern of negative thoughts and feelings about pain, has been associated with poorer responses to medical treatment for pain. The purpose of this study was to report the prevalence of pain catastrophizing in the AIS population and assess its relationship with preoperative and postoperative self-reported outcomes. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study of consecutive patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion (PSF) for AIS, patients experiencing clinically relevant pain catastrophizing, defined as a Pain Catastrophizing Scale for Children (PCS) score in the 75th percentile or higher, were compared with patients with normal PCS scores. Preoperative and 2-year postoperative Scoliosis Research Society Society Questionnaire-30 (SRS-30) scores were correlated with the preoperative PCS score. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-nine patients underwent PSF for AIS, and 20 (10.6%) were considered to be experiencing pain catastrophizing. Despite comparable demographic and radiographic variables, pain catastrophizing was associated with significantly lower preoperative scores than were found in the normal-PCS group in all SRS-30 domains, including pain (2.98 versus 3.95; p < 0.001), appearance (2.98 versus 3.48; p < 0.001), activity (3.51 versus 4.06; p < 0.001), mental health (3.12 versus 4.01; p < 0.001), and total score (3.18 versus 3.84; p < 0.001), except satisfaction (3.72 versus 3.69; p > 0.999). At 2 years, the pain catastrophizing group experienced significant improvement from their preoperative scores in most SRS-30 domains, including a large clinically relevant improvement in pain (from 2.98 preoperatively to 3.84 postoperatively; p < 0.001) and the total score (from 3.18 to 3.85; p < 0.001), but continued to have lower scores than the normal-PCS group for pain (3.84 versus 4.22; p = 0.028) and the total score (3.85 versus 4.15; p = 0.038). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that an SRS-30 pain score of <3.5 has good sensitivity for predicting pain catastrophizing (PCS ≥75th percentile). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, patients with AIS who exhibited pain catastrophizing experienced significant improvement in self-reported health 2 years after PSF. However, they did not have the same levels of self-reported health as the normal-PCS group. Pain catastrophizing may be identifiable by lower preoperative SRS-30 pain scores. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level II . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Concurrent Syndromic Diagnosis in Presumed Idiopathic Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip.

BACKGROUND: Infants referred for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) may have a previously unidentified concomitant diagnosis of syndromic pathology. Our purpose was to examine the incidence of syndromic pathology in infants referred to a tertiary center with presumed idiopathic DDH and identify risk factors and difference in treatment courses between idiopathic and nonidiopathic cohorts. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort of infants younger than 3 years who were evaluated for DDH between 2008 and 2013 with a minimum 2-year follow-up. The clinical history and treatment were noted to determine the incidence and nature of concomitant syndromic diagnoses, after a confirmed diagnosis of DDH. RESULTS: There were 202 patients: 177 were females (87.6%). Thirteen patients (6.4%) were later diagnosed with a neurologic/syndromic diagnosis. The workup leading to additional diagnosis was initiated by the orthopaedic surgeon in 8 of 13 patients (61.5%). Half of the referrals (4 of 8) made to other specialists were because of an abnormal treatment course (three-failure of typical DDH treatment and one-relapsed clubfeet). 7 of the 8 referrals were made because of developmental delays and decreased tone. 5 of the 13 nonidiopathic patients had other orthopaedic problems. The syndromic diagnoses included three cerebral palsy, two Kabuki syndrome, one Down syndrome, one myopathy, and one neuropathy. The diagnosis was made at an average of 2.3 years (0.04 to 4.7). No notable difference was observed in the incidence of the four known risk factors for DDH in syndromic patients compared with the idiopathic group. The syndromic patients required more open reductions (P = 0.002). DISCUSSION: By the age of 3 years, 6% of the patients treated for DDH were found to have a syndrome or neurologic abnormality, and the referral for workup was made by the treating surgeon greater than 60% of the time.

Low BMI (< 10th percentile) increases complications and readmissions after posterior spinal fusion in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

PURPOSE: While obesity has been shown to predict negative outcomes following PSF in AIS patients, less is known about the effects of low BMI. We sought to elucidate the impact of low BMI on 30-day outcomes in this population. METHODS: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients undergoing PSF were identified using the 2015-17 ACS-NSQIP-Pediatric database. Patients were placed in underweight (UW, < 10th percentile) and normal weight (NW 10-90th percentile) cohorts based off CDC BMI-to-age growth charts. Demographics, comorbidities, intra-, and postoperative factors were compared via univariate analysis with Benjamini-Hochberg adjustment. Multivariable logistic regression models were generated to assess UW status as a predictor of complications. RESULTS: Two thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine AIS patients undergoing PSF (NW = 2517, UW = 282) were identified. UW patients were older (15.6 vs. 14.7 years), less female dominant (62.4% vs. 79.5%), and had more pulmonary (2.5% vs. 0.4%) and minor cardiac comorbidities (6% vs. 1.7%) compared to NW patients (p < 0.001). UW patients had a greater percentage blood loss (6.7% vs. 5.3% of total blood volume, p < 0.001) and higher complication (3.9% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.008), pneumonia (1.4% vs. 0.1%, p = 0.006), and readmission (3.5% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.001) rates compared to NW patients. UW status was a predictor of ≥ 15% blood volume loss (adjusted OR = 2.65; 95% CI = 1.76-3.97; p < 0.001), pneumonia (aOR = 6.57; 95% CI = 1.80-24.00; p = 0.004), and hospital readmission (aOR = 2.47; 95% CI = 1.02-6.01; p = 0.046). CONCLUSION: There is a higher occurrence of complications in UW AIS patients undergoing PSF. Low BMI is an independent predictor of ≥ 15% blood loss, pneumonia, and readmissions. Like their overweight counterparts, underweight AIS patients have an increased postoperative risk for negative complications.

Growth-friendly surgery results in more growth but a higher complication rate and unplanned returns to the operating room compared to single fusion in neuromuscular early-onset scoliosis: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: Compare radiographic outcomes, complications, and QoL in neuromuscular early-onset scoliosis (EOS) patients treated with single posterior spinal fusion (PSF) versus growth-friendly surgery and definitive fusion (GFDF). METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study, children with neuromuscular EOS, age 8-11 years at index surgery with PSF or GF devices, with minimum 2-year follow-up after final fusion were identified from a multicenter database. RESULTS: 16 PSF and 43 GFDF patients were analyzed. Demographics were similar except PSF patients were older at index surgery and had shorter follow-up. PSF patients had greater percentage major curve correction (62% vs 38%, p = 0.001) and smaller major curve at final follow-up (23° vs 40°, p = 0.005). The GFDF group underwent over five times more surgeries (8.7 vs 1.6, p = 0.0001). Four PSF patients (25%) experienced ten complications, resulting in five unplanned returns to the operating room (UPROR) in three patients (19%). 36 GFDF patients (84%) experienced 83 complications, resulting in 45 UPRORs in 24 patients (56%). Poisson regression adjusted for age showed that the GFDF group had more complications (p = 0.001) and UPRORs (p = 0.01). Although the GFDF patients had smaller preoperative T1-T12 and T1-S1 lengths, these were similar to the PSF patients at final follow-up, indicating that the GFDF patients had greater spinal growth. PSF patients had better postoperative EOSQ-24 Financial Impact and Family Burden scores. CONCLUSION: While there was a difference in age at index surgery, PSF may be more effective than GFDF at controlling neuromuscular EOS. GFDF patients achieved more spinal growth but eight times more complications and nine times more UPRORs.

Effect of Etiology, Radiographic Severity, and Comorbidities on Baseline Parent-Reported Health Measures for Children with Early-Onset Scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: The Classification of Early-Onset Scoliosis (C-EOS) allows providers to differentiate patients, for clinical and research purposes, on the basis of the etiology of their disease as well as radiographic parameters. The Early Onset Scoliosis Questionnaire (EOSQ) is the first disease-specific, parent-reported HRQOL (health-related quality-of-life) outcome measure for this condition. We sought to determine the influence of the C-EOS etiology designation, radiographic parameters, and medical comorbidities on EOSQ scores to differentiate quality of life in this heterogeneous patient population. We hypothesized that baseline EOSQ scores for patients with EOS would be strongly affected by the C-EOS etiology designation. METHODS: The analysis included prospectively enrolled patients with EOSQ scores recorded in a multicenter EOS database prior to intervention for the EOS. EOSQ scores were compared across C-EOS etiologies, severity of disease based on radiographic measurements, and patient comorbidities prior to scoliosis intervention. RESULTS: Six hundred and ten patients with EOS were available for analysis; 119 had congenital, 201 had idiopathic, 156 had neuromuscular, and 134 had syndromic EOS. In multivariate analysis, neuromuscular and syndromic etiologies were associated with lower scores than congenital and idiopathic etiologies in many EOSQ domains including general health, transfer, daily living, fatigue/energy level, and emotion. Patients with neuromuscular EOS had the lowest EOSQ scores in general. Congenital and idiopathic EOS did not differ from each other in any EOSQ domain. Coronal Cobb and kyphosis angles had significant inverse but generally weak correlations with EOSQ domains. Individual medical comorbidities had a minor effect on certain domains while American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class and total number of comorbidities had inverse correlations with most domains. CONCLUSIONS: The underlying etiology of EOS appears to have a significant influence on the parent-reported HRQOL outcomes of the disease. Specifically, syndromic and neuromuscular C-EOS diagnoses are associated with lower EOSQ scores before treatment compared with congenital and idiopathic diagnoses. Radiographic measurements of severity have a relatively small influence on EOSQ scores. These baseline differences in C-EOS-designated etiology should be accounted for in studies comparing outcomes of treatment for this heterogeneous patient population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Scoliosis Progression After the Nuss Procedure for Pectus Excavatum: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Pectus excavatum and scoliosis are associated conditions with a high rate of coincidence. However, there are no reports to guide surgeons on the management of adolescents with moderate scoliosis and pectus excavatum, because there are conflicting conclusions in the literature regarding how the Nuss procedure with substernal bar affects scoliosis. CASES: In 2017, we encountered two patients with moderate scoliosis treated with a spinal orthosis. After undergoing the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum, their scoliosis acutely progressed into surgical magnitude requiring posterior instrumented spinal fusion. The first patient progressed 26° despite the pre-Nuss radiographs showing him to be Risser 4/5, while the second patient also progressed 26° from the Nuss procedure. Both patients acknowledged noncompliance with brace wear because of discomfort after the Nuss procedure. However, their progression rate still doubles the rate of reported rapid accelerators, indicating that a significant component of curve progression is directly attributed to forces on the spine from the corrective maneuver with substernal bar. CONCLUSION: The purpose of this case report is to describe the features of these two patients to help with clinical decision-making in patients with moderate scoliosis (curves >25°) who are contemplating the Nuss procedure for correction of pectus excavatum. We caution patients and providers that spinal deformity could worsen with surgical intervention of the pectus excavatum via the Nuss procedure and necessitate scoliosis surgery.

Minimally Displaced Humeral Lateral Condyle Fractures: Immobilize or Operate When Stability Is Unclear?

BACKGROUND: Either casting or in situ fixation (to prevent displacement) are recommended for minimally displaced pediatric lateral condyle fractures of indeterminate stability with ≤2 mm lateral displacement and narrowed fracture extension to the epiphyseal articular cartilage. This study compares casting only, acute prophylactic in situ pinning, and surgery if casting fails due to displacement. METHODS: In total, 738 fractures at a level 1 trauma center between 2008 and 2014 were reviewed. All fractures were assigned a Song classification and Song 2 fractures followed to union were analyzed. Worsening displacement was defined as an increase in Song stage. Patients were grouped per treatment: (1) cast only; (2) in situ pinning; or (3) closed or open reduction percutaneous pinning after displacement during attempted cast treatment. RESULTS: In total, 139 fractures were included and 45 (32%) underwent surgery. Among 114 fractures intended for casting, only 20 (18%) displaced and needed surgery. This implies 82% of fractures prophylactically pinned in situ may have remained stable in a cast. On average, displaced fractures were noted 6.5 (2 to 13) days after presentation and required 1 extra clinic visit and week of immobilization without increased complications. Surgeons chose open reduction percutaneous pinning more often for displaced fractures. CONCLUSIONS: Our data estimate 82% of Song 2 fractures never meaningfully displace in a cast. Meaningful displacements occur in <2 weeks. Benefits of prophylactic pinning include 1 less x-ray and clinic visit in exchange for a clinically insignificant lateral cortex reduction and inherent surgical risks. Compliance, surgical scheduling, and a higher rate of open reduction after displacement should influence early treatment decisions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Complications Associated With Epiphysiodesis for Management of Leg Length Discrepancy.

BACKGROUND: Epiphysiodesis is well-established surgical treatment for the management of leg length discrepancy (LLD) in children; however, a variety of complications may occur. This study evaluates the nature, rate, and potential risk factors of complications associated with epiphysiodesis in a large patient population treated in 1 institution. METHODS: We evaluated the medical and radiographic records of 863 children who had lower extremity epiphysiodesis to manage LLD between 1980 and 2011. RESULTS: Sixty patients (7.0%) incurred complications of some type. Twenty-three patients (2.7%) had perioperative complications unrelated to physeal growth; all resolved without surgical treatment. These included 2 patients with transient intraoperative complications (laryngospasm and allergic rash), 7 with transient neurological symptoms (5 cutaneous nerve dysesthesia or numbness and 2 peroneal nerve neuropathies), and 14 with postoperative knee stiffness which resolved with therapy. Thirty-seven patients (4.3%) developed physeal growth-related complications, including 6 patients who developed overcorrection of leg length inequality (3 had contralateral epiphysiodesis to prevent overcorrection, while 3 declined), and 31 patients who developed angular deformity and/or continued growth of the physis. Of these 31 patients, 15 had reexploration of the epiphysiodesis site, 6 underwent corrective osteotomy, while in 10, no treatment was undertaken. Compared with patients who did not develop angular deformity, these 31 patients had significantly greater LLD (5.6 vs. 3.7 cm, respectively, P<0.01), were younger (10.7 vs. 11.7 in girls; 12.4 vs. 13.5 in boys; P<0.01), and were more likely to have a congenital etiology for their LLD (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Epiphysiodesis is a safe and effective procedure for the correction of leg length inequality. The rate of complications in this study was 7.0%, the most prevalent being the development of angular deformity. Congenital etiology, younger age, and larger limb length inequalities were risk factors for the development of angular deformity. Both surgeons and families should be aware of nature and rate of complications associated with epiphysiodesis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Soft Tissue Injury Severity is Associated With Neurovascular Injury in Pediatric Supracondylar Humerus Fractures.

BACKGROUND: Neurovascular injury in pediatric supracondylar fractures (SCHFx) has been associated with fracture classification but not with soft tissue injury. The purpose of this study is to correlate clinical soft tissue damage to neurovascular injuries in SCHFx. METHODS: This is an institutional review board approved prospective study from January 2010 through December 2013 of 748 operatively treated pediatric SCHFx. Prospective data were gathered both preoperatively and intraoperatively regarding detailed neurovascular examination as well as soft tissue status, with qualitative descriptives for swelling (mild/moderate/severe), ecchymosis, abrasions, skin tenting, and skin puckering. RESULTS: A total of 7.8% of patients (41/526) had a nonpalpable radial pulse preoperatively. Compared with those with a palpable pulse, a nonpalpable pulse was associated with severe elbow swelling (P<0.0001), tenting (P=0.0085), puckering (P=0.0011), ecchymoses (P<0.0001), and open fracture (P=0.044). Ten patients had a loss of a palpable pulse from initial orthopaedic consult to time of surgery, and when compared with the patients who did not have a loss of pulse, this was associated with swelling severity (P=0.0001) and ecchymosis (P=0.053). A total of 14% of patients (71/526) had a neurological injury preoperatively, and this was associated with severe elbow swelling (P<0.0001), tenting (P=0.0008), puckering (P=0.0077), and ecchymoses (P<0.0001) when compared with patients who did not have a neurological injury. In total, 17 patients had a decline in their neurological examination from the time of initial orthopaedic consult to the time of surgery, and this was associated with severe elbow swelling (P=0.0054) and ecchymoses (P=0.011). After multivariate logistic regression analysis, severe swelling and ecchymoses were significantly associated with a nonpalpable pulse as well as neurological injury (P<0.05). No patient had compartment syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Soft tissue injury, as measured by swelling, ecchymosis, puckering, and tenting, had a clinically significant association with neurovascular compromise in pediatric SCHFx, and assessment of soft tissue injury is as important as the radiographic appearance when examining these patients. The physical examination signs of soft tissue injury may play a factor in determining urgency of surgical treatment in these fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II-therapeutic.

A New Radiographic Classification System for Developmental Hip Dysplasia is Reliable and Predictive of Successful Closed Reduction and Late Pelvic Osteotomy.

BACKGROUND: The Tonnis radiographic classification of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) has been used as a prognostic indicator for patients with walking-age DDH. The International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI) classification, a new radiographic classification system, has been proposed to be more reliable by its creators. We sought to validate its reliability using independent observers, to compare it to the Tonnis method, and to assess its prognostic significance in a large cohort of patients. METHODS: A consecutive series of walking-age DDH patients were examined radiographically and classified by the Tonnis and IHDI schemes by 3 independent observers. Interobserver agreement was determined using the Kappa method. Clinical data were collected on patients with regard to success of closed reduction, need for later pelvic osteotomy, and presence of subsequent radiographic avascular necrosis (AVN). The prognostic value of the Tonnis and IHDI classifications to predict these clinical outcomes was determined. RESULTS: A total of 287 hips were available for analysis of the classification schemes. In total, 235 hips underwent attempted closed reduction and were eligible for analysis of successful closed reduction, and 131 hips had >4-year follow-up and were utilized for analysis of late pelvic osteotomy and AVN. Both classifications showed excellent interobserver reliability and in general, there was nonstatistically significant better reliability for the IHDI versus the Tonnis classification. In multivariate analysis, both IHDI and Tonnis classifications were found to be predictive of successful closed reduction and need for late pelvic osteotomy. Both methods showed trends toward being predictive of AVN rate, without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The IHDI classification is subjectively more facile to use and has excellent interrelater agreement for classifying the radiographic severity of DDH. It is also reliable in predicting success of closed reduction and need for late pelvic osteotomy. SIGNIFICANCE: practitioners and researchers should consider the IHDI classification as a useful classification scheme and prognosticator when considering treatment options for late-presenting DDH. SIGNIFICANCE: Practitioners and researchers should consider the IHDI classification as a useful classification scheme and prognosticator when considering treatment options for late-presenting DDH. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Overhead Bryant's Traction Does Not Improve the Success of Closed Reduction or Limit AVN in Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative Bryant's overhead traction before closed reduction (CR) in developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) remains controversial and its success in increasing CR rates and reducing avascular necrosis (AVN) rates has not been specifically reported in a large cohort. METHODS: IRB-approved retrospective study of patients (below 3 y)who were treated with attempted CR for idiopathic DDH from 1980 to 2009. Successful CR was defined as a hip that remained reduced and did not require repeat CR or open reduction. Patients were grouped by age, hip instability [Ortolani positive (reducible) vs. fixed dislocation], and Tonnis classification and rates of successful CR were compared between groups with P<0.05. RESULTS: A total of 342 hips were included with a mean age of 0.9 years (0.2 to 2.8 y) and a mean follow-up of 10.4 years (2.0 to 27.7 y). There were 269 hips with fixed dislocations and 73 Ortolani-positive hips. Traction was used in 276 hips. There was no difference in traction utilization in the 3 age groups (below 1, below 1.5, and below 2 y) for either Ortolani-positive hips (P=0.947) or fixed dislocations (P=0.943). There was no difference in achieving a successful CR comparing traction (60.9%) and no-traction groups (60.6%) (P=1.00). For Ortolani-positive hips, traction did not improve the incidence of a successful CR for any age group: below 1 year: P=0.19; below 1.5 years: P=0.23; and below 2 years: P=0.25. Similarly, fixed dislocation patients had no benefit from traction: below 1 year: P=0.76; below 1.5 years: P=0.82; and below 2 years: P=0.85. Tonnis classification did predict success of CR but had no influence on traction success. There was no difference in the rate of AVN between the traction (18%) and no-traction (8%) groups for all patients (P=0.15). CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective series, preoperative Bryant's traction does not improve the rate of a successful CR for patients with DDH and has no protective effect on the development of AVN of the femoral head. These results suggest that Bryant's overhead traction may not be warranted for patients below 3 years of age with DDH. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Intramedullary Nailing Compared with Spica Casts for Isolated Femoral Fractures in Four and Five-Year-Old Children.

BACKGROUND: Flexible intramedullary nailing (IMN) is a valuable tool in the treatment of femoral fractures in school-age children, whereas spica cast immobilization has been the standard of care for younger children. We compared these treatment modalities in a group of preschool-age children (four to five years of age). METHODS: A retrospective cohort of consecutive patients, four to five years of age, with an isolated, complete femoral shaft or subtrochanteric fracture treated with intramedullary nailing or early spica cast immobilization and followed until fracture-healing were identified from two centers. Radiographic and clinical outcomes were compared between the groups. Statistical methods included chi-square and Fisher exact tests for categorical variables and the Mann-Whitney test for continuous variables. RESULTS: Two hundred and sixty-two patients followed for a mean of thirty-two weeks were identified. One hundred and four patients underwent IMN and 158 patients were treated with immediate spica cast immobilization at the surgeon's discretion. The patients who underwent IMN were older than those who underwent spica cast immobilization (mean, 5.2 versus 4.7 years; p < 0.001), were heavier (mean, 21.5 versus 18.0 kg; p < 0.001), and were more likely to have a higher-energy mechanism of injury (p = 0.025). At the time of final follow-up, there was no difference between groups with regard to the percentages of patients who had acceptable coronal angulation (≤15°), sagittal angulation (≤20°), and early fracture shortening (≤20 mm) (96.2% in the spica group versus 99.0% in the IMN group; p = 0.09). While there was no significant difference in the percentages who had an unplanned return to the operating room (3.8% in the IMN group versus 4.4% in the spica group; p > 0.99), the patients in the IMN group had more clinic visits (mean, 5.8 versus 4.0; p < 0.001) and longer follow-up (mean, forty-four versus twenty-five weeks; p < 0.001) than the patients in the spica group and a higher percentage of them underwent repeat procedures (89.4% versus 5.1%; p < 0.001), primarily for elective implant removal. CONCLUSIONS: Preschool-age children (four to five years old) with an isolated femoral fracture have similar clinical and radiographic outcomes regardless of whether they are treated with immediate spica cast immobilization or IMN.

Surgical site infections after posterior spinal fusion for neuromuscular scoliosis: a thirty-year experience at a single institution.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection is a serious complication of posterior spinal fusion for neuromuscular scoliosis, with a reported prevalence of 6% to 24%. A single-institution experience over a thirty-year period was reviewed to determine the prevalence of surgical site infection after posterior spinal fusion for neuromuscular scoliosis, and to identify patient and treatment-related risk factors. METHODS: Our retrospective review included all patients treated with posterior spinal fusion (alone or in combination with an anterior procedure) for neuromuscular scoliosis from 1980 to 2009 and followed for a minimum of two years. Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis was performed to identify significant risk factors for occurrence of deep surgical site infection (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The study included 428 patients with an average duration of follow-up of 4.9 years. The mean Cobb angle was 74.3°. Most (74%) were treated with posterior spinal fusion alone. Deep infection developed in forty-four patients (10.3%); 57% of the infections occurred within three months after the surgery and 73%, within twelve months. Nearly half (45%) of the infections were polymicrobial; 59% of the organisms were gram-positive and 41% were gram-negative. Implant removal was required in 58% of the patients. Surgical site infection was more frequent from 1980 to 1989 (20.3%) than it was from 1990 to 2009 (8.4%) (odds ratio [OR] = 2.8, p = 0.01 in univariate analysis). Surgical site infection was more common in patients with spina bifida (21.5%) than in those with other diagnoses (8.3%) (OR = 3.0, p = 0.001). Other patient factors associated with surgical site infection were a body mass index (BMI) of >25 kg/m(2) (OR = 2.4, p = 0.04) and incontinence (OR = 2.4, p = 0.009). Treatment factors associated with surgical site infection were inadequate prophylactic antibiotic dosing (cefazolin ≤ 20 mg/kg) (OR = 3.3, p = 0.0002), length of fusion (p = 0.002), pelvic fixation (OR = 2.4, p = 0.04), length of hospital stay (p = 0.005), and other complications (OR = 3.2, p = 0.0003). Drain output (p = 0.04) and lower hemoglobin levels (p = 0.008) were significantly associated with surgical site infection in patients with spina bifida, and drain use (superficial to the fascia) was protective in those without spina bifida (OR = 0.5, p = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: This study identified modifiable factors, especially antibiotic dosing and drain use, associated with surgical site infection in patients with neuromuscular scoliosis.

Prevention of hip dysplasia in children and adults.

Klisic and Pajic summarized the history of early diagnosis and treatment of hip dysplasia when they wrote, Devising the preventive approach to developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) required much time.... Despite the 2400-year-old suggestion made by Hippocrates that children's hip dislocations are curable if treatment is started very early, the preventive approach was proposed by Roser only in 1879 [who] described early diagnosis in newborns and performed reduction by abduction... He also advocated early treatment by fixing babies' hips in abduction. However, surgeons did not readily accept these proposals, despite the good results shown by Froelich in 1906 and Le Damany in 1911. In 1927, Putti succeeded in interesting some orthopedic surgeons in the procedure by showing the results of early treatment. But the practical problem remained: ie, how to detect the DDH in patients at an early age. The turning point came in 1935 when pediatrician Ortolani introduced early detection of DDH by "early clinical search" shortly after a child's birth, instructing obstetricians, pediatricians, and midwives to perform the search. Rediscovering the diagnostic "segno della scatto," ie, reducible displacement, he popularized the prophylactic approach to DDH by early detection and treatment. Fifteen years later, another pediatrician, Palmen, organized systematic screening in nurseries by pediatricians. Since Klisic and Pajic wrote this in 1993, the use of ultrasound, albeit still controversial in some ways, has influenced the treatment and prevention of DDH. Klisic's attempts to universally prevent the disease may still be able to be incorporated into further efforts at disease prevention through education and the systematic trials of hip abduction pillows or braces similar to his wide-diaper diapering technique. The goal of prevention is to eradicate a disease so that it does not present to the physician. For DDH, this goal may be tenable.

Repeat surgical interventions following "definitive" instrumentation and fusion for idiopathic scoliosis: five-year update on a previously published cohort.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case series. OBJECTIVE: To identify the overall reoperation rate and factors contributing to reoperation in a recent 5-year cohort of patients (2003-2007) undergoing spinal deformity surgery. These patients were compared with a previously published 15-year cohort of consecutive patients (1988-2002) from the same institution to assess for any significant differences in reoperation rates. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: In a previously published report from this institution, the reoperation rate for patients with idiopathic scoliosis treated during a 15-year period (1988-2002) was 12.9%. That group was predominantly treated with first-generation TSRH (Medtronic, Memphis, TN) implants and CD implants. Lower profile, more rigid implant systems are now used along with refined techniques for correction of scoliosis deformity. We hypothesized that these factors would lead to lower rates of reoperation. METHODS.: The medical records of 452 consecutive patients (older than 9 yr) surgically treated for idiopathic scoliosis at one institution during 5 years (2003-2007) were reviewed to identify those who required reoperation. RESULTS: The reoperation rate for this cohort was 7.5% (34 of 452 patients). Compared with the prior cohort, significant decreases were noted with regard to total reoperation rate as well as reoperation due to infection and pseudarthrosis. Trends were noted toward decreased rates of reoperation due to prominent implants, dislodged implants, and implant proximity to vital structures. Within the newer cohort, a trend toward decreased reoperation rate was also noted for lower profile implant systems compared with first-generation TSRH implants. CONCLUSION: With the evolution of newer lower profile segmental implant systems that provide more rigid fixation and with the advancements in techniques for deformity correction, the repeat surgical intervention rate for idiopathic scoliosis has decreased.