Safety and efficacy of waterproof casting for early onset scoliosis.

PURPOSE: The efficacy of traditional Mehta casting in the treatment of early onset scoliosis (EOS) is well-established. However, waterproof casting has not been previously described. Inherent advantages of waterproof casting include clearance for bathing/swimming, avoiding cast holidays, and improved family satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of waterproof serial casting at controlling curve progression in EOS. METHODS: The current study is an IRB-approved Level IV retrospective consecutive cohort of EOS patients who underwent a serial 75% body weight traction-elongation-flexion Mehta cast protocol with waterproof cast padding. The addition of 3-point apical translation with stockinettes was utilized during casting. Bracing was initiated after correction < 15° or 1 year of serial casting. RESULTS: Seventeen patients at mean age 21.6 months, with pre-cast Cobb angle 52.3° (R: 35°-82°), underwent serial waterproof casting. In-cast correction index was 64%; for post-cast, Cobb angle was 18.6°. At mean 5.6 years follow-up (R: 2.3-8.9 years), 82% successfully avoided surgical intervention, 53% maintained correction < 25°, and 29% are considered "cured". 3/17 (18%) underwent a 2nd round of casting, and a total of 3/17 (18%) ultimately required surgery at 6.2 years post-casting. No major cast-related complications, decubiti, or cast holidays were encountered. CONCLUSION: Serial waterproof casting is safe and efficacious in EOS when compared to published results of traditional Mehta casting. Of 17 patients with mean pre-cast Cobb 52.3°, 82% successfully avoided surgery and 53% maintained mild curves < 25° magnitude at 5.6 years follow-up. No major complications or skin decubiti occurred, and advantages include clearance for bathing and avoidance of need for cast holidays during treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Cast-Related Complications.

Despite advances in surgical techniques and technology, casting remains an important treatment modality in the armamentarium of orthopedic surgery. Opportunities for skill development and complication management are a decreasing commodity for the surgeon in training. Appropriate indications for casting and technical expertise of cast application are key to complication avoidance. Prompt recognition and evaluation of potential complications are key to optimizing patient outcomes. Following the lead of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery Resident Skills Modules, we implore teaching institutions to develop and maintain robust teaching programs, skills acquisitions laboratories, and assessments for confirmation of competency for all residency programs.

Open Reduction Techniques for Supracondylar Humerus Fractures in Children.

Supracondylar humerus fractures are the most common elbow fractures in children. Displaced supracondylar humerus fractures that are associated with neurologic and/or vascular injuries are treated with timely reduction through closed techniques. When closed techniques fail, reduction by open methods is indicated. Controversy exists as to which surgical approach yields the best outcomes in terms of cosmetic and functional results, while minimizing postoperative complications. Open reduction, when indicated, has been shown to yield good outcomes when closed reduction methods fail.

A prospective comparison of computer-navigated and fluoroscopic-guided in situ fixation of slipped capital femoral epiphysis.

BACKGROUND: Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is usually treated with percutaneous in situ screw fixation to prevent further progression of deformity. The purpose of this investigation is to compare computer navigation (CN) techniques with traditional fluoroscopic (fluoro) techniques for in situ fixation of SCFE. METHODS: This study was an IRB-approved prospective study of 39 hip pinnings in 33 children. CN techniques were used in 22 cases and fluoro in 17. The CN and fluoro groups were statistically similar in terms of grade and acuity of the slip. Children were assigned to the groups based on the intraoperative imaging technique used by the attending on call, with 3 surgeons in each group taking equal amounts of call. The "approach-withdraw" technique was used in all cases. Postoperative limited-cut, reduced-dose computed tomography (CT) scans were obtained to evaluate screw placement. This included blinded analysis for screw penetration of the joint, screw tip-to-apex distance, the distance the screw passed to the center of the physis, and attainment of center-center position. The number of pin passes, intraoperative radiation exposure, and operating room (OR) time were also analyzed. Statistics used included ANOVA, the χ and median tests. RESULTS: Compared with the fluoro group, CN resulted in more accurate screw placement. There was 1 case of joint penetration in the fluoro group not appreciated intraoperatively but detected on postoperative CT. CN also resulted in statistically significant (P < 0.05) reduced screw tip-to-apex distance and distance to the center of the physis. There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in attainment of the center-center position, number of pin passes, or intraoperative radiation exposure. OR time averaged 19 minutes longer in the CN group. There was no case of avascular necrosis or chondrolysis in either of the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with traditional fluoro techniques, CN in situ fixation of SCFE results in more accurate screw placement, comparable number of pin passes and intraoperative radiation exposure, and increased OR time. The cost-benefit ratio of this technology requires careful consideration at each individual institution. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Comparison of compensatory curve spontaneous derotation after selective thoracic or lumbar fusions in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of a multicenter prospectively collected series of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients. OBJECTIVE: To compare uninstrumented compensatory curve spontaneous derotation of the rib hump and lumbar prominence after selective lumbar or thoracic fusions in AIS. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Coronal correction of the unfused minor curve after selective fusions in AIS has been well-documented previously. However, little has been reported regarding spontaneous correction in the axial plane of the unfused minor curve after selective AIS surgery. METHODS: Patients with minimum 2-year follow-up after either a selective thoracic fusion (STF) (lowest instrumented vertebrae L2 or above), or a selective lumbar fusion (upper instrumented vertebrae T9 or below) for AIS, with an initial scoliometer value of >or=5 degrees in the minor curve were analyzed. Prospectively acquired preoperative and 2-year postoperative radiographic and scoliometer measurements of both the fused and unfused curves were compared using repeated measures and univariate analysis of variance. The data were checked for normality and equal variances, and the level of significance was set at P

Return of shoulder girdle function after anterior versus posterior adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter, prospective, cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To compare minimum 2-year postoperative shoulder function after 3 different surgical approaches for the treatment of primary thoracic curves in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Thoracic spinal instrumentation and fusion can be performed via posterior (PSF), open anterior (OASF), or thoracoscopic anterior (TASF) techniques. Although the morbidity of these 3 surgical approaches is beginning to be understood, no reports have been published comparing 2-year postoperative shoulder strength and range of motion. METHODS: AIS patients who underwent selective fusion of primary thoracic curves were studied. Right-sided shoulder strength (flexion, abduction) and range of motion (flexion, extension, abduction) measurements were collected prospectively at selected intervals. An arbitrary threshold (80% of preoperative value) was defined as postoperative return of normal shoulder function. Univariate analysis of variance (P < 0.05) was used to compare differences in shoulder function for the 3 approaches at each postoperative time-point. RESULTS: Ninety-two patients with minimum 2-year postoperative shoulder function data were included in this study (24 PSF, 32 OASF, and 36 TASF). On average, patients who had an OASF failed to reach the 80% threshold for right shoulder forward flexion and abduction strength until 1-year and 6-months after surgery, respectively; whereas patients that had a TASF or PSF returned to normal shoulder strength by the 3-month follow-up visit. With regards to ROM, patients in all 3 groups surpassed the 80% preoperative threshold for right shoulder active forward flexion and extension by the 6-week visit, with no clinically significant differences between the groups. However, for active abduction range of motion, patients that had an OASF required 3-months to regain 80% of their preoperative motion, compared to 6-weeks for patients in both the TASF and PSF groups. CONCLUSION: Approach-related differences in shoulder morbidity do exist in the treatment of primary thoracic curves in AIS. Specifically, OASF imparts a significantly greater magnitude and duration of postoperative shoulder dysfunction than do the TASF or PSF approaches. Nonetheless, these negative effects are transient as shoulder function in those patients treated via an open thoracotomy normalized by the 1-year postoperative time-point at the latest. Accordingly, viewed in isolation, shoulder morbidity should not deter surgeons from using an open anterior approach in the surgical treatment of AIS.

Testing of a new one-stage bone-transport surgical procedure exploiting the periosteum for the repair of long-bone defects.

BACKGROUND: A recently proposed one-stage bone-transport surgical procedure exploits the intrinsic osteogenic potential of the periosteum while providing mechanical stability through intramedullary nailing. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of this technique to bridge massive long-bone defects in a single stage. METHODS: With use of an ovine femoral model, an in situ periosteal sleeve was elevated circumferentially from healthy diaphyseal bone, which was osteotomized and transported over an intramedullary nail into a 2.54-cm (1-in) critical-sized diaphyseal defect. The defect-bridging and bone-regenerating capacity of the procedure were tested in five groups of seven animals each, which were defined by the absence (Group 1; control) or presence of the periosteal sleeve alone (Group 2), bone graft within the periosteal sleeve (Groups 3 and 5), as well as retention of adherent, vascularized cortical bone chips on the periosteal sleeve with or without bone graft (Groups 4 and 5). The efficacy of the procedure was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively. RESULTS: At sixteen weeks, osseous bridging of the defect was observed in all twenty-eight experimental sheep in which the periosteal sleeve was retained; the defect persisted in the remaining seven control sheep. Among the experimental groups 2 through 5, significant differences were observed in the density of the regenerated bone tissue; the two groups in which vascularized bone chips adhered to the inner surface of the periosteal sleeve (Groups 4 and 5) showed a higher mean bone density in the defect zone (p < 0.02) than did the other groups. In these two groups with the highest bone density, the addition of bone graft was associated with a significantly lower callus density than that observed without bone graft (p < 0.05). The volume of regenerate bone (p < 0.02) was significantly greater in the groups in which the periosteal sleeve was retained than it was in the control group. Among the experimental groups (groups 2 through 5), however, with the numbers studied, no significant differences in the volume of regenerate bone could be attributed to the inclusion of bone graft within the sleeve or to vascularized bone chips remaining adherent to the periosteum. CONCLUSIONS: The novel surgical procedure was shown to be effective in bridging a critical-sized defect in an ovine femoral model. Vascularized bone chips adherent to the inner surface of the periosteal sleeve, without the addition of morselized cancellous bone graft within the sleeve, provide not only a comparable volume of regenerate bone and composite tissue (callus and bone) but also a superior density of regenerate bone compared with that after the addition of bone graft.