Intrawound Vancomycin Powder Reduces Delayed Deep Surgical Site Infections Following Posterior Spinal Fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate whether the use of vancomycin powder (VP) placed in the surgical site prior to wound closure prevents delayed deep surgical site infections (DDI). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: DDI after posterior spinal fusion (PSF) in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients remains a significant major complication. The use of VP to prevent acute surgical site infection has been reported but the impact on DDI is unknown. METHODS: AIS patients treated over the past 20 years with PSF/instrumentation from a large muti-center registry were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups: intraoperative vancomycin powder placed in the wound (VP) or no antibiotics placed in the wound (NVP). DDI was defined as an infection that occurred >90 days after surgery and required surgical intervention in the operating room. Patients who developed a DDI had secondary verification of VP use or not. Chi square and Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survivorship analyses were used to compare demographics and incident rate of DDI between groups. RESULTS: 4145 cases met inclusion for this study. A total of 43 DDI cases were identified (1.0%). The incidence of DDI for the VP group was 0.2% (4/2111), and 1.9% (39/2034) in the NVP group (P<0.001). Given the difference in follow-up for the 2 groups a Cumulative Survival and Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed the VP group had significantly better "survival" (no DDI) than the NVP group (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: DDIs are significant, adverse events that can greatly complicate patient recovery after PSF for AIS, including rehospitalization. This study found that patients who received VP intraoperatively were 10 times less likely to develop a DDI than those who did not receive VP. Although other advances/changes in surgical techniques may contribute to the significant decrease in infections found in the more recent VP cohort, VP should be considered as a prophylactic measure.

Scoliosis Research Society-22r and Ceiling Effects: Limited Capabilities for Precision-Medicine with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective registry analysis. OBJECTIVE: To examine predictions of individual Scoliosis Research Society-22r (SRS-22r) questions one year after surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: A precision-medicine approach to AIS surgery will inform patients of the likelihood of achieving particular results from surgery, specifically individual responses to the SRS-22r questionnaire. METHODS: A multi-center AIS registry was queried for surgical AIS patients treated between 2002-2020. Preoperative data collected included standard demographic data, deformity descriptive data, and SRS-22r scores. Postoperative 1yr SRS-22r scores were modeled using ordinal logistic regression. . The highest probability was the most likely response. Model performance was examined by c-statistics, where c>.8 was considered excellent. Ceiling effects were measured by the proportion of patients reporting "5" to each question. RESULTS: 3251 patients contributed data to the study; mean age 14.4 (±2.2) yrs, female 2631 (81%), major thoracic coronal curve 53°, mean lumbar 41°. C-statistic values ranged from .6 (poor) to .8 (excellent) evidence of varied predictive capabilities. Q17 ("days off work/school", c = .84, ceiling achieved 75%) and Q15 ("financial difficulties", c = .86, ceiling achieved 82%) had the greatest predictive capabilities while Q11 ("pain medication", c=.73, ceiling achieved 67%), Q10 ("appearance", c=.72, ceiling achieved 35%), and Q19 ("attractive", c=.69, ceiling achieved 37%) performed poorly. CONCLUSION: Prediction of individual SRS-22r item responses perhaps most germane to AIS treatment was poor. Prediction of less relevant outcomes, where ceiling effects are present, was greater as the models chose "5" for all responses. These ceiling effects may limit discrimination and hamper efforts at personalized outcome predictions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Depression Screening in Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Clinics and Identifying Patients At-Risk.

BACKGROUND: Up to 25% of youth experience a depressive episode by 18 years of age, leading the US Preventive Services Task Force to recommend depression screening within this population. This study aimed to understand the prevalence of depression identified within pediatric orthopedic clinics compared with primary care clinics after the implementation of a screening program and present data on the prevalence of moderate-severe depression across specific pediatric orthopedic clinics, characterizing and identifying specific populations at higher risk. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed to identify all patients screened using the 2-item and 9-item versions of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2/PHQ-9) and the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale over a 2-year period (October 2018 to January 2021) within pediatric primary care and orthopaedic clinics. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. Statistical analysis was performed to compare scores between orthopedic and primary care clinics, as well as between the different pediatric orthopedic subspecialties and included χ 2 test, ANOVA, and logistic regression. RESULTS: There were 32,787 unique adolescent patients screened in primary care clinics, with an additional 14,078 unique adolescent patients screened in orthopaedic clinics, leading to a 30% increase in the overall number of patients receiving depression screening. 5.2% of patients in primary care pediatric clinics screened positive for moderate-severe depression versus 2.0% in pediatric orthopaedic clinics ( P <0.001). 2.7% of primary care patients were at risk of self-harm compared with 0.8% of orthopedic patients ( P <0.001). Within orthopaedic subspecialty clinics, the spine patients were at the highest risk of moderate-severe depression (3.5%), significantly higher than both the sports (1.4%, P =0.006) and patients with acute fracture (1.3%, P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the high incidence of patients screening positive for depression in pediatric and adolescent orthopaedic clinics. By identifying high-risk clinics and patient groups, health care systems can apply a more practical approach and appropriately deploy behavioral health specialists for timely counseling and treatment discussions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level-III.

The Anterior Modified San Diego Acetabuloplasty Does Not Increase Superior-Anterior Coverage in Patient-Specific 3D-Printed Models.

BACKGROUND: Patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip may require pelvic osteotomies to improve acetabular coverage. The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in acetabular version, tilt, and regional coverage angles following the San Diego acetabuloplasty (SDA), the modified San Diego acetabuloplasty (mSDA), and the Pemberton acetabuloplasty (PA). METHODS: Fourteen patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip and computed tomography (CT) imaging were identified. From CT images, 2 identical pelvises were 3-dimensional-printed for each patient. Bone was printed with rigid material, and cartilage with flexible material. For each model pair, the SDA was performed on one and the PA was performed on the other. CT scans were obtained before and after acetabuloplasties. Next, the bone graft in the SDA model was moved anteriorly, representing the mSDA, and the model was rescanned. Acetabular version, tilt, and coverage angles (posterior, superior-posterior, superior, superior-anterior, and anterior) were calculated. Preoperative to postoperative differences were compared (repeated measures analysis of variance or Wilcoxon signed rank test). The significance was set to P <0.05. RESULTS: The mean age at CT was 5.8±1.2 years (range: 3.9 to 7.5 y). All 3 procedures (SDA, mSDA, and PA) significantly increased acetabular tilt; P <0.045), with a similar change observed for all 3 ( P =0.868). PA was the only procedure to significantly decrease relative acetabular version (6.5±6.5 degrees, preoperative: 12.9±5.3 degrees; P =0.004). Both the SDA and mSDA procedures significantly increased coverage in the superior-posterior octant (SDA: 92.6±9.3 degrees, mSDA: 92.3±9.8 degrees, preoperative: 81.9±9.5 degrees; P <0.02), with a similar percent change among the 2 ( P =1.0). All 3 procedures significantly increased superior coverage ( P <0.04); the increase was similar among the 3 ( P =0.205). The PA was the only procedure to produce a significant increase in coverage in the superior-anterior octant (91.0±16.7 degrees, preoperative: 74.0±12.1 degrees; P =0.005) or the anterior octant (50.7±11.7 degrees, preoperative: 45.8±8.9 degrees; P =0.012). CONCLUSIONS: The SDA and mSDA procedures produced similar postoperative changes, primarily in the superior and superior-posterior acetabular octants. Placing the graft more anteriorly did not increase anterior coverage in the mSDA, and only the PA increased coverage in the superior and superior-anterior acetabular octants.

Pain Medication Use Two Years After Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Fusion Surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: Observational case control. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of opioid use two years after surgical correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and its association with preoperative mental health. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Studies of opiate use have reported that up to 80% of users began their addiction with misuse of prescription opioids. Identifying opioid use and those at risk in the AIS population is critical for optimal outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A query of a multicenter prospective AIS surgical fusion registry was performed to identify patients of all curve types with responses to question 11 on the Scoliosis Research Society-22 questionnaire at two years postoperative. Question 11 asks about pain medication usage for the patient's back with five specific responses: narcotics daily, narcotics weekly or less, non-narcotics daily, non-narcotics weekly/less, or none. Ordinal regression was used to evaluate the association between preoperative Scoliosis Research Society-22 Mental Health (MH) domain scores and two-year postoperative pain medication usage. RESULTS: A total of 2595 patients who underwent surgery from 2002 to 2019 met inclusion. The average primary curve was 56±12°, average age 14.7±3 years, and 81.5% were female. Forty (1.5%) patients reported utilizing opioids two years after surgery, and a significant difference in preoperative MH scores was observed. Patients taking daily opioids postoperatively had the lowest median preoperative MH score (3.75), followed by non-narcotic group (4), and no medication (4.2, P <0.001). Three patients reporting opioid use postoperatively reported preoperative usage. The rate of two-year postoperative medication use based on the year of surgery demonstrated a small linear decrease in opioid use over time, with a slight increase in nonopioid daily use. CONCLUSIONS: Less than 2% of patients reported taking opioids for back pain two years after surgical correction of AIS. A lower MH score before surgery may place a patient at increased risk for opioid use two years after surgery. An analysis of the year of surgery suggests that changes in prescription practices over time may be occurring. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Opioid Analgesia Compared with Non-Opioid Analgesia After Operative Treatment for Pediatric Supracondylar Humeral Fractures: Results from a Prospective Multicenter Trial.

BACKGROUND: Minimal pain and opioid use after operative treatment for pediatric supracondylar humeral fractures have been previously described; however, opioid-prescribing practices in the United States remain variable. We hypothesized that children without an opioid prescription would report similar postoperative pain compared with children prescribed opioids following closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (CRPP) of supracondylar humeral fractures. METHODS: Children who were 3 to 12 years of age and were undergoing CRPP for a closed supracondylar humeral fracture were prospectively enrolled in a multicenter, comparative study. Following a standardized dosing protocol, oxycodone, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen were prescribed at 2 hospitals (opioid cohort), and 2 other hospitals prescribed ibuprofen and acetaminophen alone (non-opioid cohort). The children's medication use and the daily pain that they experienced (scored on the Wong-Baker FACES Scale) were recorded at postoperative days 1 to 7, 10, 14, and 21, using validated text-message protocols. Based on an a priori power analysis, at least 64 evaluable subjects were recruited per cohort. RESULTS: A total of 157 patients were evaluated (81 [52%] in the opioid cohort and 76 [48%] in the non-opioid cohort). The median age at the time of the surgical procedure was 6.2 years, and 50% of the subjects were male. The mean postoperative pain scores were low overall (<4 of 10), and there were no significant differences in pain ratings between cohorts at any time point. No patient demographic or injury characteristics were correlated with increased pain or medication use. Notably, of the 81 patients in the opioid cohort, 28 (35%) took no oxycodone and 40 (49%) took 1 to 3 total doses across the postoperative period. Patients rarely took opioids after postoperative day 2. A single patient in the non-opioid cohort (1 [1%] of 76) received a rescue prescription of opioids after presenting to the emergency department with postoperative cast discomfort. CONCLUSIONS: Non-opioid analgesia following CRPP for pediatric supracondylar humeral fractures was equally effective as opioid analgesia. When oxycodone was prescribed, 84% of children took 0 to 3 total doses, and opioid use fell precipitously after postoperative day 2. To improve opioid stewardship, providers and institutions can consider discontinuing the routine prescription of opioids following this procedure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level II . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Age and CRP Associated With Improved Tissue Pathogen Identification in Children With Blood Culture Negative Osteomyelitis: Results From the CORTICES Multicenter Database.

BACKGROUND: Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (AHO) is a relatively common condition in children, and identifying the offending pathogen with blood or tissue cultures aids in diagnosis and medical management while reducing treatment failure. Recent 2021 AHO clinical practice guidelines from the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society recommend obtaining routine tissue cultures, particularly in cases with negative blood cultures. The purpose of this study was to identify variables associated with positive tissue cultures when blood cultures are negative. METHODS: Children with AHO from 18 pediatric medical centers throughout the United States through the Children's ORthopaedic Trauma and Infection Consortium for Evidence-based Study were evaluated for predictors of positive tissue cultures when blood cultures were negative. Cutoffs of predictors were determined with associated sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: One thousand three children with AHO were included, and in 688/1003 (68.6%) patients, both blood cultures and tissue cultures were obtained. In patients with negative blood cultures (n=385), tissue was positive in 267/385 (69.4%). In multivariate analysis, age ( P <0.001) and C-reactive protein (CRP) ( P =0.004) were independent predictors. With age >3.1 years and CRP >4.1 mg/dL as factors, the sensitivity of obtaining a positive tissue culture when blood cultures were negative was 87.3% (80.9-92.2%) compared with 7.1% (4.4-10.9%) if neither of these factors was present. There was a lower ratio of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in blood culture-negative patients who had a positive tissue culture 48/188 (25.5%), compared with patients who had both positive blood and tissue cultures 108/220 (49.1%). CONCLUSION: AHO patients with CRP ≤ 4.1 mg/dL and age under 3.1 years are unlikely to have clinical value from tissue biopsy that exceeds the morbidity associated with this intervention. In patients with CRP > 4.1 mg/dL and age over 3.1 years, obtaining a tissue specimen may add value; however, it is important to note that effective empiric antibiotic coverage may limit the utility of positive tissue cultures in AHO. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-Retrospective comparative study.

Defining the Incidence of Residual Acetabular Dysplasia After Successful Reduction With a Harness.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rate of residual acetabular dysplasia (RAD), defined as an acetabular index (AI) of >90th percentile of age and sex-matched controls, in a cohort of infants successfully treated with the Pavlik harness (PH). METHODS: We retrospectively studied typically developing infants at a single center, with at least 1 dislocated hip, that was successfully treated with a PH and had a minimum of 48 months follow-up. Hip dislocation was defined as <30% femoral head coverage at rest on pretreatment ultrasound or IHDI grade 3 or 4 on the pretreatment radiograph. RESULTS: Forty-six dislocated hips (41 infants) were studied (4 males and 37 females). Brace treatment was initiated at an average age of 1.8 months (range: 2 d to 9.3 mo) and was maintained for an average of 10.2 months (range: 2.3 to 24.9 mo). All hips achieved IHDI grade 1 reduction. Five of 46 hips (11%) had an AI >90th percentile at the conclusion of bracing. Average follow-up was 6.5 years (range: 4.0 to 15.2 y). We found a 30% incidence of RAD (14/46 hips) on final follow-up radiographs. Of these hips, 13/14 (93%) had AI <90th percentile at the end of brace treatment. Comparing children with and without RAD, there were no differences in age at the initial visit or brace initiation, total follow-up, femoral head coverage at the initial visit, alpha angle at the initial visit, or total time in the brace ( P > 0.09). CONCLUSION: In a single-center cohort of infants with dislocated hips treated successfully with a PH, we observed a 30% incidence of RAD at a minimum 4.0-year follow-up. Normal acetabular morphology at the end of brace treatment did not result in normal acetabular morphology at the final follow-up in 13/41 hips (32%). We recommend that surgeons should pay close attention to the year-over-year change in both the AI and AI percentile. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV: case series.

SRS-22r Self-Image After Surgery for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis at 10-year Follow-up.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. OBJECTIVE: To examine SRS-Self Image scores at up to 10 years after surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Self-image is complex with implications for surgical and patient-reported outcomes after AIS surgery. Surgically modifiable factors that impact self-image are inconsistently reported in the literature with few longer-term reports. We examined the rate and durability of self-image improvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An AIS registry was queried for patients with up to 10 years of follow-up after AIS surgery. A mixed effects model estimated change in SRS-22 Self Image from baseline to 6 weeks, 1 year, 2 years, 5 years, and 10 years. All enrolled patients contributed data to the mixed effects models. A sub-analysis of patients with 1-year and 10-year follow-up evaluated worsening/static/improved SRS-22 Self Image scores examined stability of scores over that timeline. Baseline demographic data and 1-year deformity magnitude data were compared between groups using parametric and nonparametric tests as appropriate. RESULTS: Data from 4608 patients contributed data to the longitudinal model; 162 had 1-year and 10-year data. Mean SRS-Self Image improvement at 10-year follow-up was 1.0 (95% CI: 0.9-1.1) point. No significant changes in Self-Image domain scores were estimated from 1-year to 10-year (all P >0.05) postoperative. Forty (25%) patients had SRS-Self Image worsening from 1 year to 10 years, 36 (22%) improved, and 86 (53%) were unchanged. Patients who worsened over 10 years had lower SRS-Self Image at baseline than those unchanged at enrollment (3.3 vs. 3.7, P =0.007). Neither radiographic parameters nor SRS-Mental Health were different at baseline for the enrolled patients. CONCLUSION: Ten years after surgery, 75% of patients reported similar or better SRS-Self Image scores than one year after surgery. Nearly 25% of patients reported worsening self-image at 10 years. Patients who worsened had lower baseline SRS-Self Image scores, without radiographic or mental health differences at baseline or follow-up.

Nonoperative Versus Operative Treatment of Type IIA Supracondylar Humerus Fractures: A Prospective Evaluation of 99 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Although current clinical practice guidelines from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggest that Type II and III supracondylar humerus (SCH) fractures be treated by closed reduction and pin fixation, controversy remains as to whether type IIa fractures with no rotation or angular deformity require surgery. The purpose of our study was to prospectively compare radiographic and functional outcomes of type IIa SCH fractures treated with or without surgery. METHODS: Between 2017 and 2019, 105 patients between 2 and 12 years of age presenting with type IIa SCH fractures and without prior elbow trauma, neuromuscular or metabolic conditions, were prospectively enrolled. Ten orthopaedic surgeons managed the patients with 5 preferring surgical treatment and 5 preferring an initial attempt at nonoperative treatment. Patients in the nonoperative cohort were managed with a long-arm cast and close radiographic follow-up. Patients underwent a standardized protocol, including 3 to 4 weeks of casting, bilateral radiographic follow-up 6 months postinjury, and telephone follow-up at 6, 12, and 24 months. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients met the inclusion criteria (45 nonoperative and 54 operatives). Of the nonoperative patients, 4 (9%) were converted to surgery up to their first clinical follow-up. No differences were identified between the cohorts with respect to demographic data, but patients undergoing surgery had on average 6 degrees more posterior angulation at the fracture site preoperatively (P<0.05). At the final clinical follow-up (mean=6 mo), the nonoperative group had more radiographic extension (176.9 vs 174.4 degrees, P=0.04) as measured by the hourglass angle, but no other clinical or radiographic differences were appreciated. Complications were similar between the nonoperative and operative groups: refracture (4.4 vs 5.6%), avascular necrosis (2.2 vs 1.9%) and infection (0 vs 1.9%) (P>0.05). Patient-reported outcomes at a mean of 24 months showed no differences between groups. CONCLUSION: Contrary to American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons guidelines, about 90% of patients with type IIa supracondylar fractures can be treated nonoperatively and will achieve good radiographic and functional outcomes with mild residual deformity improving over time. Patients treated nonoperatively must be monitored closely to assess for early loss of reduction and the need for surgical intervention.

Prospective evaluation of in situ screw fixation for stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis.

Purpose: We aimed to determine which variables were associated with persistent symptoms or need for further surgery in patients treated with in situ fixation for stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis. We hypothesized that patients with greater proximal femoral deformity would require revision surgical intervention. Methods: We prospectively collected data on stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis patients who underwent in situ screw fixation at a single institution. Demographic and radiographic information, as well as patient-reported outcomes, were collected. Results: Forty-six patients (54 hips) with an average follow-up of 3.5 years (range: 2.0-8.5) and mean pre-op Southwick slip angle of 40.5° ± 19.4° were studied. We observed one complication following the index procedure (2%). Twelve hips (22%) went on to have a secondary procedure 2.7 ± 2.2 years after the index surgery. Severe slips were 14.8× more likely to undergo a secondary procedure than mild and moderate slips (p < 0.001). We found no correlation between slip severity and patient-reported outcomes (p > 0.6). Hips requiring a secondary procedure had significantly lower Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome scores (76.8 ± 18.4) at final follow-up compared to hips that did not require additional surgery (86.8 ± 15.7) (p = 0.042). Conclusion: With minimum 2-year follow-up, 22% of patients required a secondary surgery. Patient-reported outcomes did not correlate with slip severity, but were found to be significantly higher in slipped capital femoral epiphysis patients that did not require a secondary procedure. Prophylactic treatment of all slip-related cam deformity was not found to be necessary in this prospective cohort. Patients with moderate-to-severe slips may require secondary surgery. Level of Evidence: Level II.

Best Practice Guidelines for Surgical Site Infection in High-risk Pediatric Spine Surgery: Definition, Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Prior "best practice guidelines" (BPG) have identified strategies to reduce the risk of acute deep surgical site infection (SSI), but there still exists large variability in practice. Further, there is still no consensus on which patients are "high risk" for SSI and how SSI should be diagnosed or treated in pediatric spine surgery. We sought to develop an updated, consensus-based BPG informed by available literature and expert opinion on defining high-SSI risk in pediatric spine surgery and on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of SSI in this high-risk population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After a systematic review of the literature, an expert panel of 21 pediatric spine surgeons was selected from the Harms Study Group based on extensive experience in the field of pediatric spine surgery. Using the Delphi process and iterative survey rounds, the expert panel was surveyed for current practices, presented with the systematic review, given the opportunity to voice opinions through a live discussion session and asked to vote regarding preferences privately. Two survey rounds were conducted electronically, after which a live conference was held to present and discuss results. A final electronic survey was then conducted for final voting. Agreement ≥70% was considered consensus. Items near consensus were revised if feasible to achieve consensus in subsequent surveys. RESULTS: Consensus was reached for 17 items for defining high-SSI risk, 17 items for preventing, 6 for diagnosing, and 9 for treating SSI in this high-risk population. After final voting, all 21 experts agreed to the publication and implementation of these items in their practice. CONCLUSIONS: We present a set of updated consensus-based BPGs for defining high-risk and preventing, diagnosing, and treating SSI in high-risk pediatric spine surgery. We believe that this BPG can limit variability in practice and decrease the incidence of SSI in pediatric spine surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Not applicable.

Treatment outcomes of hips in patients with epiphyseal dysplasia.

Hip containment surgeries in multiple epiphyseal and spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia (MED/SED) patients aim to improve the mechanical environment of the hip joint. The purpose of this study was to determine if surgical intervention to improve femoral head coverage improved radiographic and clinical outcomes. A retrospective study identified patients with MED/SED seen in clinic between May 2000 and September 2017, with a minimum of 2-year follow-up. Patient charts/radiographs were reviewed for radiographic hip measurements, pain, and gait. Sixty-nine hips in 35 patients were identified. Forty-four hips were treated nonoperatively and 25 were treated surgically. The mean age at diagnosis was 6.2 years. The mean follow-up was 7.7 years for the surgical group and 7.1 years for the nonsurgical group. The mean postoperative follow-up was 5.4 years. Acetabular index decreased from initial to final visit by 9.0° in the surgical group and 1.6° in the nonsurgical group. Tonnis angle decreased by 13.5° in the surgical group and 1.5° in the nonsurgical group. Center edge angle increased by 19.0° in the surgical group and 7.1° in the nonsurgical group. Hips in the surgical group were 6.1 times more likely to experience an improvement in pain compared with hips in the nonsurgical group. Gait at the final follow-up was similar among the two groups. In this study cohort, containment surgery provided increased femoral head coverage; however, there was equal femoral head deformation despite intervention. Hips treated surgically were more likely to experience an improvement in pain; however, gait alterations did not improve.

Practice Variation in the Surgical Management of Children With Acute Hematogenous Osteomyelitis.

INTRODUCTION: The surgical indications to manage children with acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (AHO) remain poorly defined. The purpose of this study was to identify if practice pattern variation exists in the surgical management of pediatric AHO among tertiary pediatric medical centers across the United States. A secondary purpose was to evaluate variables that may impact the rate of surgical intervention among these institutions. METHODS: Children with AHO were retrospectively analyzed between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2016, from 18 pediatric medical centers throughout the United States. The rates of surgery were identified. Admission vitals, labs, weight-bearing status, length of stay, and readmission rates were compared between those who did and did not undergo surgery. Multivariate regression and classification and regression tree analyses were performed to identify the variables that were associated with surgical intervention. RESULTS: Of the 1003 children identified with AHO in this retrospective, multicenter database, 619/1003 (62%) were treated surgically. Multivariate analysis revealed institution, inability to ambulate, presence of multifocal infection, elevated admission C-reactive protein, increased admission platelet count, and location of the osteomyelitis were significant predictors of surgery (P<0.01). Patients who underwent surgery were more than twice as likely to have a recurrence or readmission and stayed a median of 2 days longer than those who did not have surgery. In the classification and regression tree analysis, 2 distinct patterns of surgical intervention were identified based on institution, with 12 institutions operating in most cases (72%), regardless of clinical factors. A second cohort of 6 institutions operated less routinely, with 47% receiving surgery overall. At these 6 institutions, patients without multifocal infection only received surgery 26% of the time, which increased to 74% with multifocal infection and admission erythrocyte sedimentation rate >37.5 mm/h. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to objectively identify significant differences in the rates of surgical management of pediatric AHO across the United States. Variation in the surgical management of AHO appears to be driven primarily based on institutional practice. Twelve institutions operated on 72% of patients, regardless of the severity of disease, indicating that the institution custom or dogma may drive the surgical indications. Six institutions relied more on clinical judgment with significant variability in rates of surgical intervention (26% vs. 74%), depending on the severity of the disease. Surgical intervention is associated with increased recurrence, readmission, and hospital length of stay. As a result of these findings, it is essential to prospectively study the appropriate surgical indications and measure the outcomes in children with pediatric AHO. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Prolonged Brace Treatment Does Not Result in Improved Acetabular Indices in Infantile Dislocated Hips.

BACKGROUND: The Pavlik harness (PH) is commonly used to treat infantile dislocated hips. However, significant variability exists in the duration of brace treatment after successful reduction of the dislocated hip. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of prescribed time in brace on acetabular index (AI) at two years of age using a prospective, international, multicenter database. METHODS: We retrospectively studied prospectively enrolled infants with at least 1 dislocated hip that were initially treated with a PH and had a recorded AI at 2-year follow-up. Subjects were treated at 1 of 2 institutions. Institution 1 used the PH until they observed normal radiographic acetabular development. Institution 2 followed a structured shorter brace treatment protocol. Hip dislocation was defined as <30% femoral head coverage at rest on the pretreatment ultrasound or International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI) grade III or IV on the pretreatment radiograph. RESULTS: Fifty-three hips met our inclusion criteria. Hips from Institution 1 were treated with a brace ×3 longer than hips from institution 2 (adjusted mean 8.9±1.3 vs. 2.6±0.2 mo) (P<0.001). Institution 1 had an 88% success rate and institution 2 had an 85% success rate at achieving hip reduction (P=0.735). At 2-year follow-up, we observed no significant difference in AI between Institution 1 (adjusted mean 25.6±0.9 degrees) compared with Institution 2 (adjusted mean 23.5±0.8 degrees) (P=0.1). However, 19% of patients from Institution 1 and 44% of patients from Institution 2 were at or below the 50th percentile of previously published age-matched and sex-matched AI normal data (P=0.049). Also, 27% (7/26) of hips from Institution 1 had significant acetabular dysplasia (more than 2 SD from the mean), compared with a 22% (6/27) from Institution 2 (P=0.691). We found no correlation between age at initiation of bracing and AI at 2-year follow-up (P=0.071). CONCLUSIONS: The PH brace can successfully treat dislocated infant hips, however, prolonged brace treatment was not found to result in improved acetabular development at 2-year follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Improving Lower Extremity Casting Quality by Providing an Experienced Assistant in Pediatric Tibia Fractures Managed by Trainees.

Background: The value of employing an orthopedic technician or advanced practice provider (OT/APP) to assist trainees during on-call hours has not been assessed. As the third most common pediatric long bone fracture, most tibial fractures can be managed with closed reduction and casting. Purpose: We sought to determine whether clinical outcomes could be positively affected for traumatic childhood tibia fractures by using an experienced OT/APP to aid orthopedic surgery residents with closed reduction and casting. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of tibial shaft fractures that occurred between 2010 and January 2017. Fractures undergoing manipulation and closed reduction by orthopedic surgery residents (post-graduate year 2 to 4) in the emergency department were included and differentiated into 2 cohorts: (1) residents who performed the procedure alone and (2) residents who were assisted by an OT/APP. Comparisons in cast quality and treatment success were made using univariate statistics followed by a multivariate Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis. Results: Of the 73 patients who met our criteria, 38 received treatment by a resident alone and 35 by a resident assisted by an OT/APP. Evidence to support our hypothesis was found with the resident-alone group "over" padding the casts posteriorly. Univariate analysis demonstrated that the rate of subsequent surgical intervention was more than double in the resident-alone group (31% vs 14%), yet OT/APP castings underwent more wedging at follow-up (17% vs 0%). CART analysis revealed initial fracture severity and lack of OT/APP assistance as predictors of surgical intervention with terminal nodes, in increasing order of risk of requiring surgical intervention: lower translation on sagittal and anteroposterior (AP), lower sagittal translation with greater AP translation, greater sagittal translation with OT/APP assistance, and greater sagittal translation without assistance. The initiation of a cast application-training program in 2015 decreased the need for surgical treatment in the resident-only group (pre-program 38.5% vs post-program 17%), although this was not statistically significant. Conclusion: When residents were assisted by OT/APP with initial tibia closed reduction and casting, subsequent loss of reduction was more likely to be managed with cast wedging; when this assistance was not available, there was a higher rate of fractures needing surgical intervention due, in part, to poor casting technique. The reduction in the rate of surgical intervention after an internal training program was implemented suggests that trainees may improve their casting ability without added help of an experienced assistant. Future study should be performed on distal radius fractures to determine if the presented findings are valid across casting types.

A comparison of cone beam computed tomography, standard computed tomography and plain radiographs in the evaluation of medial epicondyle humerus fractures.

The ideal technique to measure medial epicondyle humerus fracture displacement minimizes radiation exposure while maximizing measurement accuracy and reliability. This study compares the radiation exposure and accuracy of displacement measurements of the four-view X-ray examination (XR), computed tomography (CT) and in-clinic cone-beam CT (CBCT). A cadaveric humerus underwent medial epicondyle osteotomy. The fragment was fixed to the humerus at clinically relevant displacements (6 to 18 mm). Dosimeters were placed around the distal humerus and simulating thyroid location. XR, CT and CBCT were performed at each displacement. Four pediatric orthopedists measured the maximum linear displacement on each XR and 3D reconstruction of the CT and CBCT images. Focal (elbow location) and thyroid radiation exposure was compared between modalities. Intra- and interclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for displacement measurements were determined. Mean focal radiation exposures for XR, CT and CBCT were 0.008, 2.061 and 0.478 rad, respectively (P = 0.001). Exposures 10 inches from the elbow for XR, CT and CBCT were 0.001, 0.066 and 0.010 rad, respectively (P = 0.006). At 12 inches, there was no significant difference in exposure between XR and CBCT ( P = 0.114). Intra- and interobserver reliabilities were excellent for all measures, except lateral x-ray. CBCT and CT had significantly less deviation from the actual displacement compared to XR ( P < 0.05). In-office CBCT of the elbow exposes patients to significantly less radiation than conventional CT. All X-ray images (except lateral), CT and CBCT had equal reliability in evaluating medial epicondyle fractures, which contrasts with previous evidence.

3-D acetabular morphology of the neuromuscular hip: implications for preoperative planning.

The importance of precisely understanding the pathoanatomy of acetabular dysplasia prior to surgical treatment has long been recognized. Acetabuloplasties for neuromuscular hip dysplasia have typically aimed to improve the acetabulum by increasing posterior-superior coverage, as previous three-dimensional (3-D) computed tomography (CT) studies have shown that acetabular dysplasia in neuromuscular hips is primarily in the direction of posterior-superior subluxation or dislocation. The purpose of this study was to identify differences in 3-D morphology between normal hips and dysplastic neuromuscular hips, specifically to identify areas of acetabular deficiency to guide preoperative decision-making. Patients treated for neuromuscular hip dysplasia at a single institution between 2009 and 2017 with a preoperative high-resolution pelvic CT scan (28 hips) were evaluated with custom software to measure acetabular morphology. Acetabuli were divided into equal octants; coverage angles were measured for each octant of interest. Variables were compared with age- and sex-matched normal controls (56 hips). We found a wide range of hip pathology in our study cohort. Five hips had no sectors with abnormal coverage. One hip (4%) was overcovered anteriorly. The remaining pathology was undercoverage located anteriorly [n = 7 (25%)], superiorly [n = 6 (21%)], posteriorly [n = 4 (14%)] or globally [n = 5 (18%)]. Our findings indicate that individual patients with neuromuscular acetabular dysplasia have unique deformities that do not uniformly conform to a specific area of acetabular deficiency. It is imperative to define the specific 3-D acetabular deficiency location and magnitude for accurate preoperative planning. Level of evidence: Level III.

Telescoping screw fixation compared to traditional in situ screw fixation for slipped capital femoral epiphysis: clinical, radiographic and patient-reported outcomes.

This study compares clinical, radiographic and patient-reported outcomes among telescoping and traditional screws for the treatment of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). We hypothesized that telescoping screws would prevent slip progression and result in preserved femoral neck growth and improved patient-reported outcomes. Traditional screws were compared to telescoping screws in a 2:1 matched cohort based on age at initial surgery, length of radiographic follow-up and whether or not the hip was pinned prophylactically or as a treatment for SCFE. Neck length and telescoping screw length were measured. The patient-reported outcomes were obtained at routine clinic visits. Total 42 hips were included with a mean follow-up of 24.5 ± 3.3 months. No patients developed avascular necrosis, chondrolysis or needed revision surgical procedures. Telescoping screws increased in length for the entire cohort by a mean of 6.0 ± 4.3 mm. Neck length change was not different in SCFE hips when treated with traditional screws vs. telescoping screws (P = 0.527). However, there was a difference in neck length change between the two groups when comparing prophylactically treated hips (P = 0.001). There were no significant differences in patient-reported outcomes among hips treated with telescoping screws compared to traditional screws. Traditional and telescoping screws are both effective for the treatment of SCFE. Telescoping screws have an advantage when prophylactically treating hips that are at risk of slipping as they don't lead to the coxa breva that is seen with traditional screws. However, both treatment methods had similar patient-reported outcomes.

Treatment of Hip Instability in Children With Down Syndrome: Keys to Managing a Challenging Problem.

INTRODUCTION: Management of hip instability in children with Down syndrome is a challenging task to undertake for even the most experienced surgeons. As life expectancy of these patients increases, the importance of preserving functional mobility and hip joint stability in order to minimize late hip degeneration and pain has become a priority. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of children with Down syndrome and hip instability who underwent surgical reconstruction with femoral and/or acetabular procedures. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all children with Down syndrome age 18 years and younger, who underwent surgical intervention to address hip instability between 2003 and 2017. Data was recorded detailing the patient's demographics, preoperative and postoperative functional status and surgical details. Preoperative and postoperative radiographic analysis was performed as well as 3-dimensional computed tomography scan evaluation, when available. All major and minor complications were recorded and classified using the Severin radiographic classification and the Clavien-Dindo-Sink clinical classification. RESULTS: We studied 28 hips in 19 children that were followed for an average of 4.4 years postsurgical intervention for hip instability. The majority of patients improved in all radiographic parameters. A total of 14 hips (50%) had complications and 9 hips (32%) required a secondary surgery. Of those complications, 2 hips (7%) developed avascular necrosis and 4 hips (14%) developed recurrent instability after the index procedure. Two of these hips had a subsequent anteverting periacetabular osteotomy that produced a stable hip at final follow up. DISCUSSION: Surgical management of hip instability in children with Down syndrome remains challenging. The treating surgeon must have a thorough understanding of the pathoanatomy and design the surgical treatment to meet all of the underlying sources of instability. Combined femoral and acetabular osteotomies plus capsulorrhaphy are often required along with postoperative hip spica immobilization. Although complication and revision surgery rates are high, hip stability and good functional outcomes can be achieved.