Acute L5 pedicle fracture and contralateral spondylolysis in a 12-year-old boy: a case report.

Acute unilateral L5 pedicle fracture associated with a pre-existing contralateral spondylolysis is a rare lesion. We report a case in a non-competitive 12-year-old boy. We present the clinical, radiological and specific management of this rare condition. The clinical and radiological draft of this patient was reviewed. The follow-up was 30 months after fracture healing. Some cases reported in the literature were analyzed and our clinical findings and therapeutic strategy was compared and discussed. Non-operative treatment was done including full-time bracing in a modified Boston brace incorporating one thigh for 3 months. Plain radiographs and computed tomographic (CT)-scan performed at 3 and 6 months showed progressive healing of the pedicle fracture and no modification of the contralateral isthmic spondylolytic lesion. At final follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic and resumed all his activities. In skeletally immature patients, we think that conservative treatment should be considered as a treatment option for this unusual injury.

The progressive longitudinal traction reduction of unstable slipped capital femoral epiphysis: preliminary results in 11 patients.

PURPOSE: Unstable slipped capital femoral epiphysis is rare, but is frequently associated with avascular necrosis. The rapid and complete reduction of the epiphysis displacement was shown to be responsible for this complication. We present the preliminary results of a progressive reduction technique of epiphysis displacement. METHODS: A total of 11 patients treated using progressive traction and internal fixation were reviewed retrospectively. Only children who underwent clinical and radiological follow-up for at least 18 months were included in this study to detect avascular necrosis. RESULTS: The mean posterior displacement of the femoral head was 67 degrees and mean traction duration was 13 days. Of the patients, 2 had cutaneous problems requiring traction interruption, one on day 5 and the other on day 9. The mean residual slip was 16 degrees and 3 patients had complete or partial avascular necrosis well tolerated at the final follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our experience showed that if traction is supported for more than 2 weeks, a good correction of the epiphysis displacement can be obtained. Our short series does not allow affirmation of the superiority of our therapeutic strategy, especially with regards to avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

A specific closed percutaneous technique for reduction of Jeffery type II lesion.

Open reduction is commonly recommended in Jeffery type II fractures. Attempts to reduce these fractures percutaneously were reported as unsafe and unreliable. We revisited this technique and used a specific percutaneous reduction that turned out to be successful in two cases. Instead of lifting the radial head as described in leverage maneuver, we use a pushing-back procedure to reduce the fracture. The maneuver aims at suppressing the capitellum interposition between the head fragment and the metaphysis by reproducing the reversed trajectory of trauma. This reduction is made possible because of the posterior periosteal attachment of the radial head. A few weeks after the procedure, the two patients remained painless, recovered a complete range of motion in prono-supination and returned to sports. In these two cases, the procedure used led to a prompt recovery and provided a much better outcome than described with the classic open approach.

Spinal fracture through the neurocentral synchondrosis in battered children: a report of three cases.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. OBJECTIVE: To report 3 cases of unusual spinal fracture through the neurocentral synchondrosis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Traumatic lesions of the spine or spinal cord due to physical abuse are rare. We report 3 cases of vertebral fractures involving the neurocentral synchondrosis in battered children. METHODS: The medical data of the 3 cases were retrospectively reviewed. We discuss the pathomechanism and treatment strategies. RESULTS: In 2 cases, the vertebral body was displaced anteriorly and, in 1 case, posteriorly, all without neurologic compromise. The lateral radiographs showed vertebral displacement, but the diagnosis could be suspected on frontal views because of interpedicular distance widening. Treatment was nonoperative with bracing in 2 cases. In the third case, a posterior epiphysiodesis was done to avoid development of progressive kyphosis of the injured spine. One child treated nonoperatively died from other traumatic lesions associated with the physical abuse. In the 2 other cases, outcome was good with a well-balanced spine in 1 case and a moderate, well-tolerated kyphosis in the other case. CONCLUSIONS: Such spinal lesions are rare but could be conservatively treated in case of anterior vertebral displacement without vertebral endplate impairment. A posterior displacement of vertebral body could be responsible for a neurologic compromise.

Benefits of pamidronate in children with osteogenesis imperfecta: an open prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To study the efficacy of pamidronate in children with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients (median age 8.7 years), were given pamidronate in cyclic infusions of 3 days. Patients received 3-13 cycles (median 6), at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day in infants (below 2 years of age) and 1 mg/kg/day in children (2 years and older). The interval time between cycles was 2 months in infants and 4 months in children. The median follow-up was 16 months. All patients received daily supplementation of calcium, vitamin D and physical rehabilitation. Assessments were performed at baseline and before each cycle. Fracture rate under treatment was compared to the one in the pre-treatment period. RESULTS: Pain decreased after the first infusion cycle (P < 0.0001). The median of fracture incidence decreased from 15 to 0.5 per year in infants and from 2.0 to 1 per year in children (P = 0.04). Alkaline phosphatase decreased by 31.2% and N-telopeptide collagen cross-links decreased by 61.8% (P < 0.001). Bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine increased by a median of 55.4% (P < 0.001). Z-scores increased from a median of -4.7 to -2.6 (P < 0.001). The femoral neck, BMD increased by a median of 16%. The area of the first four lumbar vertebrae increased by a median of 21.5% (P < 0.001). No adverse effect on growth or on fracture healing was observed. Side effects were symptomatic hypocalcemia in one infant, and the transient acute phase reaction. CONCLUSION: Pamidronate increases BMD, decreases bone remodeling markers, pain and fracture rate in infants and children with OI.

Osteochondritis dissecans of the subtalar articular facet: an unusual diagnosis.

Osteochondritis dissecans of the talus is classically characterized by an abnormality of the articular cartilage of the talar dome. We report a rare case of a lesion of the subtalar facet in a 10-year-old boy. The lesion was responsible for a painful ankle with secondary instability. The diagnosis was made using plain radiographs and CT, which showed a well-circumscribed osteochondral fragment demarcated from the adjacent bone by a radiolucent line. The clinical outcome was favourable after a 6-week period with a non-weight-bearing short-leg cast.