Hexapod Frame Correction of Proximal Tibial Recurvatum Caused Indirectly by a Femoral Aneurysmal Bone Cyst in an Adolescent: A Case Report and Systematic Review.

CASE: A 16-year-old boy presented with a recurrent distal femur aneurysmal bone cyst accompanied by a combined sagittal knee deformity (20° of femoral antecurvatum and 26.8° of tibial recurvatum) and limb shortening. After preoperative planning, the treatment involved new intralesional curettage, phenolization, and bone allograft filling. Additional procedures included distal extension femoral osteotomy with plate fixation, and proximal tibial osteotomy with, gradually corrected through a hexapod frame. At 2-year follow-up, lower limbs exhibited normoalignment and equal length. CONCLUSION: Complex knee deformities may occur with tumoral lesions around the knee but can be effectively addressed through double osteotomy and application of a hexapod frame.

Shortening dome osteotomy for correction of severe cubitus varus secondary to malunited supracondylar fractures in children.

The results of conventional corrective procedures remain suboptimal for severe cubitus varus deformities (> 30°) in children. We present the results of shortening dome osteotomy for the correction of such deformities. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We present retrospective review of prospectively collected data of 18 patients (11 boys and 7 girls) who underwent shortening dome osteotomy between January 2011 and December 2019 for severe cubitus varus deformities (> 30°) secondary to malunited supracondylar fracture. The procedure involved the removal of convexo-concave bone (5-8 mm wide) between the two domes. Humero-ulnar angles, lateral condylar prominence index (LCPI), and elbow range of movements were recorded preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: Mean age was 7.5 years (range 5 years-11 years). Indication for surgery was poor cosmesis in all the patients and tardy ulnar nerve symptoms in three patients. Mean preoperative humero-ulnar angle was 26.1° varus (range 22°-34°), while it was 7.1° valgus (range 0°-12°) for contralateral normal elbow. They were followed for a mean duration of 2.2 years (range 12 months-5.8 years). The mean postoperative valgus angle achieved was 7.3° (range 2°-12°) as total angular correction achieved was 34.4° (range 30°-44°) (p < 0.001). Radiological healing was observed in all the patients at mean duration of 7.1 weeks (range 5 weeks-9 weeks). Mean preoperative and postoperative LCPI were - 2.4 (range +4.7 to - 10.5) and - 1.7 (range +4.5 to - 5.1), respectively (p = 0.595). Three patients had pin tract infections and two of them responded to aseptic dressings and oral antibiotics, while another required early pin removal and additional protection in splint. All patients regained preoperative arc of motion within 6 months after the procedure. CONCLUSION: Shortening dome osteotomy is a safe and effective method for correcting severe cubitus varus deformities (> 30°) secondary to malunited supracondylar fracture in children.

Pediatric infrafossal fracture of the humerus: A case series.

OBJECTIVES: In this case series, we aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of the patients with infrafossal fracture of the humerus and to evaluate the upper extremity and elbow function with the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2005 and July 2020, the clinical data and radiographs of 2,443 children who were treated due to distal humerus fracture were retrospectively analyzed. A total of six patients (5 males, 1 female; mean age: 6.7±2.6 years, range, 3 to 11 years) treated due to an infrafossal fracture of the humerus were included. Radiographic measurements, such as Baumann's angle, lateral capitellohumeral angle, and carrying angle of the elbow, were performed. At the final follow-up, elbow joint range of motion (ROM) was measured, functional scores of the elbow and upper extremity were assessed. Complications were also recorded. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 62.8±47.4 (range, 20 to 140) months. Two patients underwent open and three underwent closed reduction and internal fixation by different surgeons. One of the patients was treated with a long-arm cast. There was no major elbow ROM limitation. There was no significant deterioration in the lateral capitellohumeral and elbow carrying angles of the patients. Baumann's angle was normal for all the patients; however, it could not be measured in two patients, as their epiphyses were closed. Four patients had an excellent MEPS and two patients a good MEPS. The QuickDASH scores were low in all patients. There were two patients with cubitus varus who were treated surgically using lateral closing-wedge corrective osteotomy. CONCLUSION: Infrafossal fracture of the humerus is a fracture type which is different from supracondylar and transcondylar fractures and has not been previously reported in the literature. Despite the cubitus varus developed in two of our patients, functionally satisfactory results were achieved in all patients at the end of the treatment. Due to the risk of developing cubitus varus, patients with infrafossal fracture of the humerus should be followed closely until the end of adolescence. Although the current study is very limited in terms of being a guide for the treatment, it may contribute to the literature in terms of defining a new fracture subtype.

A cadaveric study of ulnar nerve strain at the elbow associated with cubitus valgus/varus deformity.

BACKGROUND: Cubital tunnel syndrome can be caused by overtraction and dynamic compression in elbow deformities. The extent to which elbow deformities contribute to ulnar nerve strain is unknown. Here, we investigated ulnar nerve strain caused by cubitus valgus/varus deformity using fresh-frozen cadavers. METHODS: We used six fresh-frozen cadaver upper extremities. A strain gauge was placed on the ulnar nerve 2 cm proximal to the medial epicondyle of the humerus. For the elbow deformity model, osteotomy was performed at the distal humerus, and plate fixation was performed to create cubitus valgus/varus deformities (10°, 20°, and 30°). Ulnar nerve strain caused by elbow flexion (0-125°) was measured in both the normal and deformity models. The strains at different elbow flexion angles within each model were compared, and the strains at elbow extension and at maximum elbow flexion were compared between the normal model and each elbow deformity model. However, in the cubitus varus model, the ulnar nerve deflected more than the measurable range of the strain gauge; elbow flexion of 60° or more were considered effective values. Statistical analysis of the strain values was performed with Friedman test, followed by the Williams' test (the Shirley‒Williams' test for non-parametric analysis). RESULTS: In all models, ulnar nerve strain increased significantly from elbow extension to maximal flexion (control: 13.2%; cubitus valgus 10°: 13.6%; cubitus valgus 20°: 13.5%; cubitus valgus 30°: 12.2%; cubitus varus 10°: 8.3%; cubitus varus 20°: 8.2%; cubitus varus 30°: 6.3%, P < 0.001). The control and cubitus valgus models had similar values, but the cubitus varus models revealed that this deformity caused ulnar nerve relaxation. CONCLUSIONS: Ulnar nerve strain significantly increased during elbow flexion. No significant increase in strain 2 cm proximal to the medial epicondyle was observed in the cubitus valgus model. Major changes may have been observed in the measurement behind the medial epicondyle. In the cubitus varus model, the ulnar nerve was relaxed during elbow extension, but this effect was reduced by elbow flexion.

Effect of a functional brace in combination with physical therapy for early correction of cubitus varus in young children.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the clinical and radiologic outcomes of a functional brace in combination with physical therapy (FBPT) for early correction of cubitus varus in young children. METHODS: Eighteen consecutive patients with cubitus varus secondary to supracondylar fractures were enrolled between July 2017 and March 2019. We used the FBPT technique to correct varus and sagittal plane deformity for early cubitus varus in young children. The clinical evaluation included measurement of varus angulation, sagittal plane, and range of motion at three, six, and twelve months post-intervention. The clinical and radiographic results were assessed according to the Bellemore criteria. RESULTS: Pre-treatment humerus-elbow-wrist (HEW) angle measured on the affected side (varus deformity) ranged between -38° and -12° (average, -23.2°) while the post-treatment HEW angle ranged between -10° and + 15° (average, 8.8°). Compared with the unaffected side, no statistically significant difference was found in the affected side post-intervention (P > 0.05). According to the Bellemore criteria, we got excellent results in fourteen patients (77.8%), good results in three patients (16.7%), and poor result in one patient (5.5%). All patients and their parents (except one patient with residual varus deformities) were satisfied with the functional and cosmetic outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The FBPT is effective for the treatment of cubitus varus in children, especially for young children within 6 months of the injury.

Pelvic obliquity and measurement of hip displacement in children with cerebral palsy.

Background and purpose - Pelvic obliquity, common in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP), changes the muscle force vector on the hip joint and probably affects the risk of hip dislocation. We evaluated a new method for measurement of hip displacement in CP that takes the pelvic obliquity into account: the pelvic adjusted migration percentage (PAMP). Children and methods - From the Swedish surveillance program for cerebral palsy (CPUP), the first pelvic radiograph of 268 children <18 years in southern Sweden during a 3-year period were evaluated. Pelvic obliquity, PAMP, and the migration percentage (MP) were measured. 50 radiographs were randomly selected for analysis of interrater reliability by three raters using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The correlations between PAMP/MP and pelvic obliquity were analyzed with Pearson correlation coefficients. Results - The interrater reliability for all 3 measurements was high (ICCs 0.88-0.97). The correlation between the high side of the pelvic obliquity and the difference between right and left hip displacement was higher for PAMP (r = 0.70) than for MP (r = 0.41). Interpretation - The new PAMP measurement showed high interrater reliability and a higher correlation with pelvic obliquity than MP. We suggest the use of PAMP at least in hips with a pelvic obliquity exceeding 5°.

Femoral Derotation Osteotomy in Adults for Version Abnormalities.

BACKGROUND: Version abnormalities of the femur can cause pain and hip joint damage due to impingement or instability. A retrospective clinical review was conducted on patients undergoing a subtrochanteric derotation osteotomy for either excessive anteversion or retroversion of the femur. METHODS: A total of 55 derotation osteotomies were performed in 43 patients: 36 females and 7 males. The average age was 29 years (range, 14 to 59 years). The osteotomies were performed closed with an intramedullary saw. Fixation was performed with a variety of intramedullary nails. Twenty-nine percent of patients had a retroversion deformity (average, -9° of retroversion; range, +2° to -23°) and 71% had excessive anteversion of the femur (average, +37° of anteversion; range, +22° to +53°). The etiology was posttraumatic in 5 patients (12%), diplegic cerebral palsy in 2 patients (5%), Prader-Willi syndrome in 1 patient (2%), and idiopathic in 35 patients (81%). Forty-nine percent underwent concomitant surgery with the index femoral derotation osteotomy, including hip arthroscopy in 40%, tibial derotation osteotomy in 13%, and a periacetabular osteotomy in 5%. Tibial osteotomies were performed to correct a compensatory excessive external tibial torsion that would be exacerbated in the correction of excessive femoral anteversion. RESULTS: No patient was lost to follow-up. Failures occurred in three hips in three patients (5%): two hip arthroplasties and one nonunion that healed after rerodding. There was one late infection treated successfully with implant removal and antibiotics with an excellent final clinical outcome. At an average follow-up of 6.5 years (range, 2 to 19.7 years), the modified Harris Hip Score improved by 29 points in the remaining 52 cases (P < 0.001, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). The results were rated as excellent in 75%, good in 23%, and fair in 2%. Subsequent surgery was required in 78% of hips, 91% of which were implant removals. CONCLUSIONS: A closed, subtrochanteric derotation osteotomy of the femur is a safe and effective procedure to treat either femoral retroversion or excessive anteversion. Excellent or good results were obtained in 93%, despite the need for subsequent implant removal in more than two-thirds of the patients.

Association of Hip Radiograph Findings With Pain and Function in Patients Presenting With Low Back Pain.

BACKGROUND: Relationships between low back pain (LBP) and the hip in patient cohorts have been described primarily in patients with moderate to severe hip osteoarthritis (OA). Less is known about the links of LBP with hip radiographic findings of hip deformity and minimal OA. OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence of radiographic hip deformity or hip OA; to describe and compare spine- and hip-related pain and function in the subset of patients who were found to have radiographic hip deformity or hip OA; and to compare patients with evidence of radiographic hip deformity or hip OA to patients without hip radiographic findings. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study with cross-sectional design. SETTING: Tertiary university. PATIENTS: A total of 63 patients (40 women, 23 men) with a mean age of 48.5 ± 14 years with LBP and a minimum of one positive provocative hip test. METHODS: Hip radiographs were assessed by an independent examiner for hip OA and deformity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Comparisons of hip and lumbar spine pain and function were completed for patients with radiographic findings of hip OA or deformity. RESULTS: Moderate to severe hip OA was found in 12 of 60 patients (20.0%). At least one measurement of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) was found in 14 of 60 patients (23.3%) to 33 of 45 patients (73.3%). At least one measurement of developmental hip dysplasia (DDH) was found in 7 of 60 patients (11.6%) to 11 of 63 patients (17.4%). Greater pain and reduced hip and lumbar spine function were found in the patients with moderate to severe hip OA. Patients with LBP and FAI were found to have significantly greater extremes of pain and reduced lumbar spine function. CONCLUSION: Links between the hip and the spine affecting pain and function may be found in patients with LBP and hip deformity and before the onset of radiographic hip OA, and may be associated with hip deformity. Further investigation is needed to better understand these links and their potential impact on prognosis and treatment of LBP. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Associations of markers of matrix metabolism, inflammation markers, and adipokines with superior cam deformity of the hip and their relation with future hip osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: First, to study how markers of matrix metabolism, inflammation markers, and adipokines relate to (superior) cam deformity and (possible) cam impingement of the hip. Second, to investigate whether they can identify subjects with cam deformity that are at risk of future hip osteoarthritis (OA). METHOD: In a cohort of 1002 subjects (CHECK), (superior) cam deformity was defined by an alpha angle >60° on anteroposterior pelvic radiographs and (possible) cam impingement by a cam deformity together with internal hip rotation ≤20°. Hip OA at 5-year follow-up was defined by Kellgren and Lawrence grade ≥2 or total hip replacement. RESULTS: Subjects with (superior) cam deformity and (possible) cam impingement showed lower levels of bone turnover markers (uCTX-I, uNTX-I, sPINP, sOC) than those without. Cam deformity was positively associated with future hip OA, but associations were weaker at high levels of bone turnover. sCOMP and sHA levels were higher in subjects with cam deformity, while other cartilage and synovium markers were not. Some markers of inflammation (pLeptin, pAdiponectin, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate) were lower in presence of cam deformity and cam impingement, but high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was not. Most associations depended largely on gender differences. CONCLUSION: Bone metabolism may be relevant in the pathogenesis of (superior) cam deformity and in the development of (superior) cam deformity into hip OA. Subjects with cam deformity and cam impingement surprisingly showed lower levels of inflammation markers and adipokines. Associations of cartilage turnover markers with cam deformity and cam impingement were less obvious.

The difficult primary total knee arthroplasty: a review.

Primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a reliable procedure with reproducible long-term results. Nevertheless, there are conditions related to the type of patient or local conditions of the knee that can make it a difficult procedure. The most common scenarios that make it difficult are discussed in this review. These include patients with many previous operations and incisions, and those with severe coronal deformities, genu recurvatum, a stiff knee, extra-articular deformities and those who have previously undergone osteotomy around the knee and those with chronic dislocation of the patella. Each condition is analysed according to the characteristics of the patient, the pre-operative planning and the reported outcomes. When approaching the difficult primary TKA surgeons should use a systematic approach, which begins with the review of the existing literature for each specific clinical situation.

Computer-assisted osteotomy for valgus knees: medium-term results of 29 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Computer-assisted surgery has been shown to be beneficial for correcting misaligned lower limbs. The purpose of this study was to analyze the medium-term results of computer-assisted osteotomy for 29 valgus knees. The hypothesis was that computer navigation would allow a valgus deformity to be corrected with similar precision as varus deformity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The series consisted of 27 patients (29 knees); there were 7 men and 20 women with ages ranging from 15 to 63 years (mean: 42.4±14.3 years). Twenty-four varus osteotomies of the femur (14 medial closing and 10 lateral opening) and five double osteotomies (proximal tibia and distal femur) were performed. The pre-operative functional status was evaluated with the Lysholm-Tegner score. The mean score was 64±20.5 points (range: 18-100). According to Ahlbäck's modified classification for knee osteoarthritis, 12 patients were at stage 1, nine were at stage 2, five at stage 3 and one at stage 4. Two of the knees had no radiological signs of osteoarthritis but had a particularly unsightly deformity; one of these was secondary to high tibial valgus osteotomy. The mean pre-operative hip-knee-angle (HKA) angle was 189.3±3.9°; the mean mechanical medial distal femoral angle (mMDFA) was 97.2±2.6° and mechanical medial proximal tibial angle (mMPTA) was 90.1±2.8°. The goal was to achieve an HKA angle of 179±2° and mMPTA of 90±2° to avoid an oblique joint line. Functional outcomes were evaluated with the Lysholm-Tegner, KOOS and IKS scores. RESULTS: No complications other than a transient paralysis of the common fibular nerve were observed. Twenty-three patients (25 knees) were reviewed at a mean follow-up of 50.9±38.8 months (range: 6-144). The mean Lysholm-Tegner score was 92.9±4 points (86-100), the mean KOOS was 89.7±9.3 (range: 68-100), the mean IKS "knee" score was 88.7±11.4 points (range: 60-100) and the "function" score was 90.6±13.3 points (range: 55-100). Twenty-two patients were satisfied or very satisfied. The mean HKA angle was 180.1±1.9°, the mean mMDFA 90.7±2.5° and the mean mMPTA 89.1±1.9°. The pre-operative goal was achieved in 86.2% of cases (25/29) for the HKA angle and 100% of cases of the mMPTA angle. At the follow-up, none of the knees had been revised with a prosthesis. CONCLUSION: Computer-assisted osteotomy for cases of osteoarthritis secondary to valgus knee leads to excellent medium-term results. Navigation provides reliable and accurate deformity correction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV. Retrospective study.

A comparative study of the correction of femoral deformity between the Ilizarov apparatus and Ortho-SUV Frame.

PURPOSES: This study compared the six-axis external fixator Ortho-SUV Frame (OSF) and the Ilizarov apparatus (IA) in femoral deformity correction. Our specific questions were: (1) which of the fixators (OSF or IA) provides shorter period of femoral deformity correction, and (2) which of the fixators (OSF or IA) provides better accuracy of correction. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 123 cases of femoral deformities (127 femora): 45 (47) treated with OSF (20 male and 27 female) and 78 (80) with IA (53 male and 27 female). The average age in the OSF group was 34.6 (range, 18-66) and in the IA group 35.8 (range, 18-76). All the deformities were categorized according to the number of planes and deformity components as simple, middle and complex deformities. RESULTS: Elimination of simple deformities in the IA group took 58.3 ± 21.4 days, EFI 58.8 ± 39.8 days/cm, and lengthening was 4.6 ± 1.98 cm. Middle deformities were 71.3 ± 26.2, 61.9 ± 30.3 and 4 ± 2, respectively. In complex deformities we had 105.2 ± 21.8, 79.3 ± 35.4 and 3.2 ± 1.45, respectively. Normal alignment was achieved in 55.0% of cases in IA. In 45.0% of cases we had residual deformity. Elimination of simple deformations in the OSF group took 55.3 ± 12.8 days, EFI 47.5 ± 23 days/cm, and lengthening 4.5 ± 1.1 сm. Middle deformities were 43.6 ± 18.9, 59 ± 14.6 and 3.6 ± 2, respectively. In complex deformities we had 44.9 ± 11.5, 57.5 ± 9.4 and 3.6 ± 1.7, respectively. In the OSF group normal alignment was achieved in 85.1%. In 14.9% there was residual deformity. CONCLUSION: Using OSF simplifies deformity correction and reduces its period by 2.3 times in complex deformities and by 1.6 times in middle deformities. Accuracy of correction with OSF was significantly higher than correction with IA.

The minimally invasive far medial subvastus approach for total knee arthroplasty in valgus knees.

PURPOSE: The lateral approach in the valgus knee asks for a lot of soft tissue releases during the arthrotomy. The hypothesis of this study was that the far medial subvastus approach could be used in valgus knees and would guarantee both functional and radiological good to excellent results. METHODS: This is a retrospective study on 78 patients (84 knees) undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for type I or II fixed valgus knees. The mean (SD) preoperative mechanical alignment was 187° (4°) HKA angle. Functional recovery, pain, tourniquet times, necessary soft tissue releases as well as radiological alignment were measured. RESULTS: The Knee Score improved significantly from 45 (10) to 90 (10) (P < 0.05) and the function score improved as well from 35 (20) to 85 (10) (P < 0.05). Flexion improved from 110° (10°) to 137° (8°). Hospital stay was 4 (1.2) days. Alignment was corrected to 181° (1.5°) HKA angle with a postoperative joint line shift of +2.8 (3.2) mm. No clinical instability, as evaluated by the senior author, or osteolytic lines was observed at minimal one-year radiological follow-up. CONCLUSION: The far medial subvastus approach is an excellent approach to perform Krackow type I and II TKA with primary PS implants.

Total knee arthroplasty with patient-specific instruments improves function and restores limb alignment in patients with extra-articular deformity.

BACKGROUND: Restoring function and alignment when treating knee arthritis with a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients who have an extra-articular deformity (EAD) from a malunion or with retained femoral hardware is a challenge. The normal anatomical landmarks are hard to find and difficult to use to obtain correct alignment. The procedure will be further challenged by angular deformity of the femur or tibia. A retrospective study was performed on a case series of patients with EAD or obliteration of the canal treated with patient-specific instruments (PSI). METHODS: A multicenter retrospective review of 10 patients with multiplanar deformities in which the knee components were aligned with patient-specific instruments was performed. Outcome and alignment were studied. RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 3.4years, function improved from preoperative as evidenced by a mean increase in the KS pain score of 53 points, KS function score of 48 points and Oxford Score of 28 points (P<0.05). Flexion improved from 94° +/- 11° to 112° +/- 15° (P<0.05). Limb alignment was restored with a mean Hip-Knee-Ankle angle of 179.3° +/- 1.3° (P<0.05). Maximum outliers were 177° to 181°. An average tourniquet time of 75 +/- 9minutes (range, 62-83min) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The use of patient-specific instrumentation systems to perform TKA in patients without access to the intramedullary canal because of EAD or fixation devices, improved function and restored limb alignment. Mechanical alignment can easily be obtained with this technique by intra-articular correction of deformities under 20°. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Efficacy of combined osteotomy and ulnar nerve transposition for cubitus valgus with ulnar nerve palsy in adults.

BACKGROUND: Tardy ulnar nerve palsy is a common late complication of traumatic cubitus valgus deformity. Whether both problems can be corrected together, safely and effectively, in a single surgical procedure remains unknown. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We therefore reviewed a patient cohort having this combined surgery and compared preoperatively and at a minimum of 24 months postoperatively (1) active elbow ROM; (2) radiographic correction of the cubitus valgus deformity of the preoperative and postoperative humerus-elbow-wrist angles and the medial prominence index; (3) ulnar nerve function through grip strength and static two-point discrimination; and (4) overall upper limb disability by the DASH score. METHODS: Between 2004 and 2009, 13 patients who had traumatic cubitus valgus deformities and tardy ulnar nerve palsy (Dellon's Grade III) were treated with simultaneous supracondylar dome osteotomy and anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve and were reviewed retrospectively. The minimum followup was 24 months (mean, 33 months; range, 24-52 months). RESULTS: The mean preoperative ROM was 16° to 124° and mean postoperative ROM was 10° to 126°. All osteotomies healed uneventfully. The mean postoperative humerus-elbow-wrist angle was 11° and the average correction was 24°. None of the patients had recurrence of the deformity or residual prominence of the medial condyle at the last followup. The mean grip strength and static two-point discrimination improved from 20 kg of force and 6.9 mm to 27 kg of force and 4.0 mm (p=0.002 and p=0.004, respectively). Subjective ulnar nerve symptoms improved in all but one patient. The mean DASH score improved from 29 points to 16 points (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: A combined supracondylar dome osteotomy and anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve is effective in correcting posttraumatic cubitus valgus deformity and its associated ulnar nerve palsy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Correction and recurrence of ankle valgus in skeletally immature patients with multiple hereditary exostoses.

BACKGROUND: Ankle valgus is encountered in children with a variety of congenital musculoskeletal disorders, including multiple hereditary exostoses (MHE). Guided growth with temporary distal tibial medial hemiepiphysiodesis (DTMH) may correct the deformity; however, exostoses about the ankle commonly observed in MHE patients may hinder correction and increase the risk of recurrence. Thus, the purpose of this study was to review the outcomes of DTMH in treatment of ankle valgus in MHE versus other diagnosis (non-MHE). METHODS: Medical records and radiographs of patients undergoing DTMH for ankle valgus between January 1, 2005, and November 1, 2010, at a single pediatric orthopedic hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Radiographs obtained preoperatively and at 6-month intervals postoperatively were reviewed and the tibiotalar angle was measured. RESULTS: Fifty-eight ankles in 41 patients met inclusion criteria, with minimum follow-up of 12 months (mean, 34 months). Mean age was 10 years (range, 4-14 years). MHE was the most common underlying diagnosis (19 ankles, 33%). The rate of tibiotalar angle correction (mean ± standard deviation) with hardware in place was 0.37 ± 0.28 deg/mo in MHE ankles and 0.51 ± 0.42 deg/mo in non-MHE ankles (P = .161). Following hardware removal, the rate of recurrence was faster in MHE (0.29 ± 0.25 deg/mo) compared with non-MHE ankles (0.12 ± 0.19 deg/mo) (P = .059), and more total recurrent valgus deformity was observed in MHE (7.8 ± 8.2 degrees) than non-MHE ankles (3.4 ± 4.6 degrees) (P = .08) over a similar follow-up period (mean 23.4 vs 23.6 months, respectively), with differences approaching statistical significance. CONCLUSION: MHE is a common cause of ankle valgus in children. Guided growth interventions in this population can be successful but require special consideration given the potential for relatively gradual deformity correction and rapid recurrence following hardware removal in the skeletally immature. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Anterior inferior iliac spine deformity as an extra-articular source for hip impingement: a series of 10 patients treated with arthroscopic decompression.

PURPOSE: To describe an arthroscopic technique for decompression of a prominent anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) leading to extra-articular hip impingement and to provide short-term outcome after this procedure. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed office charts, imaging studies, operative reports, arthroscopic images, preoperative and postoperative hip flexion range of motion, and preoperative and postoperative modified Harris Hip Scores in a consecutive series of 10 male patients who had arthroscopic decompression of symptomatic AIIS deformities leading to extra-articular hip impingement. The procedure was performed through standard anterolateral and mid-anterior hip arthroscopy portals that were also used to explore the joint and address concomitant intra-articular pathologies. RESULTS: The mean age was 24.9 years, with 8 of 10 patients aged younger than 30 years. In 9 patients, an anterior cam lesion was identified and decompressed before the AIIS decompression. The mean follow-up time was 14.7 months (range, 6 to 26 months). Hip flexion range of motion improved from 99° ± 7° before surgery to 117° ± 8° after surgery (P < .001). The modified Harris Hip Score improved from 64 ± 18 before surgery to 98 ± 2 at latest follow-up after surgery (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic decompression of a symptomatic AIIS deformity is a reproducible procedure that can provide excellent outcomes at short-term follow-up. As opposed to using an open approach for decompressing a prominent AIIS, an arthroscopic approach may be of particular value in patients with mixed intra- and extra-articular sources of hip dysfunction, because it enables the surgeon to address all pathologies with a single arthroscopic procedure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Navigation-assisted total knee arthroplasty in knees with osteoarthritis due to extra-articular deformity.

PURPOSE: Extra-articular post-traumatic deformity may make difficult the implantation of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Staged surgical procedures, including femoral or tibial osteotomy, can be required to restore proper alignment. These procedures may be inappropriate because of high rate of complications. Intra-articular resection is an alternative procedure, but it is limited by the potential compromise of collateral knee ligaments. Conventional instrumentation cannot be used in patients with previous trauma and residual bone deformity. We want to assess whether computer-assisted surgery may be a good alternative to traditional techniques. METHODS: Twenty consecutive TKAs were performed in 20 patients (12 men and 8 women) with knee arthritis due to extra-articular deformity. The mean age was 52 years. According to Moreland method, the mean (± standard deviation) of the pre-operative hip-knee-ankle angle was 10.4° ± 8.3° in varus. In all cases, an image-free knee navigation system was used because of the severe deformity or the presence of retained hardware that prevented the use of the intramedullary rod. The average follow-up was 3.1 years. RESULTS: One month after surgery, the mean hip-knee-ankle angle was 0.8° ± 1.2° in varus. At follow-up, the Knee Society Score increased from an average of 48 pre-operatively to 91 (P < 0.05) post-operatively, with over 90% of excellent and good results. Mean range of motion improved from a 7°-74° mean range pre-operatively to 0°-94° post-operatively. CONCLUSIONS: The general value of navigation systems in achieving accurate bone cuts and restoring the mechanical axis has been established in the literature for standard TKA but not yet for extra-articular deformity. Our findings at mid-term follow-up on a large cohort of these patients showed that these systems used for intra-articular resection are a very effective alternative to previous techniques. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prospective study, Level IV.

Rotational profile of lower limb and axis for tibial component alignment in varus osteoarthritic knees.

The purposes of this study were to describe the changes in tibial torsion and knee rotation in varus osteoarthritic knees and to check the reliability of reference axis, for tibial component placement, based on femoral transepicondylar axis in these patients. A secondary goal was to determine which reference axis based on proximal tibia is most accurate for determining tibial component rotation. Fifty-two varus osteoarthritic knees and 20 normal knees were analyzed using computed tomographic scan. Tibial torsion and knee rotation were significantly reduced in patients with osteoarthritis. Reference axis based on posterior tibial condyles was most accurate and least variable for tibial component alignment. A significant negative correlation was found between knee rotation and tibial axis based on transepicondylar axis (r = -0.485).

Predictors and outcomes of lateral release in total knee arthroplasty: a cohort study of 1859 knees.

The use of lateral retinacular release (LR) to improve patellar tracking during total knee arthroplasty (TKR) remains contentious. This cohort study explored which pre-operative factors predicted LR, and analysed the effect of LR on short term complications and long term outcomes. One thousand eight hundred fifty-nine TKR patients were followed up for a mean of 5.49 years. One hundred fifty-four (8.3%) underwent LR. After regression analysis only, valgus deformity, year of surgery, maximal flexion and the operative surgeon predicted LR. LR patients stayed longer in hospital (10.8 vs 8.6 days) and had higher transfusion rates (20.3% vs 10.1%) than non-LR patients, but patellar fracture and infection rates were the same. Range of motion was poorer in the LR patients, but AKS Knee and functional scores were unaffected long term.