No Difference in the Incidence of Complications in Pediatric Patients with Moderate Anemia 30 Days after Pediatric Hip Surgery with and without Blood Transfusion.

This study investigated the association between postoperative blood transfusion and the incidence of postoperative complications 30 days after pediatric hip surgery as well as factors significantly associated with 30-day postoperative complications. Patients were divided into two groups: those with postoperative complications and those with no complications. Postoperative hematocrit (Hct) was categorized as <25%, 25-30%, and >30%. Comparison was made between all postoperative complications at the 30-day follow-up that were influenced by anemia in patients who received transfusion and those who did not. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify factors independently associated with postoperative complications. The overall 30-day postoperative complication rate for all patients was 17% (24/138). No significant difference between the transfusion and the non-transfusion patients was found. Preoperative hematocrit (Hct) was significantly lower in the complications group (p = 0.030), and both length of stay and 30-day readmission were significantly higher in patients with complications (p = 0.011 and p < 0.001, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed female gender (OR: 3.50, 95% CI: 1.18-10.36; p = 0.026) and length of hospital stay (OR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.08-1.41; p = 0.004) to be factors independently associated with 30-day postoperative complications. However, no statistically significant difference in the incidence of complications at 30 days following pediatric hip dysplasia surgery was found between patients who received blood transfusion to maintain a Hct level ≥25% and those not receiving transfusion.

Medial Metaphyseal Beak Angle as a Predictor for Langenskiöld Stage II of Blount's Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the medial metaphyseal beak (MMB) cut-off angle predicting Langenskiöld stage II of Blount's disease and to study the intra-observer and inter-observer reliabilities of angle measurements and the influence of the experience level of observers. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on children aged 2-4 years from January 2000 to December 2017. Children were identified through a computer-based search. Children with Langenskiöld stage II of Blount's disease who had been initially evaluated at our institution were categorized into Blount group and children who were diagnosed with physiologic bowing were categorized into control group. Data on the patients' ages, genders, and affected sides were collected. The MMB angles were measured on standing anteroposterior radiographs of the knees. The angle was formed between one line drawn parallel to the medial cortex of the proximal tibia, and a second line running from the intersection of the first line with the proximal tibial metaphysis through to the most distal point of the MMB. Measurements were independently performed by six observers. All observers repeated the measurements 2 weeks after they were first done. RESULTS: There were 148 legs from 79 children (48 males and 31 females) with an average age of 28.6 months. The average MMB angle of the Blount group was 128.52° ± 5.38° (P-value <0.001) and of the control group was 114.45° ± 4.89°. The average femorotibial angle of the Blount group was 15.48° ± 6.81° (P-value <0.001) and of the control group was 7.71° ± 7.94°. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that an MMB angle >122° (sensitivity 92.7%; specificity 97.0%) was associated with Langenskiöld stage II. The intraclass correlation coefficient of the intra-observer reliability ranged from 0.93-0.97, and the inter-observer reliability was 0.93. CONCLUSIONS: By using anteroposterior (AP) radiographs of the knee, the MMB angle is a potential radiographic parameter to distinguish between Langenskiöld stage II of Blount's disease and physiologic bowed legs, with an MMB angle >122° predicting Langenskiöld stage II.

Do Different Tibial Osteotomy Techniques Affect Sagittal Alignment in Children with Blount Disease?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the radiographic outcomes following dome or wedge-shaped proximal tibial osteotomy in the management of infantile Blount disease with a particular interest in sagittal alignment of the knee joint. METHOD: Medical records of patients with Langenskiöld stage 2 Blount disease (aged ≤5 years) who underwent surgical correction between January 2005 and November 2019 were retrospectively identified. Patients with metabolic bone disease, bone tumors, prior traumatic fractures, congenital anomalies, inadequate plain films, and incomplete medical documents were excluded. Patient characteristics (e.g. age, gender, and body mass index [BMI]) and surgical characteristics (e.g. side, type of surgery, and follow-up times) were recorded. Antero-posterior (AP) and lateral knee radiographs were analyzed. Data were categorized by surgical technique as dome-shaped proximal tibial osteotomy or wedge-shaped proximal tibial osteotomy. The femorotibial angle (FTA) was used to evaluate the correction angle in varus deformities. Sagittal alignment of the lower limbs using the posterior tibial slope (PTS) angle was measured postoperatively at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, and at the final follow-up visit. RESULTS: The present study included 72 surgeries of 46 patients who had undergone proximal tibial osteotomy. Twenty-nine (63%) were male. The mean age of patients at the time of surgery was 34.50 months (range, 26-47). The mean weight was 23.11 ± 4.98 kg (mean ± SD); the mean height was 95.33 ± 6.36 cm, and the mean BMI was 25.32 ± 4.36 kg/m2 . The mean duration of follow up was 4.77 ± 2.78 years. Sixty-four patients (88.90%) received dome-shaped proximal osteotomy of the tibia, while 8 (11.10%) received wedge-shaped proximal osteotomy of the tibia. The average FTA of the total correction measured was 29.32° ± 7.98°. The demographic data of the two groups were not significantly different for gender, age, BMI, side follow-up times, and the total correction of varus deformities. In the dome-shaped osteotomy group, the mean correction of the FTA was 29.59° ± 7.45°. The mean degree of the PTS angle was 6.50° at 3 months, 6.38° at 6 months, 5.32° at 12 months, 5.17° at 24 months, and 5.53° at the final follow-up visit. In the wedge-shaped proximal tibial osteotomy group, the mean correction of the FTA was 27.25° ± 11.77°. The PTS was 6.00° at 3 months, 7.50° at 6 months, 7.00° at 12 months, 5.40° at 24 months, and 5.57° at the final follow-up visit. No significant difference was observed in the radiological outcome between surgical techniques. CONCLUSION: Dome and wedge-shaped proximal tibial osteotomies did not demonstrate significant differences in the PTS angle in children with Blount disease.

Does overcorrection cause any negative effect on pediatric missed Monteggia lesion?

PURPOSES: To evaluate the outcome of different types of ulna osteotomy in missed Monteggia fracture with a particular interest in anatomical correction and overcorrection techniques. The outcome between the two groups were compared on aspects of (1) clinical outcome (2) radiologic outcome. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with type 1 missed Monteggia fracture who underwent surgery between January 2005-2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the degrees of correction: group 1 anatomical correction (no ulnar dorsal angulation) and group 2 overcorrection (degrees of ulnar dorsal angulation ≥ 10°). Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Kim elbow performance score. Radiologic outcomes were categorized into four groups with regard to the radial head: excellent (complete reduction), good (slight subluxation), fair (moderate subluxation), and poor (dislocation). RESULTS: Eleven patients with anatomical ulna osteotomy and ten patients with overcorrection ulnar osteotomy were enrolled with a mean age of 7.95 (5-12) years at the time of operation. The mean duration from injury to surgery was 27.05 (3-120) months, and the mean period of follow-up was 29.90 ± 22.37 (12-84) months. The average angle of total correction measured in group 1 was 6.09° (3°-9°) and 28.37° (12°-40°), in group 2. Fair-to-poor radiological outcomes at the last follow-up were more frequently observed in overcorrection group (40% vs. 0%) (p = 0.035) as well as clinical outcome (20% vs. 0%) (p = 0.214). Among the patients in group 2, posterior dislocation was diagnosed in two patients at 18 months and 2 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: The postoperative result of overcorrection ulna osteotomy showed significant inferiority in radiologic outcome compared to anatomical correction. Overcorrection of ulna osteotomy could be associated with posterior dislocation of radial head.

Intra-Observer and Inter-Observer Reliability of Shaft Condylar Angle and Lateral Capitellohumeral Angle: Evaluation Based on Reliability in Different Ages and Levels of Experience.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this paper were: (i) to examine the intra-observer and inter-observer reliability of the shaft-condylar angle (SCA) and the lateral capitellohumeral angle (LCHA); (ii) to study the influence of experience level on the inter-observer and intra-observer reliability; and (iii) to determine the influence of the the age of the patients on reliability. METHOD: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. The study reviewed 81 elbow radiographs. The patients were aged between 2 and 13 years. All the images taken between 2000 and 2017 were independently measured by a senior pediatric orthopaedic surgeon, a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon, a pediatric orthopaedic fellow, an orthopaedic chief resident, a general practitioner, and a pediatric orthopaedic research assistant. Measurement was performed two times within a 2-week interval. Inexperienced observers (general practitioner and research assistant) were supervised by senior pediatric orthopaedic surgeons for at least 30 radiographs before performing the measurement. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (i) age 2-13 years; and (ii) no previous elbow fracture. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: elbow radiographs do not show true lateral view. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to calculate the reliability. RESULTS: The mean values of SCA and LCHA were 43° and 48°, respectively. For SCA, intra-observer reliability was excellent (ICC = 0.85) for one observer, good (range = 0.73-0.76) for three observers, and moderate (0.59) for one observer. Inter-observer reliability was moderate (0.48, 0.58), whereas the reliability categorized by age group showed excellent agreement (0.88-0.94). For LCHA, intra-observer reliability was excellent (0.84-0.89) for three observers and good (0.66-0.80) for two observers. Inter-observer reliability was moderate (0.44-0.45). Conversely, the reliability classified by age group showed excellent agreement (0.83-0.91). CONCLUSION: Intra-observer reliability for LCHA and SCA were excellent to good for most observers. Inter-observer reliability was moderate for LCHA and SCA. Reliability classified by age group showed excellent to good agreement. Reliability was influenced by the level of experience, especially for non-medical staff.