Purpose: This study aims to compare radiographic outcomes and complication rates of immobilization with an abduction pillow to spica casting for postoperative care after a hip reconstruction with varus derotational proximal femur osteotomy (VDRO) with or without pelvic osteotomy for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: 233 children (1-18 years old) diagnosed with CP that underwent VDRO with or without pelvic osteotomy were identified, of which 188 patients were immobilized with a spica cast and 45 were immobilized with an abduction pillow, based on surgeon preference. 123 (65%) in the Spica group and 21 (47%) in the pillow group had pelvic osteotomies. Demographic data and complication rates were collected. Radiographic parameters, including anatomic medial proximal femoral angle (aMPFA), acetabular index (AI) and migration percentage (MP), were measured for each patient at the completion of surgery, six weeks post-operatively, and one year post-operatively. Results: There was not a statistically significant difference in BMI (p = 0.285), gender distribution (p = 0.984), or median follow-up time (p = 0.314) between groups. Rates of complications were consistent among groups with no differences in instances of delayed unions (p = 0.10), subluxations (p = 0.55), infection (p = 0.71), or non-unions (p = 0.10). There was no statistically significant difference in number of patients with an ideal aMPFA, AI, or MP (p = 0.44, p = 0.19, p = 1.00) at one year post-operatively. Conclusions: Immobilization with an abduction pillow is a safe and effective alternative to hip spica casting following hip reconstruction.
BACKGROUND: Various methods exist for managing the joint capsule during the Latarjet procedure. Repairing the capsule to the native glenoid rim results in an extra-articular bone block, while repairing it to the remnant coracoacromial ligament stump of the coracoid graft renders it intra-articular. The technique that optimizes patient outcomes is not well defined. PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes of intra-articular and extra-articular bone block techniques for the Latarjet procedure. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, we queried the PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for all studies reporting outcomes of the Latarjet procedure with a clearly defined method of capsular repair that rendered the coracoid graft intra-articular or extra-articular. The included levels of evidence and degree of heterogeneity in this study precluded meta-analysis. Outcomes of interest included preoperative variables, surgical technique, rehabilitation protocols, functional outcome assessments, recurrent instability, range of motion, and radiographic findings. RESULTS: A total of 16 studies including 816 patients were included. A total of 8 studies employed an intra-articular bone block in 338 patients, while the other 8 employed an extra-articular technique in 478 patients. There was variation among studies in reference to baseline patient characteristics, surgical techniques, rehabilitation, methods for assessing patient outcomes, and follow-up times. Rates of postoperative instability were reported in 8 intra-articular (0%, 0%, 2.1%, 2.7%, 3.2%, 5%, 5.4%, 5.9%) and 7 extra-articular (0%, 0%, 1.2%, 2%, 3.9%, 6.3%, 14%) bone block studies. Postoperative osteoarthritis or progression of preoperative osteoarthritis was reported in 5 intra-articular bone block studies (0%, 5.6%, 23.5%, 23.5%, 25%) and 4 extra-articular bone block studies (0%, 1.9%, 5.2%, 8.6%). CONCLUSION: Varying capsular repair methods appeared to provide similar outcomes regarding stability. There was an apparent trend toward higher rates of post-traumatic arthritis among studies in which an intra-articular bone block technique was employed; however, it is possible that this was influenced by substantially different follow-up times between groups and other various sources of heterogeneity among the included studies. There were no studies in the literature directly comparing intra-articular and extra-articular bone block techniques. Large-scale randomized controlled trials or comparative studies are needed to draw stronger conclusions comparing the 2 techniques.
