A retrospective study of treatment of genu valgum/varum with guided growth: Risk factors for a lower rate of angular correction.

The rate of angular correction (ROAC) is very unpredictable and may be affected by various factors in the treatment of genu valgum and varum by means of guided growth. The purpose of this study was to assess the ROAC in cases from our institution and to identify risk factors associated with the occurrence of lower ROAC.We retrospectively reviewed the chart records of 68 patients undergoing guided growth with figure-eight plate for the correction of genu valgum and varum. Based on the data from these patients, the annual increment of physeal growth was calculated and compared with data from the Anderson chart. The associations between patient characteristics and ROAC were evaluated with the use of univariate logistic regression.The mean rate of femoral angular correction was 10.29 degrees/year, while the mean rate of tibial angular correction was 7.92 degrees/year. In a univariate logistic regression analysis, the variables associated with a higher risk of lower ROAC included non-idiopathic coronal deformity of the knee (odds ratio = 13.58, p < 0.001) and body weight at or above the 95th percentile for children (odds ratio = 2.69, p = 0.020).Obesity and non-idiopathic coronal deformity of the knee are risk factors for lower ROAC. It is still uncertain whether severity of deformity, race, and operative procedure have a substantial effect on the rate of correction.Level III evidence.

[Management of displaced radial neck fractures in children: elastic stable intramedullary nailing vs K-wire fixation].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the complications and clinical outcome of titanium elastic nail(TEN) versus K-wire fixation(KW) for the treatment of displaced radial neck fractures in children. METHODS: From January 2009 to December 2014, 56 children with displaced radial neck fractures were studied retrospectively according to the inclusion criteria. Based on the different methods of internal fixation, patients were divided into two groups: titanium elastic nail (TEN group) and K-wire fixation (KW group). Among 25 patients(15 males and 11 females, aged from 3 to 12 years old with an average of 8.6±2.1) treated with TEN, 16 patients had type III fractures, 19 patients had type IV fractures according to Metaizeau-Judet modified classification; 20 patients were treated with closed reduction and 5 patients were treated with open reduction; the time from injury to treatment ranged from 1 to 8 days with an average of (3.6±1.7) days. Among 31 patients (20 males and 11 females, aged from 3 to 11 years old with an average of 9.1±1.9 years old) treated with KW, 19 patients had type III fractures, 12 patients had type IV fractures; 22 patients were treated with closed reduction, and 9 patients were treated with open reduction; the time from injury to treatment ranged from 2 to 7 days with an average of (3.7±1.5) days. No significant differences between two groups were found in general data. Operative time, hospitalization time, healing time of fracture, internal fixation time, postoperative complications and function recovery of the two groups were compared and evaluated. RESULTS: The average follow-up period of the patients was 22.1 months in TEN group(ranged, 16 to 48 months), and 21.9 months in KW group(ranged, 13 to 48 months). There were no significant differences between these 2 groups in follow-up duration, average hospitalization time and fracture healing time. The operation time, hospital costs and internal fixation time in TEN group were (56.6±11.8) min, (18 000±3 000) Yuan(RMB), (9.1±2.5) weeks respectively; and in KW group were(45.5±10.3) min, (8 000±1 000) Yuan(RMB), (4.8±1.6) weeks respectively, there were significant differences between two groups(P<0.05). Outcome scores according to Metaizeau and Tibone-Stoltz had no significant differences between two groups(P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is no significant difference of therapeutic effects between TEN and KW for children with displaced radial neck fractures. Because the removal of TEN fixation requires the secondary anesthesia, and the TEN costs significantly more than KW, TEN still can't replace the traditional KW for the treatment of radial neck fracture in children.

[Titanium elastic nail versus plate-screw fixation for the treatment of upper segment fractures of femoral shaft in children].

UNLABELLED: ABSTRA CT OBJECTIVE To compare the complications and clinical outcome of titanium elastic nail (TEN) versus plate-screw fixation (PF) for the treatment of upper segment fractures of femoral shaft in children. METHODS: From May 2006 and August 2012,32 consecutive children with upper segment fractures of femoral shaft were studied prospectively. They were randomly divided into TEN group and PF group. Ninteen patients were treated with titanic elastic nail (TEN) fixation including 11 males and 8 females with an average age of (6.9?2.2) years old ranging from 3 to 11,11 cases of them were type A, 6 cases were type B,2 cases were type C according to AO classification. The other 13 patients were treated with plate-screw fixation (PF) including 9 males and 4 females with an average age of (7.5±2.1) years old ranging from 5 to 12 years, and 3 cases of them were type A,6 cases were type B,2 cases were type C. Operative time, blood loss,incision length,the time of hospitalization,fracture healing time, postoperative complications and function recovery between two groups were compared and evaluated. RESULTS: The average follow-up period of the patients was 25.3 months (ranging from 15 to 48 months) in TEN group, and 36.2 months (ranging from 13 to 36 months) in the PF group. The operation time, time of hospitalization, the time of implants removed after the initial surgery, fracture healing time in TEN group were respectively (56.7±11.2) min, (6.6±3.9) d, (8.1±2.3) months, (12.6+3.8) weeks; and in PF group were respectively (51.5±8.3) min, (7.8±4.8) d, (7.8±1.6) months, (11.8±2.8) weeks, there was no significant difference between two groups (P>0.05). However, the length of incisions was (4.3±1.7) cm and the intraoperative blood loss was (12.7+3.2) ml in TEN group,which were significantly less than that in PF group respectively (89.2±21.1) ml and (11.6?2.3) cm (P<0.05). There was no statistically difference in postoperative in complication between two groups, but the patients in TEN group had a higher incidence of soft tissue irritation and misalignment. Outcome scores according to Sanders had no significant difference between two groups (P>0.05). In TEN group,the result was excellent in 13 cases, good in 3,fair in 2, and poor in 1, while in PF group excellent in 10, good in 2, fair in 1. CONCLUSION: There is no significant difference in therapeutic effects between TEN and PF for children with upper segment fractures of femoral shaft. The internal fixation should be selected according to the associated fracture type, weight, the expected value of the parents, scars, and so on.

Posterior interosseous nerve entrapment after Monteggia fracture-dislocation in children.

OBJECTIVE: Although most of nerve injuries associated with Monteggia fracture-dislocation in children are neurapraxias and will recover spontaneously after conservative treatment, surgical exploration of the involved nerve is always required in the cases with the entrapment of posterior interosseous nerve (PIN). However, the necessity and time frame for surgical intervention for specific patterns of nerve dysfunction remains controversial. The aim of the report is to observe and understand the pathology of PIN injury associated with Monteggia fracture-dislocation in children, and to propose the possible indication for the exploration of nerve. METHODS: Eight cases, six boys and two girls, with Monteggia fracture-dislocation complicated by PIN injury, managed operatively at the authors?Hospital from 2007 to 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. All the patients underwent the attempted closed reduction before they received exploration of PIN, with open reduction and internal fixation or successful closed reduction. RESULTS: The PIN was found to be trapped acutely posterior to the radiocapitellar joint in 4 out of 5 Type III Bado's Monteggia fractures. In the remaining cases, since there were longer time intervals from injury to operation, chronic compressive changes and epineural fibrosis of radial nerve were visualized. After a microsurgical neurolysis performed, the complete recovery in the nerve function was obtained in all the cases during the follow-up. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study suggest that every case of type III Monteggia fracture-dislocation with decreased or absent function of muscles innervated by PIN and an irreducible radial head in children should be viewed as an indication for immediate surgical exploration of the involved nerve to exclude a potential PIN entrapment.

[Clinical study of oral alendronate in the treatment of pediatric osteogenesis imperfecta].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of oral alendronate in children with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). METHODS: Eleven OI children were recruited from August 2008 to April 2011 at Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research to receive alendronate for a duration of (1.7 ± 0.3) years. The growth, fracture incidence, physical activity, the quality of daily life and safety parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: All patients obtained marked improvement. The rates of bone fractures decreased more remarkably than that at pre-treatment (0 - 1.2 fractures per year vs 0.5 - 5.0 fractures per year, medium 0 vs 1.40 fractures per year) (P = 0.003). Their levels of physical activities improved significantly (median level from 4 to 3, P = 0.004). There was significant post-treatment improvement in the self-care activity scores (median score from 43 to 73, P = 0.003). The bone density of lumbar vertebrae, long bones and metaphysis improved at post-treatment. The radiographic examinations revealed the thickness of bone cortex. The change in height did not show any significant difference. No change was found in the serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, alkaline phosphate or other biochemical markers. No adverse reaction occurred throughout treatment. CONCLUSION: Oral alendronate treatment reduces the incidence of bone fracture and improves physical activity and life quality in OI children, and as a well-tolerated regimen, it is both safe and effective in clinical practice.