Hyperbaric oxygen therapy enhances osteointegration of reimplanted cranial flap by regulating osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling.

Craniectomy is a lifesaving procedure to alleviate dangerously high intracranial pressure by removing a bone flap from the calvarium. However, the osteointegration of reimplanted bone flap with the existing bone tissue is still a clinical challenge. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy has shown efficacy in promoting bone repair and could be a promising treatment for accelerating postoperative recovery. However, the specific cell types that are responsive to HBO treatment are not well understood. In this study, we created a murine model of craniectomy, with reimplantation of the cranial flap after 1 week. The effects of HBO treatment on bone formation and blood vessel formation around reimplanted bone were examined by micro-computed tomography, histological staining, and immunofluorescence staining. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) was utilized to identify key cell subtypes and signaling pathways after HBO treatment. We found that HBO treatment increased bone volume around reimplanted cranial flaps. HBO also increased the volume of Osterix-expressing cells and type H vessels. scRNAseq data showed more mature osteoblasts and endothelial cells, with higher expressions of adhesion and migration-related genes after HBO treatment. Cell-cell interaction analysis revealed a higher expression level of genes between mature osteoblasts and endothelial cells from the angiopoietin 2-integrin α5ß1 pathway. Taken together, HBO therapy promotes the healing process of craniectomy by regulating the crosstalk between vascular endothelial cells and osteogenic cells. These findings provide evidence in a preclinical model that HBO therapy enhances osteointegration by regulating angiogenesis-osteogenesis coupling, providing a scientific basis for utilizing HBO therapy for accelerating postoperative recovery after craniectomy.

Clinical analysis of 1301 children with hand and foot fractures and growth plate injuries.

BACKGROUND: Fractures of hands and feet are common in children, but relevant epidemiological studies are currently lacking. We aim to study the epidemiological characteristics of hand and foot fractures and growth plate injuries in children and provide a theoretical basis for their prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of children with hand and foot fractures who were hospitalized at Shenzhen Children's Hospital between July 2015 and December 2020. Data on demographic characteristics, fracture site, treatment method, etiology of injury, and accompanying injuries were collected. The children were divided into four age groups: infants, preschool children, school children, and adolescents. The fracture sites were classified as first-level (the first-fifth finger/toe, metacarpal, metatarsal, carpal, and tarsal) and second-level (the first-fifth: proximal phalanx, middle phalanx, distal phalanx, metacarpal, and metatarsal) sites. The changing trends in fracture locations and injury causes among children in each age group were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 1301 children (1561 fractures; 835 boys and 466 girls) were included. The largest number of fractures occurred in preschool children (n = 549, 42.20%), with the distal phalanx of the third finger being the most common site (n = 73, 15.57%). The number of fractures in adolescents was the lowest (n = 158, 12.14%), and the most common fracture site was the proximal phalanx of the fifth finger (n = 45, 29.61%). Of the 1561 fractures, 1143 occurred in the hands and 418 in the feet. The most and least common first-level fracture sites among hand fractures were the fifth (n = 300, 26.25%) and first (n = 138, 12.07%) fingers, respectively. The most and least common first-level foot fracture locations were the first (n = 83, 19.86%) and fourth (n = 26, 6.22%) toes, respectively. The most common first-level and second level etiologies were life related injuries (n = 1128, 86.70%) and clipping injuries (n = 428, 32.90%), respectively. The incidence of sports injuries gradually increased with age, accounting for the highest proportion in adolescents (26.58%). Hand and foot fractures had many accompanying injuries, with the top three being nail bed injuries (570 cases, 36.52%), growth plate injuries (296 cases, 18.96%), and distal severed fracture (167 cases, 10.70%). Among the 296 growth plate injuries, 246 occurred on the hands and 50 on the feet. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to previous epidemiological studies on pediatric hand and foot fractures, we mapped the locations of these fractures, including proximal, shaft, distal, and epiphyseal plate injuries. We analyzed the changing trends in fracture sites and injury etiologies with age. Hand and foot fractures have many accompanying injuries that require attention during diagnosis and treatment. Doctors should formulate accident protection measures for children of different ages, strengthen safety education, and reduce the occurrence of accidental injuries.

Experience with the management of 2599 cases of congenital muscular torticollis and a multicenter epidemiological investigation in 17 hospitals in China.

BACKGROUND: Congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) is a common musculoskeletal disease affecting infants and young children. If CMT is not treated correctly and timely, it can lead to limited head and neck movements, head and neck deviation, and abnormal posture. In order to improve patients' symptoms and alleviate the negative impact of the disease on their lives, we are committed to exploring the treatment of CMT. METHODS: The general clinical and ultrasonographic data of 2599 children with CMT who received standardized treatment at Shenzhen Children's Hospital from 2004 to 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. According to given treatment, children with CMT were divided into the physiotherapy group, physiotherapy combined with glucocorticoid treatment group, and surgical treatment group. We divided children with CMT into local mass, uniform thickening, and atrophy according to ultrasound features. General clinical information, treatment, and ultrasound examination data in each group were compared. Additionally, electronic medical records of 2344 patients admitted due to CMT in 17 tertiary children's hospitals of China's Futang Research Center of Pediatric Development (FRCPD) from 2015 to 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Data on sex, age, year of admission and discharge, and treatment costs during hospitalization were extracted from the first medical record pages according to the ICD codes. The data were assessed for normality using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Depending on the data distribution, they were analyzed using parametric tests, such as the t-test, or non-parametric tests. Qualitative data are expressed as percentages (%) and analyzed using the chi-square or Fisher's exact probability test, with α = 0.05 as the test level. P < 0.05 was considered to be indicative of a statistically significant difference. RESULTS: Three types of CMT were defined based on sternocleidomastoid muscle ultrasound examination characteristics: local mass, uniform thickening, and atrophy. Age at first diagnosis was 69.21 ± 108.41 days in local mass type group, 216.85 ± 324.09 days in uniform thickening group, and 417.88 ± 739.05 days in atrophy- type group; while age at first physiotherapy use was 94.06 ± 206.49 days, 255.00 ± 430.62 days, 540.92 ± 1059.29 respectively. The children included in local mass type group have shown a high success rate of conservative treatment, with a rate of 7.5% of children underwent surgery. Age at first diagnosis was 112.44 ± 224.12 days in the physiotherapy group, 115.87 ± 144.86 days in the physiotherapy combined with glucocorticoid treatment subgroup, whereas the age at first physiotherapy use was 137.38 ± 312.11 and 196.91 ± 344.26 days respectively. In the observation period (2015-2019) the mean age at surgery for CMT in 17 tertiary children's hospitals of the FRCPD was 50 months. Overall, 663 children with CMT were 1-2 years of age, accounting for the largest proportion (28.3%). Followed by 417 individuals (17.8%) were 7-14 years of age, indicating that there are still more children with CMT receiving surgical treatment later. CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to improve the conservative treatment success rate and achieve good prognosis in children with CMT. Our team's concept for treating CMT is as follows: after diagnosing the children, we will adopt the standardized protocol of treatment, with physiotherapy combined with the injection of glucocorticoid drugs and SCM release surgery, when needed. This program has a high conservative treatment success rate and may facilitate the achievement of better prognosis and reduced teratogenicity rate.

Good outcomes of elbow arthroscopy-assisted absorbable screw fixation for capitellum fracture of the humerus in children: a case series.

Background: Capitellum fractures are rare coronal fractures of the distal humerus which accounts for 6% of all distal humeral fractures and only 1% of all elbow fractures. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and complications of arthroscopically assisted reduction and fixation with absorbable screws for capitellar fracture of the humerus in children. Methods: This was a retrospective case series study, which considered four patients (4 elbows), ranging from 10 to 15 years old, who were treated by arthroscopic-assisted percutaneous absorbable screw between 2018 and 2020. The elbow flexion-extension and forearm supination-pronation ranges of motion (ROM) were measured at the preoperative examination and last follow-up examination. Finally, the clinical and radiological results were assessed. Results: The result of operations is satisfactory. The mean follow-up was 3.0 years (range 2-3.8 years). Average range of motion significantly improved from pre- to postoperation, with forearm supination from 60°(50°-60°) to 90°(90°) and pronation improved from 75°(70°-80°) to 90°(90°). The postoperative elbow flexion-extension range of motion was significantly higher compared with range of motion before surgery (P < 0.001; r = 0.949). At the final follow-up examination, the Mayo Elbow Performance Score was excellent. Satisfactory clinical results were achieved in all patients, and no postoperative complications were observed. Conclusions: It is an effective and safe surgical option to use arthroscopic-assisted percutaneous absorbable screw fixation for treating capitellum fracture of the humerus without any complications in children. Level of evidence: Level IV; case series.

Fibrosis, adipogenesis, and muscle atrophy in congenital muscular torticollis.

In the traditional view, muscle atrophy and interstitial fibrosis were regarded as the basic pathological features of congenital muscular torticollis (CMT). But in the ultrastructure study, the mesenchyme-like cells, myoblasts, myofibroblasts, and fibroblasts were found in the proliferation of interstitium of CMT. To investigate the characteristics of pathological features and the mechanisms of muscle atrophy in CMT, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 185 CMT patients from July 2009 to July 2011 in Shenzhen Children's Hospital in China and performed pathological studies. According to age, the 185 CMT patients were divided into 4 groups. All resected surgical specimens were processed for hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson trichromic staining. Sudan III staining was used for frozen sections, whereas immunohistochemical staining for S-100, calpain-1, ubiquitin, and 20S proteasome was carried out on 40 CMT specimens. Eight adductor muscle specimens from 8 patients with development dysplasia of the hip were taken as control group in the immunohistochemical staining. By Masson trichromic staining, the differences in the percent area of fibrous tissue in each CMT groups were significant. In Sudan III staining and immunostaining for S-100, adipocyte hyperplasia was the pathological feature of CMT. Moreover, compared with controls, most atrophic muscle fibers in CMT specimens were found to show strong immunoreactivity for calpain-1, ubiquitin, and 20S proteasome. With increasing age, fibrosis peaked at both sides and it was low in middle age group. Adipocytes increased with age. The characteristics of pathological features in CMT are changeable with age. The calpain and the ubiquitin-proteasome system may play a role in muscle atrophy of CMT. In the CMT, adipogenesis, fibrogenesis, and myogenesis may be the results of mesenchyme-like cells in SCM (sternocleidomastoid muscle). In conclusion, the present study furthermore supports maldevelopment of the fetal SCM theory for etiology of CMT.