Excision of Rudimentary Preaxial Polydactyly of the Hand with Use of Electrocautery.

BACKGROUND: Suture ligation has been used widely for the treatment of rudimentary type extra digits, but several complications related to this treatment have been reported. The purpose of this study was to describe a new technique for excision of rudimentary preaxial polydactyly of the hand using electrocautery and assess its clinical outcomes. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective study of 34 thumbs (32 patients) that had undergone excision of rudimentary preaxial polydactyly using electrocautery under local anesthesia. The mean follow-up period was 16.5 months. RESULTS: All children had full range of thumb motion without angular deformity at the most recent follow-up. There were no postoperative complications such as bleeding or infection. In 33 thumbs (97.1% of 34 thumbs), there were no signs of residual digit prominence. One thumb had a residual digit prominence at the extra digit removal site. In two thumbs, scar hypertrophy was evident at the operation site. All parents of the patients except two were very satisfied with this technique and the mean visual analog scale score for satisfaction was 9.5 ± 2.0 (range, 0-10). CONCLUSIONS: Excision of rudimentary preaxial polydactyly of the hand with the use of electrocautery could remove an extra digit completely in 97.1% of the cases. This technique would be a useful alternative to suture ligation, surgical clip application, or surgical excision for the treatment of rudimentary preaxial polydactyly of the hand.

Association Between Vertebral Rotation Pattern and Curve Morphology in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

OBJECTIVES: Although rotation is an important aspect of pathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), there are no studies demonstrating rotation pattern by directly measuring rotation angle in computed tomography (CT) images. The present retrospective comparative radiographic study was conducted to evaluate the rotation pattern in AIS and its relation to curve morphology and Lenke classification. METHODS: The study included 245 patients diagnosed with AIS and evaluated with a preoperative CT scan. Rotation angle of each vertebrae was measured using reconstructed axial CT images. Lenke classification of scoliosis curvature, Cobb angle, location of apical vertebra and end vertebra, level of most rotated vertebra (MRV), and rotational shift vertebra were recorded. Student's t-test, analysis of variance test, and correlation analysis were performed to identify the characteristics of rotation patterns in each Lenke type. RESULTS: The rotation angle of MRV was significantly correlated with the Cobb angle. The level of MRV and rotation angle of MRV demonstrated significant correlation in both the main thoracic curve and lumbar curve, which signified that MRV located near the thoracolumbar junction is related to more severe rotational deformity. The level of MRV was also significantly correlated to the Cobb angle in both the main thoracic curve and lumbar curve. The types of structural curves proximal to major structural curves, such as type 2, 4, and 6, demonstrated more severe rotational and coronal plane deformities as compared with types 1, 3, and 5. CONCLUSIONS: Curves with different Lenke types demonstrated different levels of MRV and severity of rotation. The results suggest that different center levels of rotation, signified by MRV, are a factor determining curve morphology. The findings would be a basis of connection between 2-dimensional classification and transverse plane deformity.

Disc Wedge and Vertebral Body Tilt Angle Below Lower Instrumented Vertebra After Posterior Correction and Fusion in Patients With a Structural Thoracolumbar/Lumbar Curve: A Minimum 5-Year Follow-up.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stability of remained lumbar curve by the review of serial changes in L3/L4 disc wedge and L4 body tilt angle in patients with idiopathic scoliosis who underwent posterior-only fusion to L3 lower instrumented vertebra (LIV) for the correction of structural thoracolumbar/lumbar (TL/L) curve for a minimum 5-year follow-up. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There has been some debate in the selection of L3 or L4 as the LIV for the correction of structural TL/L curve. However, there is a limited information about the changes in disc wedge or vertebral body tilt angles below the L3 LIV. METHODS: Forty-seven patients were included (mean age 16 yr 7 mo, follow-up 8 yr 2 mo). The Cobb angle of the TL/L curve, L3/L4 disc wedge angle, L4 tilt angle, trunk shift (TS), and apical vertebral translation (AVT) were compared preoperatively and at postoperative 5 days, 1 month, 6 months, 2 years, and final follow-up. RESULTS: At postoperative 5 days, Cobb angle of the TL/L curve, L4 tilt angle, and AVT were improved, except TS and L3/L4 disc wedge angle. The L3/L4 disc wedge and L4 tilt angle were most increased at postoperative 6 months and decreased thereafter. L4 tilt angle, AVT, and TS were improved during postoperative follow-up, except L3/L4 disc wedge angle. Finally, Cobb angle of the TL/L curve (11.8°â€Š±â€Š5.1°, P < 0.001), L4 tilt angle (7.6°â€Š±â€Š4.0°, P < 0.001), AVT (19.2 ±â€Š9.3 mm, P < 0.001), and TS (-5.0 ±â€Š10.0 mm, P = 0.041) were improved; however, L3/L4 disc wedge angle (3.3°â€Š±â€Š2.3°, P = 0.442) was not improved compared to the preoperative evaluation. CONCLUSION: When LIV was selected as the L3, the correction of TL/L curve was maintained in a minimum 5-year follow-up with the improvement of L4 tilt angle, AVT, and TS; however, L3/L4 disc wedge angle may remain. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.