ABSTRACT
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is a common adolescent hip disorder that can lead to complex proximal femur deformities and devastating consequences such as avascular necrosis, femoroacetabular impingement syndrome and early-onset osteoarthritis. Existing surgical techniques are often insufficient to fully address the constellation of multiplanar deformities in patients with severe SCFE. Therefore, the McMaster Osteotomy, a novel intertrochanteric proximal femur osteotomy, was developed to improve anatomic correction and hip mechanics in patients with chronic SCFE. The McMaster Osteotomy was implemented in two patients (A: 16-year-old male, B: 17-year-old female) with proximal femur deformities due to chronic SCFE. Surgical planning was facilitated with a 3D-printed pelvic model generated from a CT scan of a patient with the SCFE deformity. Patient B also underwent concurrent arthroscopic osteochondroplasty and labral repair. Pre- and post-operative function and radiographic measurements were recorded. Post-operatively, patient A's neck-shaft angle improved from 125° to 136°, Southwick angle from 52° to 33°, neck length from 66 mm to 80 mm and hip internal rotation from 5° to 25°. Patient B's post-operative neck-shaft angle improved from 122° to 136°, Southwick angle from 25° to 15°, neck length from 76 mm to 84 mm, hip internal rotation from 5° to 20° and alpha angle from 87.6° to 44.3°. Both patients are pain-free and have obtained full union of their osteotomies. The McMaster Osteotomy is a versatile technique that can produce a more anatomic reconstruction of hip anatomy and restoration of abductor mechanics. As an extracapsular technique, the risk of femoral head avascular necrosis is minimized.
ABSTRACT
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) often necessitates spinal fusion surgery in pediatric patients, posing significant challenges in postoperative pain management. Standard care involves the administration of intravenous opioids perioperatively, often requiring high doses to achieve adequate analgesia following an operation. This increases the risk of adverse events, may delay recovery and prolong hospital stay, and increases the likelihood of future abuse and dependence. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we assess the safety and effectiveness of intrathecal morphine (ITM) in pediatric patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion. Ovid Embase and MEDLINE were searched in October 2023 for articles that directly compared ITM use with standard pain management approaches for pediatric patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion. Our primary outcome was postoperative pain scores. Secondary outcomes included opioid usage details, adverse events, and blood loss. Of the 384 unique studies identified, nine studies (one randomized control trial, one prospective review, and seven retrospective reviews) met the inclusion criteria. The total number of patients within the ITM and control groups were 1384 and 676, respectively. Meta-analysis revealed significantly lower pain scores in the ITM group (standardized mean difference (SMD): -1.30 (-2.29, -0.31); p = 0.01). Similarly, ITM patients had significantly lower opioid usage, both intraoperatively (mean difference (MD): -0.71 mg/kg (-0.99, -0.44); p < 0.00001) as well as postoperatively (SMD: -2.10 (-3.48, -0.73); p = 0.003), and significantly lower blood loss (MD: -0.88 L (-1.34, -0.43); p = 0.0001). The occurrence of adverse events was similar across both groups. Our analysis of the available data demonstrates that a low to moderate dose of ITM is a safe and effective adjunct to improve standard postoperative care without increasing the risk of respiratory depression. When compared to control, ITM patients had superior analgesia while using fewer opioids had significantly reduced intraoperative blood loss when ITM was administered before spinal fusion, and had a similar complication profile. While further studies are warranted to establish optimal dosing, these findings underscore the potential of ITM as a valuable addition to multimodal pain management.
