Congenital and Traumatic Conditions of the Pediatric Hand: Overview for the Radiologist.

Alignment, longitudinal growth, and function of the musculoskeletal unit of the pediatric hand is complex due to the combination of open growth plates, ossification variations, and their relationship with finger tendinous and ligamentous attachments. This review presents the basics of normal development, acquired and congenital variations, and traumatic conditions of the pediatric hand from the perspective of the pediatric musculoskeletal radiologist and hand surgeon. This multimodality imaging article focuses on non-oncologic and non-rheumatologic conditions of the pediatric hand, inclusive of fingers, thumb, and metacarpal bones.

Complication Rates in Patients With Classic and Radiographic Variants of Seymour Fractures.

BACKGROUND: At a tertiary-care, level 1 pediatric trauma center, we have observed fractures of the distal phalanx involving the physis, with associated nail bed injuries, that are distinct from the classic description of the Seymour fracture. We investigated the time to definitive management and the associated morbidity of these Seymour fracture variants compared with classically described Seymour fractures. We hypothesize that these Seymour variants are similarly problematic in terms of complications and delays to the definitive treatment and thus warrant increased awareness. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients with distal phalanx fractures involving the physis and associated nail bed injuries that were treated with operative intervention at a single pediatric specialty institution over a 9-year period. Radiographs and clinical photographs were reviewed to determine if the patient presented with a classic Seymour fracture or variant. Primary outcomes included time from injury to definitive treatment and complication rate. RESULTS: Of the 66 Seymour fractures identified in the chart review, 36 (55%) were identified as classic Seymour fractures and 30 (45%) were identified as variants. The mean time to operative intervention in the classic and variant groups was 7.3 versus 12.7 days (P=0.216). The complication rates in the classic and variant groups were 11.1% versus 23.3% (P=0.185), with infections accounting for nearly all complications identified. Overall infection rates for the classic and variant cohorts were 8.3% and 20.0% (P=0.169), respectively, with the majority presenting preoperatively (5.6% vs. 13.3%, P=0.274). CONCLUSIONS: We found that patients with classic Seymour fractures or radiographic variants had statistically similar incidence rates, complication rates, and delays in treatment, with a trend towards higher complication rates and delayed time to treatment in patients with variant-type injuries. We propose a minor expansion of the definition of Seymour fractures to include common variants to increase awareness of these problematic injuries, minimize delays in treatment, and decrease complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III; Retrospective Comparative Study.

Modified Friedman technique: a new proposed method of measuring glenoid version in the setting of glenohumeral dysplasia.

BACKGROUND: Glenoid version angles are measured to objectively follow changes related to glenohumeral dysplasia in the setting of brachial plexus birth palsy. Measuring glenoid version on cross-sectional imaging was initially described by Friedman et al. in 1992. Recent literature for non-dysplastic shoulders advocates time-consuming reconstructions and reformations for an accurate assessment of glenoid version. OBJECTIVE: To compare Friedman's original method for measuring glenoid version to a novel technique we developed ("modified Friedman") with the reference standard of true axial reformations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: With institutional review board approval, we retrospectively examined 30 normal and dysplastic shoulders obtained from magnetic resonance imaging examinations of 30 patients with an established diagnosis of brachial plexus birth palsy between January 2012 and September 2017. Four pediatric radiologists performed glenoid version measurements using Friedman's method, the modified Friedman method and a previously described true axial reformation method. The modified Friedman technique better accounts for scapular positioning by selecting a reference point related to the acromion-scapular body interface. Inter-rater reliability and inter-method agreement were assessed using intraclass correlation, paired t-tests and mixed linear model analysis. Equivalence tests between methods were performed per reader. RESULTS: Glenoid version measurements were significantly different when comparing Friedman's method to true axial reformations in normal (-10.8±5.7° [mean±standard deviation] vs. -8.8±5.3°; P≤0.001) and dysplastic shoulders (-34.6±17.7° vs. -28.1±17.5°; P≤0.001). Glenoid version measurements were not significantly different when comparing the modified Friedman's method to true axial reformations in normal (-6.3±5.8° vs. -8.8±5.3°; P=0.06) and dysplastic shoulders (-29.0±18.3° vs. -28.1±17.5°; P=0.06). Friedman's method was not equivalent to true axial reformations for measurements in dysplastic shoulders for all readers (P=0.68, 0.81, 0.86, 0.99); the modified Friedman method was equivalent to of true axial reformations for measurements in dysplastic shoulders for 3 of 4 readers (P≤0.001, P≤0.001, P≤0.001, P=0.10). CONCLUSION: In glenohumeral dysplasia, the modified Friedman method and post-processed true axial reformations provide statistically similar and reproducible values. We propose that our modified Friedman technique can be performed in lieu of post-processed true axial reformations to generate glenoid version measurements.

Radial styloid fractures.

Radial styloid fractures can occur in isolation or in association with other injuries, including complex intra-articular distal radius fractures, carpal fractures, carpal dislocations, and radiocarpal dislocations. The anatomy surrounding the radial styloid is complex, and complications related to surgical approach, treatments, and symptomatic hardware can occur. Operative treatments vary according to the injury pattern present, and pattern recognition is the key to optimizing treatment of these injuries. Outcomes are related to the precision of the reconstruction as well as the magnitude of the injury; better results are associated with lower-energy patterns.