Salter-Harris type III fracture-dislocation of the proximal humerus.

Salter-Harris type III fractures of the proximal humerus are rare injuries. We report a Salter-Harris type III anterior fracture-dislocation of the proximal humerus in a 10-year-old boy that was open reduced and internally stabilized. A bone scan performed during the initial hospitalization and at 2-year follow-up revealed devascularization and subsequent revascularization of the humeral head. At 2-year follow-up, the patient had full motion of the shoulder, no pain, and arm strength equal to that of the contralateral side. Four cases of Salter-Harris type III fractures of the proximal humerus have been previously reported; good early clinical outcomes were obtained in all. Despite devascularization of the epiphyseal fragment, excellent clinical outcomes may result.

Chronic fracture-separation of the radial head in a child.

A rare case of a complete fracture-separation of the proximal radial epiphysis is described in a pediatric patient. A further complicating factor is the delay in diagnosis that may worsen prognosis. An emphasis on early detection by physical examination and imaging studies, as well as consideration of treatment options, are presented.

Histological and radiographic determination of the age of physeal closure of the distal femur, proximal tibia, and proximal fibula of the New Zealand white rabbit.

A longitudinal study was performed in a series of 124 New Zealand White rabbits to determine the radiographic versus the histologic age of closure of the growth plates of the distal femur, proximal tibia, and proximal fibula. Periodic assessment was made by standard radiographs and histological studies. Histologically, growth plates in the distal femur closed at 19-24 weeks; growth plates in the proximal tibia, at 25-32 weeks; and growth plates in the proximal fibula, at 26-32 weeks. Radiographically, evidence of closure of growth plates in the distal femur occurred at 20-23 weeks; in the proximal tibia, at 22-27 weeks; and in the proximal fibula, at 23-31 weeks. A discrepancy in age between radiographic and histologic closure of the growth plate occurred in 3.6% of the femora, 10.9% of the tibias, and 16% of the fibulas.

Pediatric elbow fractures: MRI evaluation.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in eight patients under the age of 8 years who suffered elbow fractures, to assess possible fracture extension into the distal nonossified epiphysis of the humerus in seven cases and to determine the displacement and location of the radial head in one case. MRI allowed accurate depiction of the fracture line when it extended into the cartilaginous epiphysis. In four cases, MRI findings were confirmed at surgery. In five cases, surgery was obviated because no articular extension of the fracture was seen on MRI (4 cases) or because no displacement was noted (1 case). In one patient, the plain film diagnosis of a Salter type II fracture was changed to Salter type IV on the basis of the MRI findings. It is concluded that MRI might play a role in the preoperative evaluation of pediatric patients presenting with elbow trauma when extension of the fracture cannot be determined with routine radiographic studies. Elbow injuries in children may be difficult to diagnose by routine clinical and radiographic techniques [1, 4, 12, 14]. Diagnostic difficulty is due to the presence of multiple ossification centers of the distal humeral epiphysis and proximal radius and ulna; these are mostly cartilaginous until the age of 11-12 years and therefore invisible on radiographs. Following distal radial and distal tibial physeal fractures, epiphyseal elbow injuries are the most frequent epiphyseal injuries [8, 16]. These fractures tend to be unstable and often require surgical intervention. In addition, lasting sequelae such as cubitus valgus and delayed ulnar nerve palsy can occur if these fractures are not treated properly [8].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Diagnosis of osteoid osteoma in the child.

Fifty-two cases of osteoid osteoma in children under 5 years of age were collected from the English literature and reviewed, along with seven cases from the Hospital for Joint Diseases. Analytic emphasis was placed on the clinical and radiologic difficulties encountered in the diagnosis of osteoid osteoma in children. Diagnosis is especially challenging in patients that are just beginning to walk. Osteoid osteoma is often confused with many other entities. Although pain was the most frequent clinical manifestation, it was absent in 12% of cases; limp tenderness, swelling, and atrophy were the next most frequent findings. When standard radiographic findings proved negative for this condition, technetium bone scans were of considerable efficacy in identifying the tumor. When used, computerized tomograms permitted visualization and precise localization of the tumors in all cases. Bone deformities and leg-length discrepancies were found in more than 25% of the cases. Mini-block excision is recommended at diagnosis.

Osteoid osteoma under the age of five years. The difficulty of diagnosis.

Ninety-one cases of histologically confirmed osteoid osteoma were collected during an 11-year period; of them, seven (7.6%) had onset of symptoms while younger than five years of age. Special diagnostic difficulties were found in this specific age group: most cases were misdiagnosed or diagnosed incorrectly. The time between the onset of symptoms and the diagnosis varied from three months to five years. Although pain was present in six patients, in four cases, other concomitant signs and symptoms attracted more attention and led to a misdiagnosis and unnecessary invasive procedures. Gait disturbance (limp) was the second most frequent sign and was always present when the lower extremity was affected. In five cases, initial radiographs were not conclusive. Bone scans were very sensitive and conclusive in three cases where radiographs were atypical. Computerized tomograms always located the tumor.

Tarsal navicular position after complete soft-tissue clubfoot release.

The navicular position was evaluated (according to Simons' criteria) on anteroposterior and lateral roentgenograms of 45 clubfeet that were treated with complete soft-tissue release without internal fixation. The evaluation was performed an average of 28 months after surgery. Position of the navicular correlates well with the functional rating score system. Navicular position can be viewed as an indicator for clubfoot correction. Internal fixation of the talonavicular joint was correlated with favorable correction of deformity.

Avascular necrosis of the femoral head as sequela of fracture of the greater trochanter. A case report and review of the literature.

After a fall from a tree, a 12-year-old boy sustained a fracture of the greater trochanter and was subsequently treated by open reduction. Twenty months after surgery, the hip developed to a flexion contracture, limb-length discrepancy, a collapsed, irregular-shaped femoral head with sclerotic areas, and a metaphyseal cyst. A growing child with avascular necrosis of the femoral head after fracture of the greater trochanter seems not to have been reported in the English language literature.

New method of limb deformities correction in children.

A new "bloodless" technique (Ilizarov) was used to correct 36 limb deformities in 29 children. There were six leg length discrepancies, five achondroplasias, four deformed feet, five joint contractures, one rotational deformity of tibia, and in three the apparatus was used as an external fixator after corrective osteotomy. Lengthening was accomplished in 15 of the 16 procedures (93%). Average increase in femur length was 10 cm (32%), in tibial length 7.5 cm (30%), in humerus 11 cm (40%). Bony union was achieved in two out of five pseudoarthroses. Four deformed feet were fully corrected. Joint contractures were corrected in four out of five. The complication rate is as high as in other methods but with the Ilizarov apparatus, longer segments of bone were lengthened and more complex deformities were treated. Complications lessened as experience was gained.

Revision surgery in clubfeet.

The reoperated clubfeet of 29 children aged one to 12 years were reviewed. The surgical procedure most often used in revision surgery was recomplete soft-tissue release alone or combined with plantar release, calcaneocuboid fusion, and capsulotomies of the navicular-first cuneiform-first metatarsal joint. In 27 of 29 feet, acceptable results were achieved. Nineteen were excellent and good results. An algorithm that suggests surgical solutions to a variety of clubfoot deformities in different age groups has been developed, as well as an objective rating system, to evaluate the long-term results of revision surgery of clubfeet.

The Ilizarov apparatus for treatment of melorheostosis. Case report and review of the literature.

Traditional conservative and surgical methods of treatment of melorheostosis, such as manipulations, plaster casts, soft-tissue releases, capsulotomies, and osteotomies cause a high recurrence rate. In a 12-year-old girl, flexion contracture of a knee with limb inequality caused by melorheostosis was corrected successfully with the Ilizarov distraction apparatus.

Ilizarov technique in treatment of congenital hand anomalies. Two case reports.

An Ilizarov apparatus was successfully used in the treatment of a six-year-old child with a radially deviated hand caused by congenital pseudoarthrosis of the distal radius after previous traditional surgery failed. The limb length was restored, the pseudoarthrosis healed, and the deviated hand corrected. A second child, five years old, with Poland's syndrome, had a 90 degrees flexion contracture of the wrist that was treated with the Ilizarov apparatus. The flexion contracture was gradually corrected. It seems that the Ilizarov apparatus can be an important tool in the treatment of complex limb deformities.

Treatment of complex limb deformities in children with the Ilizarov technique.

Twenty-nine children underwent 36 Ilizarov procedures for a variety of limb deformities. We present the results in 11 patients, six with leg length discrepancies and five with achondroplasia, who underwent lengthening procedures using the Ilizarov method. Lengthening was accomplished in 15 of the 16 procedures (93%). Average increase in femur length was 10 cm (32%), in tibial length 7.5 cm (30%), in humerus length 11 cm (40%). Eleven complications occurred. The most common were pin tract infections (4), joint contractures (2), transient nerve injury (4), premature consolidation (5), and three fractures of the regenerated bone. The complication rate was as high as in other methods, but with the Ilizarov apparatus longer segments of bone were lengthened and more complex deformities were treated. The number of complications were lessened as experience was gained.

Fractional lengthening of the flexor tendons in clubfoot surgery.

Massive scarring of the Z-lengthened flexor digitorum and flexor hallucis longus is a constant finding in clubfoot surgery. A method of fractional lengthening of the tendons is described. This method has been proven effective in preventing this complication.

Cannulated blade plate for proximal femoral varus osteotomy.

Fixation of the osteotomy site in the proximal femur is technically demanding. A new system, which includes cannulated chisels and a cannulated one-piece plate that can be inserted over a guide wire, is suggested. The new system simplifies the procedure and provides stable fixation.

Pediatric update #14. Functional rating system for evaluating the results of clubfoot surgery.

The results obtained in a study of 32 patients with 45 idiopathic clubfoot deformities treated by complete soft-tissue release between 1985 and 1986 were investigated retrospectively. The evaluation was based on a specifically designed functional rating system. The results were graded as follows: 51% excellent, 25% good, 18% fair, and 6% poor.

The use of a tissue expander in club-foot surgery. A case report and review.

Primary skin closure after the surgical correction of severe club-foot may be difficult. We describe the use of a tissue expander to provide sufficient skin, and review some aspects of the use of the method.