Management of osteonecrosis of the humeral head in the pediatric population: A systematic review.

Purpose: Humeral head osteonecrosis in the pediatric patients most often occurs in patients with underlying hemoglobinopathies, exposure to chronic corticosteroids, or after trauma. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review evaluating the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and management of humeral head osteonecrosis in the pediatric population. Methods: PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and Scopus were screened with the terms "osteonecrosis," "avascular necrosis," "pediatric," and "proximal humerus" on January 10, 2024. A total of 218 studies were screened, and 74 studies were evaluated for eligibility. Studies that reported on the prevalence and/or management of pediatric humeral head osteonecrosis were included. The systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Results: Twelve studies met inclusion criteria: four retrospective case series, three prospective case series, one retrospective cohort study, one retrospective case-control study, and three case reports. A majority of the studies (67%) discussed chemotherapy-induced osteonecrosis of the humeral head. A total of 77 patients (106 shoulders) with humeral head osteonecrosis were identified. The overall prevalence of osteonecrosis of the humeral head across eight studies examining at-risk populations (underlying hemoglobinopathies or undergoing chemotherapy) was 2%. Intra-articular steroid injections, physical therapy, and activity modification are effective conservative management strategies. Additionally, core decompression and hemiarthroplasty are surgical treatment options. Conclusions: The prevalence of osteonecrosis of the humeral head is low even among at-risk populations with associated medical conditions. A variety of conservative and surgical treatment options have been described, but no comparative evaluations of these modalities has been conducted. Level of evidence: IV.

Surgically Treated Ischial Tuberosity Avulsion Fractures in Adolescents: Risks and Outcomes of 3 Fixation Constructs.

INTRODUCTION: Avulsion fractures of the ischial tuberosity (AFIT) are uncommon injuries that sometimes require operative fixation with screws, suture anchors, or cortical suspensory buttons. This study reviewed a series of surgically managed AFITs at a single institution and compared outcomes among fixation strategies. We hypothesized there would be no difference in outcomes between fixation types. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of all patients treated operatively at a single institution from 2010 to 2022 for AFIT identified by CPT code (27215). We collected patient demographics, injury characteristics, Revised Modified Oxford Bone Score, radiographic measures, fracture classification (type 1-lateral vs. type 2-complete), surgical fixation technique, postoperative complications (Modified Clavien-Dindo-Sink [M-CDS] Complication Classification), and time to return to sport (RTS). Descriptive statistics and univariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: Study criteria identified 16 patients with surgically treated AFITs during the study period. Patients were predominantly male (88%) with a mean age of 14.8±0.8 years. Injured patients most commonly participated in soccer (38%), with the most common mechanism of injury being running/sprinting (50%). The avulsed fracture fragments were a mean of 42.6 mm in size, with an average maximal displacement of 21.1 mm and predominantly type 1-lateral (75%). Surgical constructs included: screws (4), suture anchors (5), cortical suspensory buttons (6), and combined (1, screw and suture anchor). Postoperative complications occurred in 8 patients (50%) including 7 type 1 and 1 type 3 M-CDS. No statistically significant difference was found between fixation types among the studied outcome variables; however, re-fracture (1 case [M-CDS type 3]) was only observed with a combined (screw and suture anchor) construct. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective cohort study demonstrated that postoperative complications after ORIF for AFIT were not infrequent but were largely low in severity. Refracture occurred only with a combined screw and suture anchor construct. Consistent return to sport was achieved across all fixation types, with no significant difference in complication rate between constructs, although the available study sample limited robust analysis. This study is also, of note, one of the first to report outcomes from cortical suspensory buttons (CSB)-a relatively novel intervention for AFIT. Findings from this retrospective case series of multiple surgical techniques serve to bolster the limited literature base regarding the operative treatment of AFITs in adolescents.

Trampolines Versus Playgrounds - A Comparative Assessment of Pediatric Fractures Sustained From Recreational Play.

INTRODUCTION: Using the Pediatric Health Information System, this study compared the relative severity of fractures sustained from trampolines with those from other playground equipment. METHODS: Pediatric patients were identified in the Pediatric Health Information System with trampoline-related injuries (TRIs) or playground-related injuries (PRIs) diagnosed as fractures. Adjustments were made for hospital, year of injury, sex, age, race, median household income, and rurality through propensity score weighting. Four injury-related outcome measures were examined as a proxy for injury severity. RESULTS: A total of 133,232 patients met inclusion criteria. In unadjusted univariate analyses, TRIs were associated with greater odds of severe fracture and lower odds of receiving surgical treatment (OR = 0.954) compared with PRIs. After adjustment, TRIs sustained in late childhood and adolescence were more likely to receive surgical management (OR = 1.092 and OR = 1.192, respectively) while TRIs sustained in younger children were less likely (OR = 0.607) than PRIs. DISCUSSION: Youths in late childhood and adolescence are at increased odds of undergoing surgical management after trampoline fractures. Beyond underscoring the risks of trampoline play, our results highlight the importance of considering age in recreational injury epidemiology and the public health safety initiatives aimed at specific age groups.

Patient and Disease Related Risk Factors Associated With Return to Sport Rates After AVN Treatment.

Background: Avascular necrosis (AVN) is a rare albeit serious condition that has a high risk for long term morbidity given the risk of chronic pain and arthroplasty after diagnoses. The recent rise in sports participation in the pediatric population demonstrates the importance of evaluating functional limitations after AVN treatment. Return to sport (RTS) rates after treatment for AVN have not been evaluated in pediatric or adolescent populations.It is necessary to evaluate all joints impacted by AVN due to heterogenous nature of the disease and the variety of sports that could be impacted by disease specific activity restrictions. Thus, this present study aimed to characterize RTS rate after AVN treatment, determine if there was a difference in RTS rates after operative versus nonoperative management, and identify demographic and treatment factors associated with RTS rates. Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluated patients ages eight to twenty years old who were treated for symptomatic AVN of any joint between January 2005 and August 2021. Patient records were reviewed for demographic, disease, and treatment variables. Standard descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were performed to describe and compare groups who did and did not RTS. A generalized estimating model was used to determine variables that were associated with better RTS rates. Results: A total of 144 patients and 190 lesions were evaluated in the study, 60 patients (43%) were female with a mean age of 14.36+/-3.24 years. The overall RTS rate after AVN treatment was 67% (64/96). Roughly 8% of patients (5/64) were able to return to multiple sports, however of those that returned to sports, 6% (4/64) reported playing at a lower level of competition. There was not a significant difference between the RTS rate for those who underwent operative versus nonoperative management (70% versus 62%, p=0.38). Males were almost 2.5 times more likely to return to sport than females (OR: 2.46, p=0.018). Conclusion: The ability to return to sports after AVN treatment has largely remained unknown in the pediatric and adolescent populations. Our data suggests that a majority of patients are able to RTS in the short term follow up with males being twice as likely to RTS compared to females. Physicians should maintain awareness of the long-term morbidity of AVN and understand the unique patient and disease characteristics that optimize functional outcomes in this population. Level of Evidence: III.

Arthroscopic Drilling for Stable Juvenile Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee Is Safe and Patients Reliably Return to Daily Activities by 3 Months.

Purpose: To assess the postoperative timeline for the return to activities of daily living (ADLs) in pediatric patients after arthroscopic drilling of a stable osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesion of the knee and to determine the rate of and risk factors for complications after the procedure. Methods: In a retrospective chart review, data from all patients aged 18 years or younger who underwent arthroscopic drilling for a stable OCD lesion of either femoral condyle from May 2009 through July 2017 were collected. Demographic data, lesion characteristics, operative data, postoperative course, radiographic outcomes, and complications were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the risk factors for reoperations. Results: A total of 139 knees in 131 patients were evaluated, with a mean age of 12.7 years, of which 102 (73%) were male knees. The average follow-up period was 17.8 ± 13.2 months after surgery. All patients regained full extension and flexion within 5° of the contralateral knee at a mean of 12.9 ± 3.2 weeks postoperatively, with 95% having returned fully to ADLs by the 3-month postoperative visit. No cases of infection, stiffness, arthrofibrosis, or other procedure-related complications were recorded. A total of 133 knees (95.7%) showed healing on radiographs, whereas 6 knees (4.3%) underwent additional surgical procedures, all of which were performed for treatment failure related to nonhealing lesions (including loose body removal, chondroplasty, and repeated drilling). Lesion size was the only significant risk factor for reoperation (P = .02). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that arthroscopic drilling for stable, intact OCD lesions in the pediatric knee is a safe procedure with reliable outcomes and return to ADLs and a minimal risk of complications. Most patients return to their preoperative daily activity level with a full range of motion of the knee by 3 months after surgery. Complications, including reoperations, are related to the progression of the OCD lesion rather than to the surgical procedure. Each 1-cm2 increase in lesion size increases the likelihood of reoperation by 2.93 times. Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Early Identification of Arthrofibrosis in Adolescents Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Is Associated With the Need for Subsequent Surgery: A Matched Case-Control Study.

PURPOSE: To identify the postoperative characteristics associated with the need for subsequent surgical intervention in pediatric anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). METHODS: Patients ≤18 years old who received operative treatment for arthrofibrosis following ACLR versus age- and sex-matched controls with a satisfactory postoperative course were retrospectively reviewed. The range of knee motion preoperatively and at each postoperative visit was recorded. Based on the typical post-operative protocols, visits were categorized into 3 groups: first (first 4 weeks), second (weeks 5-8), and third (weeks 9-16) visits. The deficit in the total arc of range of motion (ROM) in the operative knee relative to the nonoperative knee and the change in ROM between visits were compared. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to determine the time point in which a diagnosis of arthrofibrosis could be predicted with the greatest accuracy. RESULTS: In total, 18 patients with arthrofibrosis (mean age 14.2 ± 2.7 years, 9 male) and 36 control patients were included in the final analysis. Arthrofibrosis patients had significantly larger ROM deficits at all visits, 93° vs 69° for the first, 69° vs 24° for the second, and 56° vs 2º for the third, compared with controls (P < .001 for all). Pairwise comparisons showed that in arthrofibrosis cases, the total ROM did not change significantly between the second and third visits (P = .77), contrary to the controls. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that the total ROM deficit of 50.7° at the second postoperative visit is 89% sensitive and 92.5% specific for development of arthrofibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: We found that patients who go on to need manipulation of the knee under anesthesia/arthroscopic lysis of adhesions do not experience a significant improvement in ROM after the first 5-8 weeks, and that a ROM deficit of >50° at the 5- to 8-week mark postoperatively, is associated with ultimately needing operative intervention for arthrofibrosis. Based on these findings, it may be appropriate to intervene earlier if a patient still has a ROM deficit exceeding 50° by the second postoperative month. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative prognostic trial.

Reliability and Validity of an MRI-Based Knee Sagittal Alignment Measure in a Pediatric Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sagittal alignment is a measure that has been described and validated in the adult population as a means of distinguishing normal knees from those with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, but this measure has not been formally assessed among pediatric patients. The purpose of this study was to (1) assess the reliability of this MRI-based measure in a pediatric cohort, and (2) validate its ability to distinguish between ACL and non-ACL-injured knees in this population. METHODS: A consecutive series of knee MRI examinations performed at our center were reviewed to identify studies of pediatric patients (1) with ACL injury, and (2) without significant pathology. Patient age, sex, physeal status (open, closing, or closed), knee laterality, and magnet strength (1.5 or 3-Tesla) were collected. The sagittal alignment was measured in both medial and lateral tibiofemoral compartments using a previously described method. Mean anterior tibial translation was then calculated for each study. Inter-rater and intrarater reliability testing was performed on a subset of randomly-selected patients from each cohort by three raters by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients. Sagittal alignment measurements of all patients were then completed by a single author after reliability was confirmed. The medial and lateral compartment translation and mean anterior tibial translation measurements of normal and ACL-injured knees were compared. RESULTS: Inclusion criteria were met by 131 studies: 86 from uninjured knees (normal cohort) and 45 knees with ACL injury (ACL cohort). Studies were performed at a mean age of 13.4 with a near equivalent sex distribution. Inter-rater and intrarater reliability were good to excellent for all measures for patients in both normal and ACL cohorts. Normal and ACL-injured knees demonstrated a significant difference in anterior tibial translation in all measured regions. The mean anterior tibia translation for ACL-injured knees was 2.01 mm (95% confidence interval: 1.03-2.98) versus -0.44 mm (95% confidence interval: -0.89-0.014). CONCLUSION: This study identified good to excellent inter-rater and intrarater reliability of knee sagittal alignment measurements among pediatric patients. It also demonstrated a significant difference in medial compartment, lateral compartment, and mean tibial translation in patients with and without ACL injury, validating previous findings demonstrated in adult cohorts. These findings may be useful in assisting providers in the confirmation of suspected ACL injury and insufficiency and guide operative management in cases of clinical uncertainty. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-retrospective comparative study.

Perioperative Pain Management Practices Vary Across Time and Setting for Pediatric ACL Reconstruction: Trends From a National Database in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Surgical and anesthetic techniques have enabled a shift to the ambulatory setting for the majority of patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. While this change likely reflects improvements in acute pain management, little is known about national trends in pediatric perioperative pain management after ACL reconstruction (ACLR). PURPOSE: To describe recent trends in the United States in perioperative pain management for pediatric ACLR. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Pediatric patients (age, ≤18 years) who underwent ACLR with peripheral nerve blocks between January 2008 and December 2017 were identified in the Pediatric Health Information System database. We modeled the use of oral and intravenous analgesic medications over time using Bayesian logistic mixed models. Models were adjusted for patient age, sex, race, primary payer, and treatment setting (ambulatory, observation, or inpatient). RESULTS: The study criteria produced a sample of 18,605 patients. Older children were more likely to receive intravenous acetaminophen, intravenous ketorolac, and oral and intravenous opioids. Younger children were more likely to receive ibuprofen. In our adjusted logistic model, treatment setting was found to be an independent predictor of the utilization of all medications. We found an increase in the overall utilization of oral acetaminophen (adjusted odds ratio [adj OR], 1.14 [95% CI, 1.04-1.23]), intravenous acetaminophen (adj OR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.22-1.65]), and oral opioids (adj OR, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.06-1.28]) over the study period at a typical hospital. We found significant heterogeneity in medication use across hospitals, with the most heterogeneity in intravenous acetaminophen. Other studied descriptive variables did not appear to predict practices. CONCLUSION: After adjusting for patient characteristics and treatment settings, pain management strategies varied among hospitals and over time. Patient age and treatment setting predicted practices. Regional anesthesia, opioid medications, and intravenous ketorolac remained the mainstays of treatment, while intravenous acetaminophen emerged in use over the course of the study period. The variability in the pain management of pediatric patients undergoing ACLR suggests that further study is necessary to establish the most effective means of perioperative pain management in these patients.

A Cross-Sectional Evaluation of the Successful Minority Applicant to Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Programs.

The lack of diversity among orthopaedic health care providers is a pressing matter that must continue to be corrected at all levels. Improving diversity among orthopaedic physicians starts with improving diversity in residency training programs. This study brings light to the demographics and achievements of successful minority applicants, detailing what types of students are successfully matching into orthopaedic surgery. Between June and July 2020, the authors distributed a 12-question, anonymous survey to 53 URM students who successfully matched into orthopaedic surgery residencies for the 2020 application cycle. The survey inquiries about respondent demographics, academic accomplishments, and match process success as well as whether the presence of URM faculty, program director, and chairman influenced how they made their rank list. Overall, 37 students (71%) completed the entire survey. Most students indicated that the presence or absence of URM faculty influenced their rank list (n = 32, 88.9%) and that this distinction was meaningful to their orthopaedic candidacy (n = 28, 87.5%). Less than half of the respondents (n = 16; 44.4%) noted that the presence of a URM residency program director or department chairman influenced their rank list, while 20 (55.6%) noted that it did not. In conclusion, URM applicants with multiple academic achievements can be successful during the orthopaedic match process. Furthermore, the presence of URM faculty is an important factor that URM applicants consider. Residency directors must both identify the competitive URM applicants and strive to recruit more URM faculty when aiming to increase program diversity. Level of Evidence: Level IV.

Quadriceps Tendon Autograft in Pediatric ACL Reconstruction: Graft Dimensions and Prediction of Size on Preoperative MRI.

BACKGROUND: There is increased interest in quadriceps autograft anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in the pediatric population. PURPOSE: To evaluate children and adolescents who underwent ACL reconstruction using a quadriceps autograft to determine the properties of the harvested graft and to assess the value of demographic, anthropometric, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements in predicting the graft size preoperatively. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A retrospective database search was performed from January 2018 through October 2020 for patients undergoing ACL reconstruction. Patients <18 years old at the time of surgery in whom a quadriceps tendon autograft was used were selected. Demographic data and anthropometric measurements were recorded, and graft measurements were abstracted from the operative notes. Knee MRI scans were reviewed to measure the quadriceps tendon thickness on sagittal cuts. Graft length and diameter were then correlated with anthropometric and radiographic data. RESULTS: A total of 169 patients (98 male) were included in the final analysis, with a median age of 15 years (range, 9-17 years). A tendon length ≥65 mm was harvested in 159 (94%) patients. The final graft diameter was 8.4 ± 0.7 mm (mean ± SD; range, 7-11 mm). All patients had a graft diameter ≥7 mm, and 139 (82%) had a diameter ≥8 mm. Preconditioning decreased the graft diameter by a mean 0.67 ± 0.23 mm. Age (P = .04) and quadriceps thickness on MRI (P = .003) were significant predictors of the final graft diameter. An MRI sagittal thickness >6.7 mm was 97.4% sensitive for obtaining a graft ≥8 mm in diameter. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that tendon-only quadriceps autograft is a reliable graft source in pediatric ACL reconstruction, yielding a graft diameter ≥8 mm in 82% of pediatric patients. Furthermore, preoperative MRI measurements can be reliably used to predict a graft of adequate diameter in children and adolescents undergoing ACL reconstruction, with a sagittal thickness >6.7 mm being highly predictive of a final graft size ≥8 mm.

Do Not Miss the Tumor: A Novel Presentation of Osteosarcoma.

Antalgic gait is a common clinical presentation among pediatric patients and can have many different etiologies, with rare life-threatening etiologies including primary bone malignancies. Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignancy of bone in pediatric and adolescent patients. The incidence rate of osteosarcoma has been reported as high as 5 to 7 per million among patients 19 years old or younger with males slightly more affected than females and African-Americans more than other racial groups. This report describes the case of a five-year-old African-American female who presented with an antalgic gait secondary to osteosarcoma in the left distal femur and follows her through treatment. In this case, the age is atypical as the peak incidence for osteosarcoma is around 16 years of age and is postulated to coincide with growth spurts. Osteosarcoma can have a range of presentations making it difficult to diagnose, which can cause delays in treatment and potential poor patient outcomes. Due to this, such a diagnosis must be included in the differential for patients presenting with antalgic gait. Because primary-care physicians and pediatricians may be the first medical providers to encounter patients with osteosarcoma, it is imperative that such clinicians are familiar with the signs and symptoms associated with osteosarcomas in order to reduce the risk of metastasis and disease progression and prevent treatment delays. Additionally, we believe these clinicians should have a low threshold to refer patients to orthopedists or oncologic specialists in the cases of persistent pain or inconsistencies with history, physical exam, and diagnostic studies. Finally, direct communication and discussion between radiologists and referring clinicians helps decrease delays in diagnosing of osteosarcoma and other life-threatening conditions.

Perioperative Opioid Exposure Patterns in Pediatric Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Ten-Year Administrative Database Study.

INTRODUCTION: Variation in opioid exposure has been documented in many pediatric fields; however, little is currently known about the extent of these findings during the perioperative period. The purpose of this study was to examine perioperative opioid exposure on a national level among patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using an administrative database. Our aims were to assess the impact of hospitals and a variety of demographic factors on (1) the likelihood of perioperative opioid exposure and (2) the variability in relative opioid exposure. METHODS: The Pediatric Health Information Systems Database (PHIS) was used to identify pediatric patients (≤ 18 years old) across 52 hospitals undergoing ACL reconstruction between January 2008 and December 2017. Administered opioids in morphine milligram equivalents were discretized into quintiles to represent relative opioid exposure (ROE). A hurdle generalized additive model was estimated to identify demographic factors predictive of (1) the receipt of any opioid medication and (2) the ROE among those receiving opioids. RESULTS: Of the 19,821 patients meeting study inclusion criteria, 17,350 (88%) were administered opioid medications perioperatively. There was no temporal trend in perioperative opioid utilization or ROE over the study period. Patients in an inpatient (OR = 0.260 [0.221, 0.305]) or observation unit (OR = 0.349 [0.305, 0.401]) context were less likely to be administered opioids. Female patients (OR = 0.896 [0.813, 0.987]) were less likely to be administered opioids, while patients on commercial insurance had a higher ROE (OR = 1.09 [1.023, 1.161]). Patient age and hospital-level time trends predicted opioid administration and exposure (max p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: Gender, age, surgical setting, hospital type, and insurance status, in part, predicted perioperative opioid exposure among pediatric patients undergoing ACL reconstruction surgery. Exposure has not declined in recent years and varies significantly between hospitals. Although this study primarily served to document demographic variability in perioperative opioid exposure in pediatric patients undergoing ACL reconstruction, the understanding of variability in perioperative opioid utilization and exposure rate could stand to be further explored.

Seasonal variability and age-related risk in youth trampoline injuries.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this work was to estimate the difference in severity between musculoskeletal trampoline park injuries (TPIs) and home trampoline injuries (HTI) and identify the factors that might mediate or modify that effect. METHODS: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database was used to identify musculoskeletal home trampoline injuries and TPIs in pediatric patients occurring in the 2009-2017 period. Injury mechanism and body region were inductively coded. The effect of TPI on risk of admission was estimated using a doubly robust logistic regression model for confounding adjustment. Adjustments were made for date, age, gender, injury mechanism, and body region. The comparative importance of injury mechanism and location and the effect modification of patient characteristics was explored using likelihood ratio tests. RESULTS: Trampoline park injuries were more likely to result in admission even in the model adjusted for injury mechanism and body region (odds ratio (OR) = 2.12 [1.30, 3.45]). Injuries sustained from falling off the trampoline were associated with significantly fewer hospitalizations (OR = 0.119 [0.029, 0.495]) than injuries from falling while on the trampoline. Patient age significantly modified the effect of setting on risk of admission (P = 0.042). Adolescents demonstrated an increased risk at trampoline parks (15 years old OR = 3.23 [1.38, 7.56]), whereas younger children demonstrated a marginally lower risk (5 years old OR = 0.77 [0.44, 1.35]). CONCLUSIONS: Trampoline park musculoskeletal injuries demonstrate an increased risk of admission even after rigorous adjustment for confounding. Injuries to the proximal limbs were associated with a much higher risk of admission than distal injuries. Adolescents face an increased risk of admission after TPI, underscoring the importance of public health interventions that target this age group.

Validated Pediatric Functional Outcomes of All-epiphyseal ACL Reconstructions: Does Reinjury Affect Outcomes?

BACKGROUND: Greater frequency and intensity level of sports participation may be contributing to an increasing incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in skeletally immature athletes. Prior studies have assessed the functional outcomes of physeal-respecting ACL reconstruction in this patient population based on adult functional outcomes scoring systems; however, there is only sparse literature evaluating functional outcomes of this specific patient population. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate a cohort of pediatric patients who had undergone all-epiphyseal ACL reconstruction (AEACLR) with a set of clinically validated, pediatric-specific patient-reported functional outcomes scores (PRFOS). We hypothesized that patients who had rerupture would have significantly lower outcomes scores compared with those who did not rerupture. METHODS: This was a retrospective evaluation of AEACLR patients at a single, tertiary care, children's hospital within a period of 2 years and had >6 months of initial clinical postoperative follow-up. Those who consented to participation were provided an online combined survey including questions relating to demographics and rerupture as well as 3 validated pediatric PRFOS. Statistical analysis of the cohort demographics, PRFOS, and subgroup analysis of the rerupture group compared with the ACL intact patients was performed. RESULTS: The mean functional outcome scores at a mean of 48.6 months from surgery demonstrated excellent return to functional activity (Mean International Knee Documentation Committee, 93.8; Pedi-Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System, 98.8; Pedi- Functional Activity Brief Score, 21.6). There was a 13% rerupture rate and rerupture patients had a significantly decreased Pedi-International Knee Documentation Committee (94.9 intact vs. 86.0 rerupture; P=0.001) and Pedi-Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (99.4 intact vs. 95.4 rupture; P=0.001) scores. CONCLUSIONS: AEACLR patients have excellent outcomes based on pediatric-specific PRFOS. Rerupture patients demonstrated a decrease in functional outcomes scores compared with intact ACL patients. The results demonstrate the efficacy of AEACLR as measured by pediatric-specific functional outcome scores for the treatment of ACL rupture in skeletally immature athletes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-retrospective comparative study.

Reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting in pediatric patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A quality report.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting after elective outpatient surgery can complicate discharge and increase patient suffering. Within our hospital system, there was variability in the use of postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis for patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, which resulted in variable outcomes. To address this variability, we designed and implemented a standardized postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis guideline for the care of this surgical population. AIM: We sought to develop and implement a standardized postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis guideline for all patients presenting for elective ambulatory anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with the goal of reducing the rate of emesis to ≤5%. METHODS: We convened a multidisciplinary team to develop a postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis guideline which included administration of dexamethasone, ondansetron, and a low-dose propofol infusion in addition to a femoral and sciatic nerve block and routine ketorolac administration for pain control. Our primary outcome, emesis rate, was tracked using a P-chart. Process measures included use of guideline medications and balancing measures included opioid administration, pain scores, and emergence time. RESULTS: We analyzed postoperative nausea and vomiting outcomes for 817 patients from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2018. The baseline postoperative emesis rate for all anesthetizing locations was 17%. Following, guideline implementation, the emesis rate decreased to 5%. Opioid administration was decreased following guideline implementation. The percentage of patients managed without any perioperative opioids increased from 16% in the baseline group to 38% following guideline implementation. The P-chart suggests that the observed reduction in emesis rate represents special cause variation and this reduction was sustained over a two-year period. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of standard postoperative nausea and vomiting guidelines for adolescents undergoing outpatient anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was associated with lower emesis rates. This reduction in emesis rate may have been due to the concurrent reduction in opioids we observed following guideline implementation.

Physeal fractures of the distal femur: does a lower threshold for surgery lead to better outcomes?

Distal femur physeal fractures are known to have a high incidence of complications. Our previous reported experience (pre-2007) showed a 40% complication risk, which prompted changes in our approach. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the complication rate and outcome after implementation of these changes. This is a retrospective study of children with distal femur physeal fractures treated at a level 1 pediatric trauma center between 2007 and 2016. Patient demographics, fracture patterns, treatment and outcomes including complications and its risk factors were recorded and analyzed. We compared current results with our previously reported multicenter cohort (n = 73). Patients were male in majority (57/70) with a mean age of 13 ± 4 years. Fractures were most commonly Salter-Harris Type 2 (49/70) and displaced (59/70) on presentation, although neither characteristic was associated with complications. Most patients (63/70) were treated surgically, and the overall complication incidence was 36% (25/70), including growth arrest in 20 patients. The pre-2007 cohort was statistically significantly younger (P < 0.001) and was more commonly treated nonoperatively (P < 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference in complication incidence between studies (36% versus 40%, respectively, P = 0.751). Despite a lower threshold for surgery for distal femur physeal fractures in the past decade, the complication rate is still high and unchanged at 40%, and presenting patients are older. There were no new prognostic factors that showed statistically significant association with subsequent complications; however, patients with high-energy injury mechanisms and greater fracture displacements did have higher complication rates. These results demonstrate the inherent high complication risk for these injuries. Level of Evidence: III.

Obesity and recovery of muscle strength after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in pediatric patients.

PURPOSE:: To explore factors influencing muscle strength after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) in pediatric patients. We hypothesized that obesity/overweight, autograft hamstring tendon, and concomitant injuries would be associated with slower muscle recovery. METHODS:: We retrospectively reviewed the records of pediatric ACLR patients during a 3-year period. Muscle recovery was defined as ≥85% of peak torque compared with the contralateral side. We categorized patients as either obese/overweight or normal weight. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney U, analysis of variance, and χ2 tests ( α level < 0.05). RESULTS:: The study group consisted of 330 patients, of whom 198 (60%) and 231 (70%) met quadriceps and hamstring recovery criteria, respectively, at final testing (mean: 7.0 ± 3.2 months). Patients recovered hamstring and quadriceps strength at a mean of 5.3 ± 2.2 months and 6.1 ± 2.3 months, respectively. Hamstring muscle recovery took significantly longer in obese/overweight patients (mean: 5.7 ± 2.2 months) versus normal-weight patients (mean: 5.1 ± 2.1 months; p = 0.025), but quadriceps recovery did not (obese/overweight mean: 6.5 ± 2.6 months; normal-weight mean: 5.9 ± 2.1 months; p = 0.173). CONCLUSION:: Concomitant injuries and graft type were not associated with length of time to recovery of muscle strength. Obesity/overweight was associated with delay in recovery of hamstring but not quadriceps strength.

Association of the Graft Size and Arthrofibrosis in Young Patients After Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: This study investigated the association of graft-related surgical factors and patient characteristics with the odds of arthrofibrosis after primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R). METHODS: A retrospective case-control study assessed consecutive patients who underwent primary ACL-R in one tertiary pediatric hospital. Each arthrofibrosis case was matched to three controls for sex, calendar year, and age at the time of ACL-R, as well as the primary surgeon. Conditional multivariable logistic regression assessed the independent association of graft diameter, time from injury to ACL-R, concomitant knee pathologies, and body mass index. RESULTS: Twenty arthrofibrosis cases of 1,121 ACL-R patients (incidence 1.8%) were matched to 60 controls resulting in the mean age of 14.5 years. An increase of 1 mm graft diameter was associated with 3.2-times increased odds of arthrofibrosis. Other variables were not independently associated with arthrofibrosis. CONCLUSION: For young patients, the decision on the graft size must consider the possibility of arthrofibrosis with a larger graft versus reinjury with a smaller graft.

Short-term Outcomes in Pediatric Patients Managed with Peripheral Nerve Blockade for Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and/or Meniscus Surgeries.

Introduction Peripheral nerve blockade (PNB) can be a useful component of a multimodal analgesia approach in managing pain after knee arthroscopy. However, the impact of PNB and short-term recovery in pediatric patients, particularly adolescents, who underwent knee arthroscopy for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and/or meniscus surgery (repair or resection) has not been well characterized. This prospective study presents observational data on short-term patient outcomes and side effects for 72 hours following discharging home of pediatric patients who underwent arthroscopic ACL and/or meniscus procedures with PNB. Methods This is a single-center, single-surgeon prospective observational study conducted over a three-year period. We characterized 72-hour postoperative outcomes including pain scores, return of sensation to the affected limb, analgesic use [nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids], readmission rate, and activities of daily living (ADL) via telephone survey. In addition, retrospective chart review was conducted to obtain perioperative and anesthesia details. Results for surgery groups were analyzed using descriptive and Pearson correlations using the SPSS version 24 (IBM Corp. Released 2016. IBM SPSS Statistics for Mac, Version 24.0. Armonk, NY, USA). Results We collected data on 47 patients undergoing ACL reconstruction with or without meniscus surgery (18/47, 38.3%) or meniscus surgery only (29/47, 61.7%). At 72 hours postsurgery, there were no readmissions or complications related to pain. Median-reported pain scores were 2.5 and 5.0 for the ACL and meniscus groups, respectively. A majority of patients continued to require opioids (45/47, 95.7%) and NSAIDs (46/47, 97.9%) at 72 hours postsurgery, but the number of daily opioid doses taken decreased with each day postoperatively. Over 93% of the patients could ambulate and shower at 72 hours postsurgery. Conclusions Regional nerve block appears to be an effective and safe analgesic strategy for pediatric arthroscopic ACL and meniscus procedures, with no short-term complications or readmissions related to pain in our cohort. Future prospective investigation is needed to characterize long-term pain outcomes in this surgical population.

How Much Will My Child's Operation Cost? Availability of Consumer Prices From US Hospitals for a Common Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgical Procedure.

BACKGROUND: Price transparency allows patients to make value-based health care decisions and is particularly important for individuals who are uninsured or enrolled in high-deductible health care plans. The availability of consumer prices for children undergoing orthopaedic surgery has not been previously investigated. We aimed to determine the availability of price estimates from hospitals in the United States for an archetypal pediatric orthopaedic surgical procedure (closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of a distal radius fracture) and identify variations in price estimates across hospitals. METHODS: This prospective investigation utilized a scripted telephone call to obtain price estimates from 50 "top-ranked hospitals" for pediatric orthopaedics and 1 "non-top-ranked hospital" from each state and the District of Columbia. Price estimates were requested using a standardized script, in which an investigator posed as the mother of a child with a displaced distal radius fracture that needed closed reduction and pinning. Price estimates (complete or partial) were recorded for each hospital. The number of calls and the duration of time required to obtain the pricing information was also recorded. Variation was assessed, and hospitals were compared on the basis of ranking, teaching status, and region. RESULTS: Less than half (44%) of the 101 hospitals provided a complete price estimate. The mean price estimate for top-ranked hospitals ($17,813; range, $2742 to $49,063) was 50% higher than the price estimate for non-top-ranked hospitals ($11,866; range, $3623 to $22,967) (P=0.020). Differences in price estimates were attributable to differences in hospital fees (P=0.003), not surgeon fees. Top-ranked hospitals required more calls than non-top-ranked hospitals (4.4±2.9 vs. 2.8±2.3 calls, P=0.003). A longer duration of time was required to obtain price estimates from top-ranked hospitals than from non-top-ranked hospitals (8.2±9.4 vs. 4.1±5.1 d, P=0.024). CONCLUSIONS: Price estimates for pediatric orthopaedic procedures are difficult to obtain. Top-ranked hospitals are more expensive and less likely to provide price information than non-top-ranked hospitals, with price differences primarily caused by variation in hospital fees, not surgeon fees. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II-economic and decision analyses.