Nonunion of fractures of the femoral neck in children.

The authors present the prospective clinical outcome of nine pseudoarthroses resulting from surgical treatment carried out in nine children, whose ages varied from 6 years and 2 months to 14 years and 2 months (mean 10 years and 2 months), who had fractures of the femoral neck. Five were classified as type II, according to the Delbet classification modified by Colonna, and four were type III. The initial fractures were caused by high-energy traumas, such as trampling, bicycle falls, and car accidents. Treatment of choice was valgus osteotomy of the femoral neck associated or not with insertion of bony graft. The mean time of follow-up was 38 months, ranging from 23 to 71 months, and the mean time of pseudoarthrosis consolidation after osteotomy was 76.6 days, varying from 45 to 240 days. In this study, all the pseudoarthroses consolidated. For final analysis of clinical and radiographic results, the Ratliff's classification was used. We obtained three cases as good results, five as fair and one as poor. The authors concluded that valgus osteotomy is a good option for treatment of pseudoarthrosis in the femoral neck fractures in children.

Gait analysis in low lumbar myelomeningocele patients with unilateral hip dislocation or subluxation.

The surgical indications for the treatment of unilateral hip dislocations or subluxations in patients with low lumbar myelomeningocele remain highly debatable. This study examines the influence of unilateral hip dislocation or subluxation on the gait of these patients using three-dimensional gait analysis. Twenty patients with a diagnosis of low lumbar myelomeningocele underwent three-dimensional gait analysis. All patients were community ambulators with solid ankle-foot orthoses and crutches who presented with unilateral hip dislocation or subluxation and no scoliosis. The patients were divided in two groups. Group 1 comprised 10 patients who demonstrated either no evidence of hip flexion or adduction contractures or symmetric hip contractures. Group 2 comprised 10 patients with unilateral hip flexion and/or adduction contractures. Pelvic and hip kinematics were assessed to determine the symmetry of motion between the involved and the noninvolved side during walking. Seven patients from group 1 walked with a symmetric gait pattern; only two patients from group 2 walked with a symmetric pattern. Gait symmetry corresponded to the absence of hip contractures or bilateral symmetrical hip contractures and had no relation to the presence of hip dislocation. The authors concluded that reduction of the hip is unnecessary.

Comparison between Salter's innominate osteotomy and augmented acetabuloplasty in the treatment of patients with severe Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. Analysis of 90 hips with special reference to roentgenographic sphericity and coverage of the femoral head.

This is a roentgenographic and retrospective study comparing the results of two different operative procedures used in the treatment of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease: Salter innominate osteotomy, and Augmented Acetabuloplasty. Group I comprised 43 patients (50 hips) who underwent Salter osteotomy. Another 40 patients (40 hips) were treated by Augmented Acetabuloplasty and formed Group 2. In Group 1, 11 (25.58%) patients were girls and 32 (74.42%) were boys. In Group 2, there were 4 (10%) girl and 36 (90%) boy patients. The average age was 6.62 years in Group 1 and 6.35 years in Group 2. Follow-up varied from 2 years to 10 years in both Groups 1 and 2. In Group 1, 18 (36%) hips were in the stage of necrosis, 28 (56%) in fragmentation, and 4 (8%) in reossification; in Group 2, 16 (40%) hips were in necrosis, 23 (57.5%) in fragmentation, and only 1 (2.5%) in reossification. All hips in necrosis were included in Salter and Thompson group B; all hips in fragmentation were classed as Catterall group 3 or 4. Preoperative arthrographs of the 50 hips in Group I were graded according to Laredo: 29 (58%) in group III, 18 (36%) in group IV, and 3 (6%) in group V. Only 23 of the 43 hips of Group 2 had preoperative arthrographs; there were 14 (60.87%) in group III, 8 (34.78%) in group IV, and 1 (4.35%) in group V. The preoperative Wiberg's Center-Edge (CE) angle of Group 2 (19.4 degrees) was significantly greater than that of Group 1 (16.7 degrees). The percentage difference (A%) between immediate postoperative and preoperative CE angle was significantly greater in Group 2. The delta% between final and immediate postoperative CE angle was significantly greater in Group 1, and within Group 1 it was significantly greater at age 4 years to 6 years. The A% between final and preoperative CE angle was statistically the same in both Group I and Group 2. The distribution of good, fair and poor Mose ratings did not differ in Group 1 and Group 2, but there was a tendency of better results after Augmented Acetabuloplasty in children older than 6 years. Younger patients of Group 1 (4-6 years) ended up with good results at a significantly higher frequency than the older ones. Group 1 children with preoperative Laredo III arthrography had good results in a significantly greater number of cases, as compared with Laredo grade IV. The delta% between final and immediate postoperative CE angle was greater in those hips with good Mose rating.