Intercostal Nerve Cryoablation or Epidural Analgesia for Multimodal Pain Management after the Nuss Procedure: A Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum is a minimally invasive, but painful procedure. Recently, intercostal nerve cryoablation has been introduced as a pain management technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cohort study, we compared the efficacy of multimodal pain management strategies in children undergoing a Nuss procedure. The effectiveness of intercostal nerve cryoablation combined with patient-controlled systemic opioid analgesia (PCA) was compared with continuous epidural analgesia (CEA) combined with PCA. The study was conducted between January 2019 and July 2022. Primary outcome was length of stay (LOS), and secondary outcomes were operation room time, postoperative pain, opioid consumption, and gabapentin use. RESULTS: Sixty-six consecutive patients were included, 33 patients in each group. The cryoablation group exhibited lower Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) pain scores on postoperative day 1 and 2 (p = 0.002, p = 0.001) and a shorter LOS (3 vs. 6 days (p < 0.001). Cryoablation resulted in less patients requiring opioids at discharge (30.3 vs. 97.0%; p < 0.001) and 1 week after surgery (6.1 vs. 45.4%; p < 0.001)). In the CEA group, gabapentin use was more prevalent (78.8 vs. 18.2%; p < 0.001) and the operation room time was shorter (119.4 vs. 135.0 minutes; p < .010). No neuropathic pain was reported. CONCLUSIONS: Intercostal nerve cryoablation is a superior analgesic method compared with CEA, with reduced LOS, opioid use, and NRS pain scores. The prophylactic use of gabapentin is redundant.

The prevalence of non-accidental trauma among children with polytrauma: A nationwide level-I trauma centre study.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of non-accidental trauma (NAT) in children with polytrauma treated at level-I trauma centres (TC). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND: Data 6-10% Of children who present at the emergency department with injuries, sustain polytrauma. Polytrauma may result from either accidental (AT) or NAT, i.e. inflicted or neglect. The prevalence of NAT among children with polytrauma is currently unclear. METHODS: This is a retrospective study that included children (0-18 years) with an Injury Severity Score >15, who presented at one of the 11 Level-I trauma centers (TC) in the Netherlands between January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2016. Outcomes were classified based on the conclusions of the Child Abuse and Neglect-team. Cases in which conclusions were unavailable and there was no clear accidental cause of injuries were reviewed by an expert panel. RESULTS: The study included 1623 children, 1452 (89%) were classified as AT, 171 (11%) as NAT; 39 (2,4%) inflicted and 132 (8,1%) neglect. Of pre-school aged children (<5 years) 41% sustained NAT (OR26.73, 95%CI 17.70-40.35), 35/342 (10%) inflicted and 104/342 (31%) neglect. Admission due to 'cardiopulmonary arrest' was the result of inflicted trauma (30% vs 0%,p < 0.001). NAT had a higher mortality rate (16% vs 10%, p = 0.006). Indicators of NAT were: (near-)drowning (OR10.74, 95%CI 5.94-19.41), burn (OR8.62, 95%CI 4.08-18.19) and fall from height (OR2.18, 95%CI 1.56-3.02). CONCLUSIONS: NAT was the cause of polytrauma in 11% of children in our nationwide level-I TC study; 41% of these polytrauma were the result of NAT experienced by preschool-aged children. Our data show the importance of awareness for NAT.

Prevalence of inflicted and neglectful femur shaft fractures in young children in national level I trauma centers.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of inflicted femur fractures in young children varies (1.5-35.2%), but these data are based on small retrospective studies with high heterogeneity. Age and mobility of the child seem to be indicators of inflicted trauma. OBJECTIVE: This study describes other factors associated with inflicted and neglectful trauma that can be used to distinguish inflicted and neglectful from accidental femur fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included children (0-6 years) who presented with an isolated femur fracture at 1 of the 11 level I trauma centers in the Netherlands between January 2010 and January 2016. Outcomes were classified based on the conclusions of the Child Abuse and Neglect teams or the court. Cases in which conclusions were unavailable and there was no clear accidental cause were reviewed by an expert panel. RESULTS: The study included 328 children; 295 (89.9%) cases were classified as accidental trauma. Inflicted trauma was found in 14 (4.3%), while 19 (5.8%) were cases of neglect. Indicators of inflicted trauma were age 0-5 months (29%, positive likelihood ratio [LR +] 8.35), 6-12 months (18%, LR + 5.98) and 18-23 months (14%, LR + 3.74). Indicators of neglect were age 6-11 months (18%, LR + 4.41) and age 18-23 months (8%, LR + 1.65). There was no difference in fracture morphology among groups. CONCLUSION: It is unlikely that an isolated femur fracture in ambulatory children age > 24 months is caused by inflicted trauma/neglect. Caution is advised in children younger than 24 months because that age is the main factor associated with inflicted trauma/neglect and inflicted femur fractures.

High prevalence of non-accidental trauma among deceased children presenting at Level I trauma centers in the Netherlands.

PURPOSE: Between 0.1-3% of injured children who present at a hospital emergency department ultimately die as a result of their injuries. These events are typically reported as unnatural causes of death and may result from either accidental or non-accidental trauma (NAT). Examples of the latter include trauma that is inflicted directly or resulting from neglect. Although consultation with a forensic physician is mandatory for all deceased children, the prevalence of fatal inflicted trauma or neglect among children is currently unclear. METHODS: This is a retrospective study that included children (0-18 years) who presented and died at one of the 11 Level I trauma centers in the Netherlands between January 1, 2014, and January 1, 2019. Outcomes were classified based on the conclusions of the Child Abuse and Neglect team or those of forensic pathologists and/or the court in cases referred for legally mandated autopsies. Cases in which conclusions were unavailable and there was no clear accidental cause of death were reviewed by an expert panel. RESULTS: The study included 175 cases of childhood death. Seventeen (9.7%) of these children died due to inflicted trauma (9.7%), 18 (10.3%) due to neglect, and 140 (80%) due to accidents. Preschool children (< 5 years old) were significantly more likely to present with injuries due to inflicted trauma and neglect compared to older children (44% versus 6%, p < 0.001, odds ratio [OR] 5.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.66-12.65). Drowning accounted for 14 of the 18 (78%) pediatric deaths due to neglect, representing 8% of the total cases. Postmortem radiological studies and autopsies were performed on 37 (21%) of all cases of childhood death. CONCLUSION: One of every five pediatric deaths in our nationwide Level I trauma center study was attributed to NAT; 44% of these deaths were the result of trauma experienced by preschool-aged children. A remarkable number of fatal drownings were due to neglect. Postmortem radiological studies and autopsies were performed in only one-fifth of all deceased children. The limited use of postmortem investigations may have resulted in missed cases of NAT, which will result in an overall underestimation of fatal NAT experienced by children.

Intensive rehabilitation in selected hip fracture patients may optimize care efficiency: A retrospective comparison study.

OBJECTIVE: To gather preliminary data on the effectiveness of intensive rehabilitation after hip fracture surgery, as provided in the Transfer Unit (TU) in Leiden, The Netherlands, compared with the effectiveness of rehabilitation in a regular nursing home. Intensive rehabilitation in the TU consists of physical therapy twice daily by dedicated medical staff and aims to shorten hospital stay and duration of rehabilitation, in order to increase the hospital admission capacity and reduce waiting lists for nursing homes. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PATIENTS: A total of 173 hip fracture patients, selected postoperatively for intensive rehabilitation in the TU. Of these, 156 received TU rehabilitation (TU+ group), while 17 were rehabilitated in regular nursing homes for logistic reasons (TU- group). METHODS: Length of hospital stay, rehabilitation duration and survival were compared between TU+ and TU-. RESULTS: Both groups appeared comparable at baseline. TU+ patients had a mean hospital stay of 10.4 vs 12.3 days for TU- patients (p = 0.29), while their rehabilitation duration was 25.2 days shorter: 42.0 vs 67.2 days (p = 0.001). One-year survival was similar (87%). CONCLUSION: Intensive rehabilitation in selected hip fracture patients may reduce rehabilitation duration by almost 4 weeks. Differentiated aftercare appears to increase care efficiency for hip fracture patients in both hospitals and nursing homes and may result in a significant reduction in costs.

[Age-specific treatment of femoral shaft fractures in children]. / Leeftijdspecifieke behandeling van femurschachtfracturen bij kinderen.

In the treatment of femoral shaft fractures in children, the age, the anatomy of the epiphyseal plates, the vascularisation of the femoral head and the length of hospital stay play an important role. The degree in which a malposition after a femoral shaft fracture is corrected by growth depends on the size, the location and the type of dislocation, and on the residual growth potential of the child. In children up to the age of 4, treatment with traction followed by spica casting almost always gives good results. Children up to age 12 are preferably treated with elastic intramedullary nails, if necessary in combination with a spica cast. In special cases, plate osteosynthesis or external fixation can be used. Children older than 12 years are often too heavy for treatment using elastic nails. Because of the still open growth plate of the greater trochanter, the vascularisation of the femoral head and the diameter of the femur, a standard adult intramedullary nail is not always suitable. Recently, a smaller nail for adolescents was developed, which is currently being tested.