An Eastern Europe and Middle East multinational expert Delphi consensus study on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip before walking age.

PURPOSE: The incidence of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is higher in Eastern Europeans and Middle Easterners. This study aimed to establish consensus among experts in this geographical area on the management of DDH before walking age. METHODS: Fourteen experienced orthopedic surgeons agreed to participate in a four-round online consensus panel by the Delphi method. The questionnaire included 31 statements concerning the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of DDH before walking age. RESULTS: Consensus was established for 26 (84%) of 31 statements. Hip ultrasonography is the proper diagnostic tool under six months in DDH; universal newborn hip screening between three and six weeks is necessary; positive family history, breech presentation, female gender, and postnatal swaddling are the most important risk factors; Ortolani, Barlow tests, and limitation of abduction are the most important clinical findings; Pavlik harness is the first bracing preference; some Graf type IIa hips and all Graf type IIb and worse hips need abduction bracing treatment; the uppermost age limit for closed and open reductions is 12 months and 12-24 months, respectively; anatomic reduction is essential in closed and open reductions, postoperative MRI or CT is not always indicated; anterior approach open reduction is better than medial approach open reduction; forceful reduction and extreme positioning of the hips (> 60° hip abduction) are the two significant risk factors for osteonecrosis of the femoral head. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study may be useful for clinicians because a practical reference, based on the opinions of the multinational expert panel, but may not be applicable to all settings is provided.

The outcome of soft-tissue release and tendon transfer in shoulders with brachial plexus birth palsy.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder involvement in brachial plexus birth palsy is common, and the adduction, internal rotation contracture deformity often requires some form of surgical treatment. There are very few long-term reports on release of contracted muscles and tendon transfers, especially in older children. We are reporting the single-center results of such a surgery with detailed outcome analysis. METHODS: The prospectively collected data from brachial plexus birth palsy cases who had undergone contracture release and tendon transfer were retrospectively studied and examined. The new Mallet and functional scores were compared with the original data forms and then analyzed. The radiographic evidence of glenoid dysplasia and its correlation with age and functional outcome was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 82 cases with surgery at mean age of 9.5 ± 5.09 years and a follow-up of 8 ± 3.8 (3-20) years entered the study. Of these, 56% of cases had 7 to 20 years of age at surgery. Fifty-four (66%) patients had only shoulder surgery, and 28 (34%) required additional reconstructive surgeries for hand and wrist. Moderate to severe glenohumeral dysplasia was present in 38%. The preoperative Mallet score of 10.6 ± 2.97 improved to 19.3 ± 3.39 (P < .001). Eighty-one percent of patients showed improvement in "reaching face" functions, 71% in "above head" functions, and 74% in "midline functions." The cases with lack of improvement in midline function mostly belonged to pan-plexus injuries. Noticeable subjective and objective improvement was also observed in cases with glenohumeral dysplasia in their Mallet and functional scores (P < .001). The improvement in function and subjective satisfaction of 92% was observed irrespective of age at surgery. CONCLUSION: Soft-tissue release and tendon transfer for brachial plexus birth palsy shoulder can improve function and limb appearance even in older children and young adults and even in the presence of glenohumeral dysplasia.

Dysplasia Epiphysealis Hemimelica Can Be Controlled by Growth Modulation: A Case Report.

CASE: Dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica (DEH), or Trevor disease, is an abnormal nonmalignant overgrowth of the epiphysis on one side of the body, often confined to one half of a joint of a limb. There is no known etiology or treatment for it. We are reporting the case of a 4.5-year-old boy with osteochondral-like growths on one side of the knee and ankle that could not be controlled by repeated excision. He underwent epiphyseal stapling at the knee and ankle. The regrowth was halted in both locations and has lasted for over 8 years. CONCLUSION: Modulation of physeal growth by stapling can halt the uncontrollable overgrowth of lesions in DEH.

Treatment of the Mirror Foot with Central Ray Resection: Report of 2 Cases.

The mirror foot is a rare congenital foot anomaly which is often associated with 6- to 8-toed polydactyly. Postaxial polydactyly is the most common form of this anomaly, while central polydactyly is seen infrequently. We report on 2 cases of the central mirror-foot anomaly. Calcaneus duplication and fibular hypoplasia were present in 1 case. We treated both patients by resecting the middle foot rays and narrowing the foot width through cuneiform excision and use of cerclage wires or heavy suture approximation of the remaining adjacent rays. In the mirror foot, the old and more common treatment was the resection of the border extra toes or rays. Central-ray amputation with dorsal and plantar incisions and narrowing the foot with soft-tissue reduction and cuneiform excision confer excellent functional and cosmetic results.

The Natural History of the Development of Trevor Disease of the Hip and Subsequent Arthroplasty: A Case Report.

CASE: Trevor disease (dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica [DEH]) is a rare, intra-articular anomaly of cartilaginous overgrowth of the epiphysis. The usual presentation is on 1 side of the body and on 1 side of the epiphysis. The natural history of this disease is not clear because the lesions often are treated during childhood. Additionally, hip involvement is relatively uncommon; to our knowledge, total hip arthroplasty in a patient with DEH has not been reported previously. Our patient presented with previously untreated DEH of the hip joint, which had developed into a very unusual shape. He was treated with a total hip arthroplasty and had satisfactory functioning 2.5 years postsurgery. CONCLUSION: Untreated DEH of the hip can lead to a very misshapen hip with a deformed femoral head and loss of the shape of the acetabulum, as well as stiffness due to an unusual shape and osteoarthritic changes. A total hip arthroplasty can give satisfactory functional results.

Madelung Deformity and Extensor Tendon Rupture.

Extensor tendon rupture in chronic Madelung deformity, as a result of tendon attrition on the dislocated distal ulna, is a rare occurrence. It is, however, seen more often in rheumatoid arthritis. There are few case reports in the English-language literature on this issue. We report a case of multiple tendon ruptures in a previously undiagnosed Madelung deformity.

Pediatric lower limb Ilizarov lengthening with functional evaluation in adulthood: A report on underprivileged patients.

PURPOSE: Ilizarov lengthening, with the principles of Ilizarov, requires a collaboration and supervision of the physiotherapist, nurse, and psychologist, preferably in a group-therapy set-up. We report the mid- and long-term functional outcome of cases that had none of the above listed supporting elements. In addition, we tried to observe the effect of the disease category on the final outcome in the patient. METHOD: In this study, 35 children who had undergone Ilizarov lower limb lengthening were evaluated using the following methods: clinical, radiographic, and by four functional scoring systems, and parent/patient satisfaction questionnaires, after an average of 17.2 years (10-25 years). RESULTS: In this study, 19 boys and 16 girls aged 5-16 years received 18 femoral and 20 tibial lengthening. An average of 6.2 cm lengthening in the femur and 8.4 in the tibia was achieved, with a healing index of 26.5 days. The disease category did not significantly affect the healing index, but the complications, 0.5 per femoral and 0.7 per tibial segment, were more common among congenital, and least among post-traumatic discrepancies. A complete improvement in joint stiffness was observed by 6-12 months post-frame removal in 83% of the cases, following home therapy by parents alone. CONCLUSION: The long-term results of Ilizarov lengthening for lower limb discrepancy in children, even without group-therapy or good supportive aids, can improve function and maintain patient satisfaction in two thirds of the cases, over an average period of 17 years. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: IV.