Contemporary Practices and Complications of Surgery for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) surgery is relatively rare and controversial, given the challenges in diagnosis as well as wide variation in symptomatic and functional recovery. Our aims were to measure trends in utilization of TOS surgery, complications, and mortality rates in a nationally representative cohort and compare higher versus lower volume centers. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample was queried using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes for rib resection and scalenectomy paired with axillo-subclavian aneurysm (arterial [aTOS]), subclavian deep vein thrombosis (venous [vTOS]), or brachial plexus lesions (neurogenic [nTOS]). Basic descriptive statistics, nonparametric tests for trend, and multivariable hierarchical regression models with random intercept for center were used to compare outcomes for TOS types, trends over time, and higher and lower volume hospitals, respectively. RESULTS: There were 3,547 TOS operations (for an estimated 18,210 TOS operations nationally) performed between 2010 and 2015 (89.2% nTOS, 9.9% vTOS, and 0.9% aTOS) with annual case volume increasing significantly over time (P = 0.03). Higher volume centers (≥10 cases per year) represented 5.2% of hospitals and 37.0% of cases, and these centers achieved significantly lower overall major complication (defined as neurologic injury, arterial or venous injury, vascular graft complication, pneumothorax, hemorrhage/hematoma, or lymphatic leak) rates (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.71 [95% confidence interval 0.52-0.98]; P = 0.04], but no difference in neurologic complications such as brachial plexus injury (aOR 0.69 [0.20-2.43]; P = 0.56) or vascular injuries/graft complications (aOR 0.71 [0.0.33-1.54]; P = 0.39). Overall mortality was 0.6%, neurologic injury was rare (0.3%), and the proportion of patients experiencing complications decreased over time (P = 0.03). However, vTOS and aTOS had >2.5 times the odds of major complication compared with nTOS (OR 2.68 [1.88-3.82] and aOR 4.26 [1.78-10.17]; P < 0.001), and ∼10 times the odds of a vascular complication (aOR 10.37 [5.33-20.19] and aOR 12.93 [3.54-47.37]; P < 0.001], respectively. As the number of complications decreased, average hospital charges also significantly decreased over time (P < 0.001). Total hospital charges were on average higher when surgery was performed in lower volume centers (<10 cases per year) compared with higher volume centers (mean $65,634 [standard deviation 98,796] vs. $45,850 [59,285]; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The annual number of TOS operations has increased in the United States from 2010 to 2015, whereas complications and average hospital charges have decreased. Mortality and neurologic injury remain rare. Higher volume centers delivered higher value care: less or similar operative morbidity with lower total hospital charges.

Impact of New Motor Deficit on HRQOL After Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery: Subanalysis From Scoli Risk 1 Prospective Study.

STUDY DESIGN: International, multicenter, prospective, longitudinal observational cohort. OBJECTIVE: To assess how new motor deficits affect patient reported quality of life scores after adult deformity surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Adult spinal deformity surgery is associated with high morbidity, including risk of new postoperative motor deficit. It is unclear what effect new motor deficit has on Health-related Quality of Life scores (HRQOL) scores. METHODS: Adult spinal deformity patients were enrolled prospectively at 15 sites worldwide. Other inclusion criteria included major Cobb more than 80°, C7-L2 curve apex, and any patient undergoing three column osteotomy. American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scores and standard HRQOL scores were recorded pre-op, 6 weeks, 6 months, and 2 years. RESULTS: Two hundred seventy two complex adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients enrolled. HRQOL scores were worse for patients with lower extremity motor score (LEMS). Mean HRQOL changes at 6 weeks and 2 years compared with pre-op for patients with motor worsening were: ODI (+12.4 at 6 weeks and -4.7 at 2 years), SF-36v2 physical (-4.5 at 6 weeks and +2.3 at 2 years), SRS-22r (0.0 at 6 weeks and +0.4 at 2 years). Mean HRQOL changes for motor-neutral patients were: ODI (+0.6 at 6 weeks and -12.1 at 2 years), SF-36v2 physical (-1.6 at 6 weeks and +5.9 at 2 years), and SRS-22r (+0.4 at 6 weeks and +0.7 at 2 years). For patients with LEMS improvement, mean HRQOL changes were: ODI (-0.6 at 6 weeks and -16.3 at 2 years), SF-36v2 physical (+1.0 at 6 weeks and +7.0 at 2 years), and SRS-22r (+0.5 at 6 weeks and +0.9 at 2 years). CONCLUSION: In the subgroup of deformity patients who developed a new motor deficit, total HRQOLs and HRQOL changes were negatively impacted. Patients with more than 2 points of LEMS worsening had the worst changes, but still showed overall HRQOL improvement at 6 months and 2 years compared with pre-op baseline.Level of Evidence: 3.

Surgical site infection following surgery for spinal deformity: About 102 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Complex spinal surgery is known to be at risk of complications. Surgical site infection is a serious complication in spine surgery and its frequency is significantly increased in adult spinal deformity correction. The aim of this study is to identify patients' characteristics and risk factors of surgical site infection (SSI) following an osteotomy. METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective study of patients who underwent an osteotomy between January 2015 and December 2017. Surgical site infection diagnosis was based upon patient's clinical evidence of infection, biologic parameters, microbiological criteria and/or image findings. RESULTS: In total, 102 patients were eligible and 70 were women (68.6%). Mean age was 65 years old (27-83 years) and mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.14kg.m-2 (18.4-44.1). Eleven patients were in the SSI group and 91 in the No-SSI group. The mean Schwab grade was 1.5 (1-4) in the SSI group vs. 1.4 (1-5) in the No-SSI group (P=0.435). The mean operative time was on 201.9 minutes (67-377). Mean length of stay was 20.6 days (10-73) in the SSI group vs. 15 days (5-44) in the No-SSI group (P=0.041). Favorable outcome was found in 10 patients (90.9%) in the SSI group. CONCLUSION: Correction surgery for adult spinal deformity with osteotomies carries a high risk of complications specially SSI. Identification of risk factors, prevention and medical management of SSI should be well assessed.

Research trends and hotspots of high tibial osteotomy in two decades (from 2001 to 2020): a bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to comprehensively analyze the global application trend of high tibial osteotomy (HTO) and identify promising research hotspots of HTO based on bibliometrics and visual analysis. METHODS: Publications (articles and reviews) related to HTO from 2001 to 2020 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database (WOSCC). The country, institution, year, author, journal, average citations per item, H index, title, abstract, keywords of publication, and the top 10 cited articles were extracted and analyzed in detail. The VOSviewer software was used to analyze theco-occurrence of keywords to predict the hotspots of HTO. RESULTS: A total of 1883 articles were included. In the past 20 years, the number of HTO articles has shown an increasing trend in general. The top 3 countries (the USA, Germany, and South Korea) accounted for 49.547% of all articles published. The USA has the largest number of publications. The University of Western Ontario is the largest contributor. The Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy is the most influential journal. Professors Saito T and Imhoff AB are the leading scholars who made great achievements in the HTO field. The research direction can be divided into the following 5 clusters: "prognosis and outcome", "HTO combined with cartilage restoration techniques", "animal experimental research", "study on bone union and plate fixation at osteotomy", and "surgical technique research". CONCLUSION: In terms of the trend of previous years, an increasing number of literatures related to HTO will be published in the future. The USA is a world leader in the field of HTO. South Korea presented great potential in this area. HTO combined with cartilage restoration techniques, postoperative prognosis and outcome, and surgical technique research may be the future hotspots in the field of HTO research.

State of the art advances in minimally invasive surgery for adult spinal deformity.

Adult spinal deformity (ASD) can be associated with substantial suffering due to pain and disability. Surgical intervention for achieving neural decompression and restoring physiological spinal alignment has shown to result in significant improvement in pain and disability through patient-reported outcomes. Traditional open approaches involving posterior osteotomy techniques and instrumentation are effective based on clinical outcomes but associated with high complication rates, even in the hands of the most experienced surgeons. Minimally invasive techniques may offer benefit while decreasing associated morbidity. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for ASD has evolved over the past 20 years, driven by improved understanding of open procedures along with novel technique development and technologic advancements. Early efforts were hindered due to suboptimal outcomes resulting from high pseudarthrosis, inadequate correction, and fixation failure rates. To address this, multi-center collaborative groups have been established to study large numbers of ASD patients which have been vital to understanding optimal patient selection and individualized management strategies. Different MIS decision-making algorithms have been described to better define appropriate candidates and interbody selection approaches in ASD. The purpose of this state of the review is to describe the evolution of MIS surgery for adult deformity with emphasis on landmark papers, and to discuss specific MIS technology for ASD, including percutaneous pedicle screw instrumentation, hyperlordotic grafts, three-dimensional navigation, and robotics.

[The past, present and future of the control of axial alignment of the lower extremity in high tibial osteotomy].

High tibial osteotomy(HTO) is an effective method for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis by transferring the weight bearing line to the lateral tibial plateau, which can significantly reduce the pressure and cartilage lesion of medial knee compartment.However, under- and over-correction of weight bearing line can lead to early postoperative failure.It is necessary to define the standard of axis correction, make correct preoperative plan, ensure the accuracy of operation and consider the risk factors of under- and over-correction of axis.With the advent of the era of intelligent medicine, the application of patient-specific instrumentation technology based on three dimention printing and navigation technology will help to achieve the precise control of axial alignment in high tibial osteotomy.

State of the art review: Vertebral Osteotomies for the management of Spinal Deformity.

Spinal deformity is a complex condition caused by various etiologies (degenerative, neuromuscular, congenital, developmental, traumatic, neoplastic, idiopathic) leading to clinical deformity, axial back pain, and neurologic deficits. Patients presenting with severe deformities require vertebral osteotomies to achieve the necessary curve correction for radiographic and clinical improvement. The three major vertebral osteotomy techniques commonly used at this time are the posterior column osteotomy (PCO), pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO), and vertebral column resection (VCR). The different vertebral osteotomies have unique merits and pitfalls that need to be addressed during preoperative planning to achieve maximum benefit while limiting or avoiding possible complications. The more difficult vertebral osteotomies have a steeper learning curve and requires extensive pre, intra and postoperative management of the patient. This review will aim to discuss the indications, surgical techniques, and clinical outcomes for each of these different vertebral osteotomy techniques with illustrative cases.

Surgery trends for osteonecrosis of the femoral head: a fifteen-year multi-centre study in Japan.

PURPOSE: The most appropriate procedure and at what type and stage of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) these procedures had been argued. We attempted to clarify the trend in surgical operations with respect to the age of patients, type classification, and stage of ONFH over a period of 15 years by using the multi-center sentinel monitoring system in Japan. METHODS: We evaluated the hips of 3844 patients using this system in three phases of every five  years from 2003 to 2017. We classified the surgical procedures as osteotomy (OT), hemiarthroplasty (Hemi), and total hip arthroplasty (THA). We assessed the trend in age, type classification, and stage of ONFH over three time periods; "early," and the "late." We calculated the proportion of surgeries for ONFH in each period. We used the Cochran-Armitage test to evaluate trends in proportion of two levels of characteristics across three time periods. RESULTS: The proportion of younger patients significantly decreased. The proportion of OT and Hemi decreased over time, while the proportion of THA increased. The proportion of patients with types C1 and C2 who underwent OT and Hemi decreased over time. In contrast, that of THA increased. The proportion of patients who underwent OT and Hemi significantly decreased; the proportion of patients who underwent THA significantly increased over time at all stages. CONCLUSIONS: In Japan, the younger patients underwent surgery for ONFH decreased. The patients who underwent OT and Hemi for ONFH decreased, while that of THA increased over time.

Current Trends in Fixation Techniques.

Hallux valgus is an extremely common and often disabling deformity. In addition to valgus deformity of the hallux, varying degrees of varus and supination of the first metatarsal and instability in the metatarsophalangeal and metatarsocuneiform joints are frequently present. Because of the complexity and multiplicity of deformities, surgical techniques and fixation methods continue to be developed to obtain better results. Recent studies have focused on correcting pronation of the first metatarsal as a way of correcting and equalizing the metatarsal sesamoid bones in a more horizontal and stable position, possibly minimizing the chance of recurrence of the deformity.

Comparison of total cost and outcomes between single-stage open reduction and Pemberton periacetabular osteotomy operation and two separate consecutive operations in treatment of bilateral developmental hip dysplasia in children at walking age.

Open reduction and Pemberton periacetabular osteotomy (PPO) is one of the most preferred techniques for the treatment of developmental hip dyslaplasia (DDH) after the walking age. Performing the surgery as a one-stage operation or two separate consecutive operations is a controversial issue. In this study, we aimed to compare the outcomes, length of hospitalization and total cost between the patients whom had single-stage open reduction and PPO or two consecutive operations due to bilateral DDH in the walking age children. One hundred thirty patients with bilateral DDH had undergone open reduction and PPO for both hips. Seventy-five patients had one-stage open reduction and PPO for both of the hips, whereas 55 patients have two separate consecutive operations. Total time of exposure to anesthetics, blood loss and duration of operation were noted. Hospitalization period and total treatment costs were also noted for each patient. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding the preoperative and postoperative AIs (P > 0.05). Comparing the total cost, length of hospitalization, exposure to anesthetics, perioperative blood loss, there was statistically significant difference between the groups (P < 0.005). Single-stage surgery had favorable outcomes. Major benefits of single-stage surgery for treatment of bilateral DDH are the reduced costs, anesthesia duration, intraoperative blood loss and hospitalization period. Also it can be presumed that prolonged immobilization can lead to loss of bone strength and resulting in fragility fractures. So single-stage open reduction and PPO for bilateral DDH can be preferred in experienced clinics.

Intertrochanteric Imhäuser osteotomy combined with osteochondroplasty in treatment of moderate-severe stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis: a case series study.

The aim of the study is to assess the safety and efficacy of Imhäuser osteotomy combined with osteochondroplasty in the treatment of moderate-severe stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) on short-term basis. Nineteen patients (20 hips) with moderate-severe stable SCFE were surgically treated by Imhäuser osteotomy combined with osteochondroplasty and followed up for 3-4 years. The cases aged between 12 and 18 years at the time of surgery and complained of a variety of symptoms and signs that included pain, limping, limited range of motion (ROM), and/or abductor weakness. The outcomes were assessed using clinical and radiological parameters as well as functional outcome measures: "Harris hip score" (HHS) and "The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index" (WOMAC). There were statistically significant improvements in flexion, internal rotation, and abduction ROM. HHS and WOMAC improved significantly with final follow-up scores at 86.76 and 6.4%, respectively. The radiological parameters showed significant improvement regarding Southwick angle (mean 12.8°), alpha angle of Nötzli (mean 29.85°), Hilgenreiner epiphyseal angle (mean 37.65°), neck shaft angle (mean 140.63°), and acetabulo-trochanteric distance (median14.1 mm) at the end of follow-up period. Imhäuser osteotomy combined with osteochondroplasty is a good option in moderate-severe stable SCFE treatment.

Comparison of surgical and nonsurgical containment methods for patients with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease of the onset ages between 6.0 and 8.0 years: Salter osteotomy versus a non-weight-bearing hip flexion-abduction brace.

Since bone healing potential decreases with age, patients with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease should receive treatment appropriate to their age group. Nonsurgical treatment is commonly applied to patients under 6.0 years of age at the onset and surgical treatment is recommended for those over 8.0 years of age, but it remains unclear which is better for those between 6.0 and 8.0 years. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare outcomes of Salter osteotomy and a non-weight-bearing brace in this age group. Inclusion criteria were unilateral Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease patients who were 6.0-8.0 years of age at the onset, who had more than 50% femoral head involvement without hinge abduction, and who underwent either Salter osteotomy (n = 35) or a non-weight-bearing hip flexion-abduction brace (n = 18). Radiological and clinical outcomes at skeletal maturity were compared between the two groups. The mean follow-up durations were 9.4 years in the Salter osteotomy group and 10.0 years in the brace group. There was no significant difference in the modified Waldenström classification at the beginning of treatment and the Catterall and modified lateral pillar classifications evaluated at the fragmentation stage between the groups. At skeletal maturity, the Stulberg classification, the sphericity deviation score, femoral head overgrowth, and the articulo-trochanteric distance were similar between the groups, but the Salter osteotomy group showed significantly smaller lateralization of the femoral head and better acetabular shape and coverage than the brace group: femoral head lateralization (P < 0.001), acetabular depth-to-width ratio (P = 0.002), Sharp angle (P < 0.001), lateral acetabular shape (P = 0.027), acetabular head index (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in hip pain and motion between the groups. In this age group, Salter osteotomy provides better femoral head position and acetabular shape and coverage than a non-weight-bearing brace.

Outcome of the modified Dunn procedure in severe chronic or acute on chronic slipped capital femoral epiphysis.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the modified Dunn osteotomy has gained popularity to treat slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) with various complication rates. Most studies included patients with different severities. This study aimed to determine (1) the radiological and clinical outcome, (2) the health-related quality of life, and (3) the incidence of avascular necrosis of the femoral head (AVN) in patients with severe chronic or acute on chronic SCFE treated by the modified Dunn procedure. METHODS: Out of 150 patients with SCFE treated at our institution between 2001 and 2014, 15 patients (mean age 12.9 years (range 11.8-15)) were treated by the modified Dunn procedure. Eight SCFE were chronic and 7 acute on chronic. All slips were severe with a mean Southwick slip angle (SSA) of 67° (range 60-80). Radiographic and clinical outcomes were measured. Mean time of follow-up was 3.8 years (range 1-10). RESULTS: Anatomical reduction was achieved in all cases. Good radiological results according to the Stulberg Classification (grade 1 + 2) and the Sphericity Deviation Score (< 30) were found in 9 out of 13 patients at the last follow-up. Clinical and functional outcome analysis revealed good results in 8 out of 10 patients (Harris Hip Score > 80). The quality of life measured by the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) was described good in 10 out of 10 patients. Four out of 15 patients developed an AVN. CONCLUSIONS: The modified Dunn procedure has a great potential to restore proximal femur geometry in severe chronic or acute on chronic SCFE. It should be considered only if there is no other possibility to restore proximal femur geometry, as is the case in severe slips, due to the risk of AVN.

Efficacy evaluation of three-dimensional printing assisted osteotomy guide plate in accurate osteotomy of adolescent cubitus varus deformity.

BACKGROUND: This present study is aimed to retrospectively assess the efficacy of three-dimensional (3D) printing assisted osteotomy guide plate in accurate osteotomy of adolescent cubitus varus deformity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients (15 males and 10 females) with the cubitus varus deformity from June 2014 to December 2017 were included in this study and were enrolled into the conventional group (n = 11) and 3D printing group (n = 14) according to the different surgical approaches. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, osteotomy degrees, osteotomy end union time, and postoperative complications between the two groups were observed and recorded. RESULTS: Compared with the conventional group, the 3D printing group has the advantages of shorter operation time, less intraoperative blood loss, higher rate of excellent correction, and higher rate of the parents' excellent satisfaction with appearance after deformity correction (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.019, P = 0.023). Nevertheless, no significant difference was presented in postoperative carrying angle of the deformed side and total complication rate between the two groups (P = 0.626, P = 0.371). CONCLUSIONS: The operation assisted by 3D printing osteotomy guide plate to correct the adolescent cubitus varus deformity is feasible and effective, which might be an optional approach to promote the accurate osteotomy and optimize the efficacy.

Clinical results and surgery tactics of spinal osteotomy for ankylosing spondylitis kyphosis: experience of 428 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To report the clinical results and surgical tactics of spinal osteotomy for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) kyphosis based on the experiences of 428 patients. METHODS: From January 2003 to January 2015, a total of 428 patients suffering from AS kyphosis who underwent a one- or two-level pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) or vertebral column decancellation (VCD) osteotomy in our hospital were reviewed. Pre- and postoperative radiological parameters and the chin-brow vertical angle (CBVA) were measured. Intraoperative, postoperative, and general complications were recorded. RESULTS: All patients could walk with horizontal vision and lie on their backs postoperatively. The pre- and postoperative average global kyphosis (GK) angles were corrected from 82.6 to 12.7° (p = 0.000) in the two-level group and from 55.8 to 9.6° (p = 0.000) in the one-level group, respectively. The mean sagittal vertical axis (SVA) improved from 29.4 to 8 cm (p = 0.000) in the two-level group and from 18.0 to 4.3 cm (p = 0.000) in the one-level group. The CBVA improved from 68.3 to 8.2° (p = 0.000) in the two-level group and from 46.2 to 4.2° (p = 0.000) in the one-level group. Although no major acute complications such as death or complete paralysis occurred, the complication rate was 6.5% in the one-level group and 23.6% in the two-level group. CONCLUSION: Spinal osteotomy, such as PSO and VCD, can improve the quality of life of AS patients as well as correct kyphotic deformities. The one-level spinal osteotomy showed a lower complication rate, while two-level spinal osteotomy was a relatively aggressive procedure that was more suitable in correcting severe AS kyphotic deformities.

Management of isolated and complex craniosynostosis residual deformities: What are the maxillofacial tools?

Treatment of craniosynostosis is complex and has greatly progressed in recent decades. From the early stages in the 1950s to today's most recent techniques, surgeons have faced the challenge of overcoming the deformities often caused by such invasive, complex surgeries. In the most recent years, new techniques have been developed that address surgical sequelae, including those of surgery performed in childhood. After a general introduction on craniosynostosis, the present paper describes the various types of deformity that may result from complex surgery and offers an overview of the various tools available to surgeons. An explanation of each indication and procedure is given.

Radiographic changes and clinical outcomes after open and closed wedge high tibial osteotomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this meta-analysis is to examine changes in radiological variables and clinical outcomes between open and closed wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO and CWHTO, respectively), which have ongoing controversial issues in numerous quantitative clinical studies. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched for suitable controlled trials between Jan 1, 1999, and Feb 2, 2018. The inclusion criteria included studies written in English, studies with a level of evidence of I-IV, and studies presenting comparisons between OWHTO and CWHTO. The main clinical and radiographic results were extracted and pooled using Stata 12.0. RESULTS: After searching for and screening trials, 28 trials involving 2840 knees were eligible for the meta-analysis. After OWHTO or CWHTO, clinical scores, including the American Knee Society Score, Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Score, Lysholm score, and Visual Analog Scale pain score, improved (p < 0.05), but the range of motion was unchanged (p > 0.05). The anatomical femorotibial angle (SMD 0.04, 95% CI - 0.66 to 0.74) and hip-knee-ankle angle (SMD 0.11, 95% CI - 0.11 to 0.33) data suggested that the OWHTO and CWHTO groups were similar in function of correction. Posterior tibial slope increased (SMD - 0.71, 95% CI - 1.04 to - 0.37) after OWHTO but decreased (SMD 0.72, 95% CI 0.35 to 1.08) after CWHTO. OWHTO decreased patellar height (p < 0.05), while patellar height did not change significantly after CWHTO (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis indicates that compared with CWHTO, OWHTO increases the posterior slope, decreases the patellar height, and provides a similar accuracy of correction; however, CWHTO leads to a decreased posterior slope and an unchanged patellar height. Therefore, programs should be personalized and customized for the specific situation of each patient.

Evaluation of results after distal metatarsal osteotomy by minimal invasive surgery for the treatment of metatarsalgia: patient and anatomical pieces study.

BACKGROUND: Metatarsalgia of the lesser toes is a common cause of consultation in the podiatric clinic. However, there continues to be a controversy with respect to which is the best surgical technique, and there is few information in the literature regarding objectively comparable results in percutaneous surgery. METHODS: The second metatarsal bones of 30 feet belonging to patients who had attended the podiatric clinic were studied before and after distal metatarsal pecutaneous osteotomy. The degree of shortening of the second metatarsal (RX) and the degree of functional recovery and perception of the well-being of the patient (AOFAS) were evaluated retrospectively. The same bones of 10 cadaveric feet were also studied. The surgical procedure was identical to that used on patients, and electronic callipers were employed to take measurements of the second metatarsal. The integrity of the plantar plate was checked visually. RESULTS: The mean shortening of the second metatarsal bone, as determined by the radiological study, was 2.76 mm. After an average follow-up period of 1.5 years, the final mean score on the AOFAS scale was 95.26 points. In none of the cases was the mobility of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint affected. The mean shortening in the cadaveric feet was 2.10 mm, and in all cases, the plantar plate and flexor apparatus were perfectly preserved. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous osteotomy achieved, in our study, a lower degree of shortening than Weil's surgery, according to the data published in the literature. However, it shows good clinical results without causing problems of consolidation or rigidity in the MTP joint. Neither, with the caution that should be taken due to the use of experimental cadaver models, damage of the flexor apparatus of the foot is observed. These results suggest that this could be a safe and effective surgical procedure to be considered for metatarsalgias of the lesser rays.

Oblique pelvic osteotomy in the treatment of bladder exstrophy in neonates.

Bladder exstrophy is a congenital and rare malformation of the lower abdominal wall with exposure of the bladder mucosa to the external environment, and it is related to pelvis abnormalities. Eighteen patients with bladder exstrophy were treated with bilateral oblique pelvic osteotomy in conjunction with urologic reconstruction after they were stabilized by cast. No failure of midline closure was observed (wound dehiscence or recurrence of bladder exstrophy). Follow-up showed no leg length discrepancy or problems in walking. Bilateral oblique pelvic osteotomy is a safe procedure to treat bladder exstrophy, and it results in good orthopedic and urological function.

Change in adduction moment following medial open wedge high tibial osteotomy: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This meta-analysis was designed to quantify adduction moment loss, to evaluate the relationship between changes in mechanical axis alignment and adduction moment, and to assess whether sagittal plane moment is altered after medial open wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO). METHODS: Following preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, all studies reporting preoperative and postoperative peak knee adduction moment or change in peak knee adduction moment from before to after surgery in patients who underwent medial open wedge HTO were included. RESULTS: Nine studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled mean difference in adduction moment from before to after medial open wedge HTO was 1.44% Nm/body weight (BW)xheight (HT) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33 to 1.55% Nm/BWxHT; P < 0.001; I2 = 4%). However, flexion (0.18% Nm/BWxHT, 95% CI: -0.50 to 0.86% Nm/BWxHT; P = 0.61; I2 = 79%) and extension (0.15% Nm/BWxHT, 95% CI, - 0.37 to 0.68% Nm/BWxHT; P = 0.56; I2 = 46%) moments did not differ significantly from before to after surgery. Alignment correction amount and postoperative final valgus alignment were not significantly associated with difference in adduction moment from before to after surgery. CONCLUSION: Knee adduction moment after medial open wedge HTO decreased to 60% of the preoperative level. However, this adduction moment decrement was not affected by the magnitude of alignment correction. In addition, there was no change in sagittal plane knee moment, including flexion and extension moments, from before to after medial open wedge HTO. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Meta-analysis (Level II).