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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

All-Epiphyseal ACL Reconstruction in Children: Review of Safety and Early Complications.

BACKGROUND: All-epiphyseal anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a well-described technique for skeletally immature patients. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the early complication rate and identify associated risk factors for rerupture after this procedure in children. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent all-epiphyseal ACL reconstructions performed at a large, tertiary care children's hospital between January 2007 and April 2013. Relevant postoperative data including the development of leg-length discrepancy, angular deformity, rerupture, infection, knee range of motion, arthrofibrosis, and other complications were recorded. Independent variables analyzed for association with rerupture included age, body mass index, graft type, graft size, and associated injuries addressed at surgery. RESULTS: A total of 103 patients (average 12.1 y old; range, 6.3 to 15.7) were analyzed. The mean follow-up was 21 months. The overall complication rate was 16.5% (17/103), including 11 reruptures (10.7%), 1 case (<1.0%) of clinical leg-length discrepancy of <1 cm, and 2 cases (1.9%) of arthrofibrosis requiring manipulation under anesthesia. Two patients (1.9%) sustained contralateral ACL ruptures and 3 (2.9%) sustained subsequent ipsilateral meniscus tears during the study period. There were no associations found between age, sex, graft type, graft thickness, body mass index, or associated injuries addressed during surgery and rerupture rate. Knee flexion continued to improve by 20 degrees on an average between the 6 weeks and 6 months postoperative visits (P<0.001; paired samples Student's t test). CONCLUSIONS: When taken in the context of known risk of future injury in an ACL-deficient knee, all-epiphyseal ACL reconstruction in children is safe. The rate of growth disturbance in this study is similar to previous reports in this patient demographic. The rerupture rate in this cohort is slightly higher compared with ACL reconstruction in older patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV-retrospective case series.

Can a Novel, Low-Cost Simulation Model be Used to Teach Anterior Cruciate Ligament Graft Preparation?

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft preparation simulation learning model for use by orthopaedic surgery trainees. METHODS: A simulation model for ACL graft preparation was constructed using shoelace as graft material and a wooden graft preparation board that matched the dimensions of existing products. A 12-minute instructional video targeted at novice learners was created to accompany the simulation model. A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted on orthopaedic surgery residents divided into 2 groups with equal distributions of postgraduate year (PGY) status. The intervention group learned ACL graft preparation via the Shoelace ACL Simulation Guide, whereas a control group viewed a standard instructional video. All participants then prepared an 8-strand ACL graft using allograft materials and were evaluated via a checklist of critical steps and a global assessment rating as provided by an expert blinded to group allocation. Participants' preintervention and postintervention self-assessment scores were also collected. RESULTS: Ten orthopaedic surgery residents from a single institution participated in the study, with even distributions across study groups of PGY-1, PGY-3, and PGY-4 residents. Preintervention self-assessments of knowledge and technical ability were similar between participant groups. The mean overall performance score was significantly greater in the shoelace simulation intervention group (22.6±1.5) than in the instructional video only control group (16.0±5.1) (P=0.043). Participants in the intervention group showed greater improvement in self-confidence in their technical ability than those in the control group (P=0.012). Groups demonstrated similar postintervention improvements in self-reported knowledge of ACL graft preparation (P=0.128). All participants who learned via the Shoelace ACL Simulation Guide strongly agreed that they would use the learning tool to prepare for ACL reconstruction surgery. CONCLUSIONS: A self-directed low-cost simulation model for soft tissue ACL graft preparation utilizing shoelaces resulted in improved performance metrics compared with standard video instruction. The teaching model may be incorporated easily and inexpensively into simulation curricula at other training programs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II-therapeutic study.

Hemoglobin to Hematocrit Ratio: The Strongest Predictor of Femoral Head Osteonecrosis in Children With Sickle Cell Disease.

BACKGROUND: Femoral head osteonecrosis (ON) secondary to sickle cell disease (SCD) often progresses to femoral head collapse, requiring total hip arthroplasty. However, this treatment has a limited durability and patients with SCD have higher rates of complications, requiring multiple revision operations. Identifying risk factors linked to ON in SCD can facilitate earlier precollapse diagnosis and surgical treatment aimed at preservation of the native hip joint. METHODS: Fifty-nine children treated at our institution between January 2001 and April 2012 with SCD and ON, as diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging or radiographic imaging, were compared with age-matched and sickle cell phenotype-matched (SS, SC, Sß, Sß) controls with no evidence of ON. Two sided t-tests assuming unequal variances determined statistically risk factors and threshold values were assigned to calculate odds ratios. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure (P=1.2×10, OR=3.68), diastolic blood pressure (P=0.0084, OR=1.41), weight in the SCD-SS population (P=0.04, OR=1.85), and hemoglobin (Hb) in the SCD-SS population (P=0.036, OR=2.56) were elevated in cases. Curiously, dividing the Hb by the hematocrit to serve as a clinical proxy for the mean corpuscular Hb concentration (MCHC) produced an excellent predictor of ON (P=2.06×10, OR=5.17), which was especially pronounced in the SCD-SS subpopulation (P=2.28×10, OR=8.65). Among children with SCD, the overall prevalence of ON was 9% (59/658) and the phenotype with the highest prevalence of ON was Sß thalassemia with an ON prevalence of 11.1%. There was no observed correlation between ON and height, body mass index, cholesterol, mean corpuscular volume, hematocrit, or glucocorticoid use. CONCLUSIONS: These data support a novel clinical marker, the MCHC proxy, as the strongest predictor of ON in children with SCD. High-risk children should receive hip magnetic resonance imaging to diagnose early ON and facilitate interventions focused on hip preservation, forestalling, or possibly preventing, the need for total hip arthroplasty.

Traumatic Shoulder Dislocation Among Adolescents: Hill-Sachs Lesion Volume and Recurrent Instability.

BACKGROUND: Accurate assessment of Hill-Sachs lesions (HSLs) and their relationship to the glenoid track is essential to optimizing management following traumatic shoulder dislocation. The purpose of this study was to measure the size of HSLs by a novel method with magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography and to investigate the relationship between lesion size and instability history in adolescents (below 19 y of age) with a history of traumatic dislocation. METHODS: All shoulder MR arthrograms queried to identify HSLs over a 4-year period were retrospectively reviewed and independently evaluated by 2 blinded musculoskeletal radiologists. HSLs were evaluated on axial T1-weighted fat-saturated images. For each consecutive image slice in which the HSL was identified, a freehand region of interest was constructed along the compression fracture cavity. Region of interest sum was multiplied by image slice thickness (and gap between slices if present) to generate a total HSL volume (mm). Subject chart review was then performed to acquire demographic data, including shoulder dislocation history. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients met inclusion criteria and included 22 boys (mean age, 16.3 y) and 8 girls (mean age, 16.4 y). Four patients had a history of 1 traumatic dislocation, 12 had a history of 2, and 14 had a history of ≥3. The average size of the HSL for all patients was 3.8 mm (range, 0.52 to 11 mm). There was no significant difference in HSL volume between the 21 skeletally immature (3.7 mm) and 9 skeletally mature (4.2 mm) patients (P=0.67). Patients with a history of 1, 2, or 3+ dislocations had an average HSL volume of 1.3, 3.7, and 4.7 mm, respectively. The measurement method revealed excellent interreader reliability (P=0.00). There was a statistically significant difference between dislocation history group mean HSL volumes (P=0.019), as well as a statistically significant difference between the number of dislocations and lesion volume (P=0.011). CONCLUSIONS: HSLs can be effectively measured in adolescent patients using MR arthrography and patients with larger HSLs have more recurrent instability episodes, potentially meriting greater and earlier attention to the defect. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic/diagnostic study level IV.

Preliminary Results of Multiple Epiphyseal Drilling and Autologous Bone Marrow Implantation for Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head Secondary to Sickle Cell Disease in Children.

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common cause of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) during childhood. The natural history of ONFH in SCD is poor with progression to femoral head collapse and deformity that ultimately may lead to hip osteoarthritis. Multiple epiphyseal drilling with autologous bone marrow implantation may enhance the mechanism of osteogenic repair. The purpose of this study was to describe early clinical and radiographic outcomes in pediatric patients with ONFH secondary to SCD after multiple epiphyseal drilling and AMBI. METHODS: Nine boys and 2 girls (14 hips) with a mean age of 12.7 years (range, 9.7-18 y) at the time of surgery were evaluated. All patients were followed for at least 1 year after surgery and the mean duration of follow-up was 25 months (range, 12-47 mo). Clinical outcome was assessed by the pain domain from the Children's Hospital Oakland Hip Evaluation Scale and by hip range of motion. The extent of femoral head involvement was assessed by measuring the arc of necrosis and the amount of collapse on anteroposterior and frog lateral radiographs. The University of Pennsylvania system was used to assess the osteonecrosis stage. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare radiographic and clinical variables. RESULTS: Compared with preoperative measures, multiple epiphyseal drilling with AMBI resulted in significant improvement in pain (P=0.0010), internal hip rotation (P=0.0005), external hip rotation (P=0.0010), and flexion (P=0.0015). The amount of lateral collapse (P=0.4609), anterior collapse (P=0.4258), and the arc of necrosis (P=0.2251) were not significant after surgery. The majority of the hips had either improvement in the Steinberg stage of disease (4/14 hips) or no further progression (7/14 hips) at the latest follow-up. There were no surgical complications. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple epiphyseal drilling with autologous bone marrow cell implantation allows for short-term clinical improvement and limits radiographic progression of ONFH associated with SCD in children with minimal morbidity.

Bilateral agenesis of the anterior cruciate ligament: MRI evaluation.

Bilateral agenesis of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is extremely rare. We describe a 13-year-old girl who presented with bilateral knee pain without history of trauma; she has two family members with knee instability. Magnetic resonance imaging showed bilateral absence of the ACL, and medial posterior horn meniscal tears. Bilateral arthroscopic partial meniscectomy and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was performed.

Diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance arthrography of the shoulder in children.

BACKGROUND: No reported data demonstrate the usefulness of magnetic resonance arthrography of the shoulder in children. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MR arthrography in the assessment of superior labral anteroposterior (SLAP) tears of the shoulder, Bankart-type injuries and Hill-Sachs lesions in children as compared to arthroscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively interpreted 66 MR arthrograms of the shoulder and compared them with surgical findings. Assessment included evaluation of the osseous structures, labral-ligamentous complex and determination of skeletal maturity. We calculated sensitivity, specificity and accuracy and compared sensitivity and specificity between skeletally mature and immature children. RESULTS: MR arthrography demonstrated a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 88%, 98% and 94%, respectively, for depiction of SLAP tears; 94%, 92% and 94% for detection of Bankart-type injuries; and 100%, 94% and 97% for diagnosing Hill-Sachs lesions. There was no statistical difference between the skeletally immature and skeletally mature groups. CONCLUSION: There is no significant difference in the diagnostic accuracy of MR arthrography in skeletally immature versus skeletally mature children. MR shoulder arthrography is an effective method for the detection of labral and bone pathology.

Magnetic resonance imaging in children with sickle cell disease--detecting alterations in the apparent diffusion coefficient in hips with avascular necrosis.

BACKGROUND: Avascular necrosis (AVN) is a common morbidity in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) that leads to pain and joint immobility. However, the diagnosis is often uncertain or delayed. OBJECTIVE: To examine the ability of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements on diffusion-weighted imaging to detect AVN in children with SCD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ADC values were calculated at the hips of normal children (n = 19) and children with SCD who were either asymptomatic with no known previous hip disease (n = 13) or presented for the first time with clinical symptoms of hip pathology (n = 12). ADC values were compared for differences among groups with and without AVN using non-parametric statistical methods. RESULTS: The ADC values were elevated in the hips of children with AVN (median ADC = 1.57 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s [95% confidence interval = 0.86-2.10]) and differed significantly in pairwise comparisons (all P < 0.05) from normal children (0.74 [0.46-0.98]), asymptomatic children with SCD (0.55 [0.25-0.85]), and SCD children who had symptoms referable to their hips but did not show findings of hip AVN on conventional MRI or radiographs (0.46 [0.18-0.72]). CONCLUSION: Children with sickle cell disease have elevated apparent diffusion coefficient values in their affected hips on initial diagnosis of avascular necrosis.

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.

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.

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.

Management of fractures in adolescents.

There are well-established treatment standards for adults who sustain fractures; however, these treatment standards are not always applicable when treating adolescents with similar fractures because of the presence of physes. Fractures in adolescents are treated by pediatric orthopaedic surgeons, adult orthopaedic traumatologists, or general orthopaedic surgeons. It is imperative that the principles of fracture management are well defined and discussed in both the pediatric and adult orthopaedic community. Controversial topics include the youngest age at which an adolescent can be treated as an adult and acceptable fracture reduction criteria. The general principles of managing fractures in adolescents regarding classification, treatment options, complications, and estimating skeletal age should be understood by the treating physician.

Fixation of displaced midshaft clavicle fractures in skeletally immature patients.

BACKGROUND: There is ongoing debate in the adult literature regarding fixation of displaced, closed midshaft clavicle fractures. Functional outcomes of treatment of these fractures in skeletally immature patients have not been previously investigated. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 14 skeletally immature patients with closed, displaced, midshaft clavicle fractures treated with open reduction internal fixation. Baseline data acquisition included demographic and radiographic indices. Follow-up data included radiographic and functional outcomes assessment using the Quick Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (QuickDASH), the simple shoulder test, and additional binary questions. RESULTS: Mean age for operative patients was 12.9 years. There were 12 male and 2 female cases. Twelve patients had injuries to the dominant extremity. Twelve patients had initially been treated nonoperatively, but underwent surgery due to increased displacement at 3 weeks. Minimum follow-up was 24 months. Mean postoperative total QuickDASH score was 7.0. Patients had a mean of 11 questions answered "yes" for the simple shoulder test. Four patients from the operative group underwent a second surgical procedure to remove hardware. Eight (57%) patients complained of numbness at the site of injury/surgery. Preoperative mean fracture shortening and vertical displacement were 14.4 and 19.7 mm, respectively. Follow-up radiographs at mean 3 months demonstrated healed fractures in all cases. Multiple linear regression showed no difference in QuickDASH score after adjusting for age, sex, injury to dominant extremity, shortening, and percent displacement (P = 0.220). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, operative treatment of displaced midshaft clavicle fractures in skeletally immature patients resulted in high scores on commonly used instruments of outcomes assessment. Operative patients may require additional surgery to remove prominent or painful hardware and may be prone to numbness at the incision site.Level IV.