Novel Cast-saw Alarm System Reduces Blade-to-Skin Contact in a Pediatric Upper Extremity Model.

PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of a novel cast-saw alarm system in minimizing the number and duration of cast-saw blade-to-skin contacts. METHODS: Twenty orthopaedic residents removed a pair of long-arm casts applied to instrumented pediatric upper extremity models. The model and cast-saw were instrumented to detect blade to "skin" contact at a rate of 600 Hz. Each resident performed cast removal with and without the use of a cast-saw alarm, the order of which was randomized. Eleven additional "new" cast-saw users then removed pairs of casts, without and then with the cast alarm, to evaluate what effect the alarm would have on preventing blade-to-skin contact in users with no previous cast-saw experience. The number and duration of cast-saw touches were then evaluated. Statistical significance was determined paired 1-sided students t tests (number of touches). RESULTS: For the residents (n=20), the total number of blade-to-skin contacts was 233. One hundred eighty-one blade-to-skin contacts without the alarm and 52 with the alarm (71% reduction) (t(19)=-3.42, P=0.001), averaging 6.45 more blade-to-skin contacts per cast without the alarm. The median blade-to-skin contact duration was 0.166 seconds without the alarm and 0.087 seconds with the alarm. This was a 48% reduction in contact time (P=0.073). For the inexperienced users (n=11), the total number of blade-to-skin contacts was 356, 324 blade-to-skin contacts without the alarm and 32 with the alarm (90% reduction) (t(10)=-2.78, P=0.009), averaging 26.5 more blade-to-skin contacts without the alarm. The median blade-to-skin contact duration for the novice was 0.313 seconds without the alarm and 0.1 seconds with the alarm (68% reduction). Contact time was reduced in both groups but failed to reach statistical significance. However, alarm use significantly reduced the number of touches of >0.5 seconds duration (62 vs. 3) in the novice group, P=0.0176. Blade-to-skin contact of >0.5 seconds were felt to represent touches that were more likely to result in thermal injury to a living patient. CONCLUSION: Blade-to-skin contact can be reduced with the use of a cast-saw alarm. These effects appear most amplified in users with little prior cast-saw experience. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Not applicable.

CORR insights: Orthopaedic residency applications increase after implementation of 80-hour workweek.

This CORR Insights™ is a commentary on the article "Orthopaedic Residency Applications Increase After Implementation of 80-hour Workweek" by Anakwenze et al. available at DOI 10.1007/s11999-013-2785-1.

Orthopaedic aspects of child abuse.

Child abuse is one of the most serious problems encountered by on-call orthopaedic surgeons. There are adverse sequelae to both overdiagnosing and underdiagnosing this condition. Orthopaedic surgeons generally manage orthopaedic aspects of child abuse but should be aware of the associated injuries, diagnoses, prognoses, and natural history of abuse. Because fractures are the second most common presenting injury in children after skin lesions, orthopaedic surgeons are often on the front lines of treatment. No specific fracture is pathognomonic of child abuse, although some patterns, such as posterior rib fractures, metaphyseal corner fractures, and fractures in various stages of healing, are highly suggestive of abuse. Although metabolic bone disease is much rarer than child abuse, the child should be tested so treatment can be initiated, if needed, or for the purpose of demonstrating due diligence in the event of court proceedings. A diagnosis of child abuse is an understandably contentious issue; therefore, orthopaedic surgeons should be aware of injury patterns and differential diagnoses.

The treatment of pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures.

Based on the best current evidence and a systematic review of published studies, 14 recommendations have been created to guide clinical practice and management of supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children. Two each of these recommendations are graded Weak and Consensus; eight are graded Inconclusive. The two Moderate recommendations include nonsurgical immobilization for acute or nondisplaced fractures of the humerus or posterior fat pad sign, and closed reduction with pin fixation for displaced type II and III and displaced flexion fractures.

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.

Pediatric trauma: getting through the night.

As is the case in adults, the timing and type of emergent treatment of fractures in children can be controversial. Some emergent conditions, such as compartment syndrome, pelvic fractures with hemodynamic instability, and open fractures, are managed similarly in adults and children. However, other types of fractures are unique to children or are managed differently in children and adults. To prevent complications, it is important to understand the appropriate treatment and timing of treatment of supracondylar humeral fractures and other specific elbow fractures, hip fractures and dislocations, and physeal fractures about the knee in pediatric patients.

Hoverboard injuries in children and adolescents: results of a multicenter study.

With the increasing popularity of hoverboards in recent years, multiple centers have noted associated orthopaedic injuries of riders. We report the results of a multi-center study regarding hoverboard injuries in children and adolescents. who presented with extremity fractures while riding hoverboards to 12 paediatric orthopaedic centers during a 2-month period were included in the study. Circumstances of the injury, location, severity, associated injuries, and the required treatment were recorded and analysed using descriptive analysis to report the most common injuries. Between-group differences in injury location were examined using chi-squared statistics among (1) children versus adolescents and (2) males versus females. Seventy-eight patients (M/F ratio: 1.8) with average age of 11 ± 2.4 years were included in the study. Of the 78 documented injuries, upper extremity fractures were the most common (84.6%) and the most frequent fracture location overall was at the distal radius and ulna (52.6%), while ankle fractures comprised most of the lower extremity fractures (66.6%). Majority of the distal radius fractures (58.3%) and ankle fractures (62.5%) were treated with immobilization only. Seventeen displaced distal radius fractures and three displaced ankle fractures were treated with closed reduction in the majority of cases (94.1% versus 66.7%, respectively). The distal radius and ulna are the most common fracture location. Use of appropriate protective gear such as wrist guards, as well as adult supervision, may help mitigate the injuries associated with the use of this device; however, further studies are necessary to demonstrate the real effectiveness of these preventions.

Complications of high tibial osteotomy with external fixation in adolescent Blount's disease.

Reported complication rates for tibial osteotomies have been widely variable and no study has focused on a single deformity etiology, surgical technique, or stabilization method. A review of 38 high tibial osteotomies with external fixation in adolescent Blount's disease patients was performed at two institutions. Results showed an overall complication rate of 153% and an elevated (97%) prevalence of morbid obesity in the patients in this series. This study highlights the potential association between comorbidities and elevated complication rates. Recognition of comorbidities will allow more effective risk stratification and preoperative counseling stressing the importance of compliance, wound, and pin care.

Opinion survey regarding pediatric orthopaedic trauma call and emergency trauma management.

BACKGROUND: To determine the attitudes and practices of pediatric orthopaedic surgeons regarding on-call coverage and emergency fracture management. METHODS: A 32-question online survey was sent to all 597 active members of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America. There were 296 completed surveys, for a response rate of 49.6%. RESULTS: Of the respondents, 85.1% were male. The respondents ranged in age from 30 to older than 70 years, with 54% between 36 and 50 years of age, corresponding to an average of 15 years in practice. Seventy-seven percent of the respondents felt that taking trauma call is an integral aspect of being a pediatric orthopaedist. Of the respondents, 64.9% take call 1 to 9 times per month, 15.8% take 10 to 19 calls, 2.7% take 20 or more, and 16.6% take no call. The number of orthopaedists taking call per practice was fairly evenly distributed between 3 and 10. Call was shared equally in 32% of practices, and mandatory in 72%. Twenty-eight percent of the respondents were additionally compensated for taking calls, in amounts ranging from $100 to $2000 per night, with 1000 dollars the most common rate. One third of operative cases are done that night; one third, the next day; and one third, later in the week. Twenty-four percent of the respondents have dedicated operative block time on the day after the call. Forty-seven percent have a dedicated fracture clinic, of which 51% receive institutional support. CONCLUSIONS: Providing emergency trauma care for children is an integral aspect of pediatric orthopaedics. This survey provides information on the attitudes and strategies of practicing pediatric orthopaedic surgeons in the face of decreasing manpower and increasing demand for such services.

Newborn with an open posterior hip dislocation and sciatic nerve injury after intrauterine radiofrequency ablation of a sacrococcygeal teratoma.

Advanced prenatal ultrasonography techniques have allowed for better understanding of the natural history, treatment, and prognosis of sacrococcygeal teratomas. Several intrauterine surgical techniques to debulk the tumor when fetal and maternal life are in jeopardy have been described. Orthopaedic impairment, such as lower extremity weakness and swelling, also has been described in association with sacrococcygeal teratomas. The authors report on a newborn in whom a large soft tissue defect overlying the posterior hip region with direct exposure of the disarticulated hip joint existed at the time of birth, which resulted from intrauterine radiofrequency ablation of a sacrococcygeal teratoma. This unexpected complication has resulted in a loss of sciatic nerve function, malformation of the acetabulum and femoral head, and loss of the left ischium, coccyx, inferior sacrum, gluteal, adductor and piriformis muscles, and posterior hip capsule. At 16 months of age, the patient has a flaccid left lower extremity with a hypoplastic hip joint.