Clinical Features of Congenital Pseudarthrosis of the Tibia in Children：a Study Focusing on 514 Cases in China

Background: Congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) is a refractory and rare disease. Because of its extremely low incidence, little is known about its clinical features. In this retrospective study, the aim of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with CPT. Methods: This is a retrospective study of children with CPT identified by radiological review. Investigations of CPT included general condition, the characteristics of CPT, treatment methods and surgical complications. Results: We have collected 514 CPTs from 1999 to March 2020 in our hospital, 317 (61.67%) boys, 197 (38.33%) girls; 330 (62.86%) in Crawford IV; 510 (97.14%) in mid and distal 1/3 tibia; 481 (93.58%) in less than 3 years of first appearance of symptom; 297 (57.78%) in less than 3 years of the first visit of outpatient. The most common postoperative complication was ankle valgus (101, 39.60%), followed by limb length discrepancy（91, 35.69%), refracture (38, 14.90%), osteomyelitis (15, 5.88%) and removal of internal fixation (10,3.93%) . Conclusions: CPT with higher incidence of Crawford IV frequently occurs in boys and middle or distal part of the tibia; most patients have the first appearance of symptom and the first visit of outpatient before 3 years; the major surgical complications were ankle valgus and limb length discrepancy.

Outcome of Pantalar Fusion With Femoral Head Allograft in Avascular Necrosis of Talus

Background: Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the talus is a challenging condition that is caused primarily by trauma. The severity of the talus fracture determines the risk of AVN. Severe osteonecrosis with the loss of talar integrity can be treated with arthrodesis and structural bone graft.Method: This study shows the experience of pantalar arthrodesis using hindfoot arthrodesis nail, screw fixation, and femoral head allograft in four patients.Result: All patients were satisfied in terms of pain and function after an average of 4 months postsurgery. Limb length discrepancy was <1 cm and hindfoot fusion was achieved by 3 months. The mean score for SF-36 physical function and AOFAS hindfoot score at a 2-year postpantalar arthrodesis was 88 and 80.8, respectively.Conclusion: Hindfoot ankle arthrodesis, with the usage of femoral head allograft, can be successfully used for the treatment of traumatic AVN of talus.

The PRECICE nail system: The initial Kuwaiti experience

Objectives: The PRECICE system is an implantable limb lengthening intramedullary nail with remotely magnetically controlled distractors indicated for limb length discrepancy (LLD) and short stature treatment. This study reports the initial experience of the Kuwaiti deformity correction unit in utilizing the PRECICE system. Methods: Ten patients (four females and six males) were included in this study. All cases were operated using the PRECICE nail system (five antegrade femoral nails, three retrograde femoral nails, and two tibial nails). All surgeries were performed during January 2019 to February 2020. Results: The mean age of participants was 20 years (12–33 years), with a 21.6 kg/m2 mean body mass index (17–28). LLD etiologies (mean LLD = 39 mm) were congenital (n = 2), developmental (n = 2), post-traumatic non-union (n = 1), post-traumatic malunion (n = 1), post-traumatic physeal arrest (n = 1), and post-deformity correction and lengthening of the contralateral side with circular frame (n = 3). The mean distraction rate was 0.97 mm/day (range: 0.75–1.2 mm/day). Mean lengthening was 39 mm (range: 20–60 mm). Healing was confirmed at 76 days on average (range: 50–120 days). All patients reached full consolidation to regenerate bone, normal alignment, and normal joint orientation. Antegrade femur lengthening was done in five patients. One patient with a previous knee fixed flexion deformity of 25° improved to a 5° lag of extension. No complications were observed during the lengthening procedures. All the patients were followed up for a minimum of 12 months. Conclusion: The PRECICE nail system was successful in lengthening cases with different etiologies, achieving target lengths without complications. All the patients had reported excellent functional outcomes.

Deformity Reconstruction Surgery for Blount’s Disease

Blount’s disease is an idiopathic developmental abnormality affecting the medial proximal tibia physis resulting in a multi-planar deformity with pronounced tibia varus. A single cause is unknown, and it is currently thought to result from a multifactorial combination of hereditary, mechanical, and developmental factors. Relationships with vitamin D deficiency, early walking, and obesity have been documented. Regardless of the etiology, the clinical and radiographic findings are consistent within the two main groups. Early-onset Blount’s disease is often bilateral and affects children in the first few years of life. Late-onset Blount’s disease is often unilateral and can be sub-categorized as juvenile tibia vara (ages 4–10), and adolescent tibia vara (ages 11 and older). Early-onset Blount’s disease progresses to more severe deformities, including depression of the medial tibial plateau. Additional deformities in both groups include proximal tibial procurvatum, internal tibial torsion, and limb length discrepancy. Compensatory deformities in the distal femur and distal tibia may occur. When non-operative treatment fails the deformities progress through skeletal maturity and can result in pain, gait abnormalities, premature medial compartment knee arthritis, and limb length discrepancy. Surgical options depend on the patient’s age, weight, extent of physeal involvement, severity, and number of deformities. They include growth modulation procedures such as guided growth for gradual correction with hemi-epiphysiodesis and physeal closure to prevent recurrence and equalize limb lengths, physeal bar resection, physeal distraction, osteotomies with acute correction and stabilization, gradual correction with multi-planar dynamic external fixation, and various combinations of all modalities. The goals of surgery are to restore normal joint and limb alignment, equalize limb lengths at skeletal maturity, and prevent recurrence. The purpose of this literature review is to delineate basic concepts and reconstructive surgical treatment strategies for patients with Blount’s disease.

Lengthening the Lower Extremities of Children with Ollier’s and Maffucci’s Enchondromatosis Using Implantable Lengthening Nails

There are multiple forms of enchondromatosis with Ollier’s and Maffucci’s being the most prevalent types. Limb length discrepancy is a common problem in patients with Ollier’s and Maffucci’s enchondromatosis. There are multiple reports about lengthening bones in patients with enchondromatosis using external fixators. However, there are no case series regarding the use of implantable lengthening technology. The purpose of this paper is to describe our experience with implantable nail lengthening in patients with enchondromatosis. A retrospective chart and radiographic review of patients with enchondromatosis who underwent implantable nail limb lengthening was performed. Seven patients with 14 bony segments were reviewed. A total of 11/14 lengthenings were completed without difficulty. There were no issues in terms of fixation location in patients with Ollier’s disease. One patient with Maffucci’s syndrome experienced migration of the nail during two lengthenings due to a combination of intralesional fixation and preconsolidation. One patient with Ollier’s disease developed a knee extension contracture requiring manipulation under anesthesia. No other complications were recorded. The use of implantable nail lengthening to resolve limb length discrepancies in patients with Ollier’s disease appears to be safe and effective.

A Challenging Case of a Physeal Bar Endoscopic-Assisted Resection in a Short Stature Child: Case Report and Literature Review

Partial physeal bars may develop after injury to the growth plate in children, eventually leading to disturbance of normal growth. Clinical presentation, age of the patient, and the anticipated growth will dictate the best treatment strategy. The ideal treatment for a partial physeal bar is complete excision to allow growth resumption by the remaining healthy physis. There are countless surgical options, some technically challenging, that must be weighted according to each case’s particularities. We reviewed the current literature on physeal bars while reporting the challenging case of a short stature child submitted to a femoral physeal bar endoscopic-assisted resection with successful growth resumption. This case dares surgeons to consider all options when treating limb length discrepancy, such as the endoscopic-assisted resection which might offer successful results.

INTEROBSERVER VARIABILITY IN LIMB LENGTH DISCREPANCY IN THR ON RADIOGRAPH - A MULTICENTRIC STUDY.

Introduction: Restoration of limb length is one of the most important aims after total hip replacement . The measurement is often done by various radiological methods ,but its measurement is often difcult and variable. We studied to check if measurements of limb length discrepancy has interobserver variability using standard anteroposterior radiograph. Material and methods: Forty patients (40 hips) underwent measurement of limb length discrepancy on standard AP radiographs. The measurement was done by two observers from two different institutions (On digital X-ray AP view of hip, a line is drawn at the level of & parallel to inter teardrop area and intersecting the lesser trochanter on each side. Compare 2 points of intersection & measure difference to determine the amount of limb discrepancy). Results:There was excellent inter-observer agreement for radiological measurments kappa=0.867 (good aggrement) for pre-operative radiographic measurements and kappa=0.811(good aggrement) for post-operative radiographic measurements. Conclusions: Our data show use of radiological measurement of Limb Length Discrepancy (using intertear drop as pelvic reference and lesser trochanter as femoral reference) has excellent interobserver agreement and hence is more reliable than manual measurement of Limb Length Discrepancy

EVALUATON OF CALCAR GRAFTING IN HIP HEMIARTHROPLASTY FOR COMMINUTED INTER-TROCHANTERIC FEMUR FRACTURES IN ELDERLY

Introduction: Treating intertrochanteric fractures in elderly with osteosynthesis is challenging, and is attributed to multiple factors like poor bone stock, difcult fracture pattern, and non orthopaedic complications arising due to periods of recumbency associated with internal xation. Hip replacement has come forward as a viable option for treating these cases, but it has its own share of difculties, such as limb length discrepancy, implant subsidence, long term implant stability and a greater cost. This study aimed at evaluating the utility if calcar strut grafting in dealing with these issues. Material And Methods: A total of 30 patients, with age more than 60 years, with comminuted intertrochanteric fractures, with postero-medial bone deciency, were treated with hemiarthroplasty, with augmentation with calcar strut grafting. The graft was prepared from the calcar region of the head and neck part of the femur and placed between the decient medial femoral cortex and medial edge of the implant. Result: In 24 out of the 30 patients, the graft got incorporated at its place without displacement. Shortening was seen in 4 patients, of which 2 reported a shortening of more than 2 centimetres. Conclusion: We can concludethat hemiarthroplasty has come forward as a viable and safe treatment modality for management of comminuted inter-trochanteric fractures in elderly patients.Calcar grafting as described here is useful in minimizing the subsidence of the implant and in maintaining the limb length, it facilitates early rehabilitation and quicker return normal activities