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Purpose: The incidence of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is higher in Eastern Europeans and Middle Easterners. This study aimed to establish consensus among experts in this geographical area on the management of DDH before walking age., Methods: Fourteen experienced orthopedic surgeons agreed to participate in a four-round online consensus panel by the Delphi method. The questionnaire included 31 statements concerning the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of DDH before walking age., Results: Consensus was established for 26 (84%) of 31 statements. Hip ultrasonography is the proper diagnostic tool under six months in DDH; universal newborn hip screening between three and six weeks is necessary; positive family history, breech presentation, female gender, and postnatal swaddling are the most important risk factors; Ortolani, Barlow tests, and limitation of abduction are the most important clinical findings; Pavlik harness is the first bracing preference; some Graf type IIa hips and all Graf type IIb and worse hips need abduction bracing treatment; the uppermost age limit for closed and open reductions is 12 months and 12-24 months, respectively; anatomic reduction is essential in closed and open reductions, postoperative MRI or CT is not always indicated; anterior approach open reduction is better than medial approach open reduction; forceful reduction and extreme positioning of the hips (> 60° hip abduction) are the two significant risk factors for osteonecrosis of the femoral head., Conclusion: The findings of the present study may be useful for clinicians because a practical reference, based on the opinions of the multinational expert panel, but may not be applicable to all settings is provided., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to SICOT aisbl.)

Background and Objectives : Idiopathic anterior knee pain is a common condition in adolescents and is mostly of unknown cause. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of the Q-angle and muscle strength on idiopathic anterior knee pain. Materials and Methods : Seventy-one adolescents (41 females and 30 males) diagnosed with anterior knee pain were included in this prospective study. The extensor strength in the knee joint and the Q-angle were monitored. The healthy extremity was used as a control. The Student's paired sample t -test was applied for testing the difference. Statistical significance was set at 0.05. Results : There was no statistically significant difference in the Q-angle value between the idiopathic AKP and the healthy extremity ( p > 0.05) within the entire sample. A statistically significant higher Q-angle of the idiopathic AKP knee ( p < 0.05) was obtained in the female subgroup. No statistically significant difference ( p > 0.05) was found in the male subgroup. Within the male subgroup, the strength of the extensors within the knee joint of the healthy extremity had statistically significant higher values than the strength of these muscles in the affected extremity ( p < 0.05). Conclusion : A greater Q-angle is a risk factor linked to anterior knee pain within the female population. Decreased muscle strength of knee joint extensors is a risk factor linked to anterior knee pain in both sex subgroups.

Treating complicated wounds in the pediatric population using traditional wet to moist wound dressing methods is not always appropriate due to the frequent need to change dressings daily or even a number of times a day, causing distress to the patient. Topical negative pressure is a method that allows for fewer dressings and provides localized benefits, thus accelerating wound healing. The merits of this therapy have been proven in studies on adults, but research on the pediatric population is scarce. Here we intend to present the results of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on 34 pediatric patients (study group) and compare them with 24 patients (control group) treated with the traditional wet to moist dressing for complicated wounds. The results show that topical negative pressure wound therapy is a safe method that downgrades a wound from a complicated to a simple one and allows definitive coverage using a simpler technique with fewer wound dressings. The scars of the patients in the study group exhibited a better result on a visual scar scale. The patients in the control group had a shorter hospital stay. Based on the recorded results, we were able to make treatment recommendations.

Aim: This study aimed to improve osteosarcoma chemoresponsiveness prediction by optimization of computational analysis of MRIs. Patients & methods: Our retrospective predictive model involved osteosarcoma patients with MRI scans performed before OsteoSa MAP neoadjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy. Results: We found that several monofractal and multifractal algorithms were able to classify tumors according to their chemoresponsiveness. The predictive clues were defined as morphological complexity, homogeneity and fractality. The monofractal feature CV for Λ'(G) provided the best predictive association (area under the ROC curve = 0.88; p <0.001), followed by   Y-axis intersection of the regression line  for  box fractal dimension, r²  for  FD M and tumor circularity. Conclusion: This is the first full-scale study to indicate that computational analysis of pretreatment MRIs could provide imaging biomarkers for the classification of osteosarcoma according to their chemoresponsiveness.

Purpose: The goal of this study is to evaluate the treatment outcomes of anterolateral bowing and residual deformities of distal tibia in patients with CPT using circular external fixation and hydroxyapatite coated flexible intramedullary nailing without excision of affected part of tibia., Patients and Methods: Six patients (4 boys and 2 girls, mean age 12.4 ± 4.1 years) were included in the study. Mean follow-up is 2.1 years. In 4 patients with early onset of disease initial surgical treatment (at age of 5-8 years) was dysplastic zone or pseudarthrosis resection with proximal metaphyseal osteotomy for bone transport. Children with unbroken bowed tibia (2 cases of type II according to Crawford classification) had no previous surgery. Neurofibromatosis type I was diagnosed in 4 cases. Surgical technique for residual deformity correction consisted of percutaneous osteotomy, application of circular external frame and composite hydroxyapatite-coated intramedullary nailing., Results: Mean external fixation time was 95.3 ± 17.5 days. All patients never get fractured after frame removal. At the present time, they are considered to be healed, in 2.1 years, in average, without fractures or deformity recurrence. Mean lower limb length discrepancy varied from 2 to 10 mm at the latest follow-up control. After realignment procedure, patients didn't require additional surgery but one. Intramedullary nails were removed in two years after deformity correction for individual reason., Conclusion: Correction of anterolateral bowing or residual deformity in children with CPT is indicated. Association of external fixation with intramedullary nailing/rodding left in situ after frame removal ensure stability and accuracy of deformity correction. Biological methods of stimulation of bone formation in dysplastic zone are obligatory to ensure bone union. Intramedullary nailing with composite hydroxyapatite-coated surface provides mechanical and biological advantages in patients with CPT., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2019 Professor P K Surendran Memorial Education Foundation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Unicameral bone cysts (UBC) are benign bone tumor-like lesions. Mostly they are located in the metaphyseal-diaphyseal region of long bones in children and adolescents. The etiology of UBC is still unclear. There is no consensus about the protocol of UBC treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of three different techniques for the treatment of UBC. This study included 129 pediatric patients with UBC treated at University Children's Hospital in Belgrade during the 8-year period. The mean follow up was 7.14 years. The following parameters were observed: gender, age, site, length of cyst, cyst index, cortical thickness, presentation of pathologic fracture, healing of cyst, treatment complications and length of hospitalization. These parameters were correlated to three treatment modalities, i.e. intracystic methylprednisolone acetate injection (group 1), curettage with bone grafting (group 2) and osteoinductive procedure using demineralized bone matrix (group 3). We found statistically significant differences in healing of the cysts and length of hospital treatment between groups 1 and 2, and between groups 2 and 3. In conclusion, complete healing of UBC can be achieved only using open surgery procedure. Intracystic methylprednisolone acetate instillation can be considered a good option for initial treatment of UBC.

Flexible intramedullary nailing (FIN) provides multiple advantages in limb lengthening and progressive deformity correction in combination with external fixation. The article presents brief literature review and authors' experience in limb lengthening of abnormal bone (Ollier's disease, fibrous dysplasia, osteogenesis imperfecta). Titanium and, especially, hydroxyapatite-coated bent elastic nails in combination with external fixator are appropriate in limb lengthening of abnormal bone in children. FIN left in situ after lengthening procedure and external frame removal should be applied for long-term reinforcement of lengthened bone in patients with abnormal bone (metabolic bone disorders, skeletal dysplasias with compromised bone tissue development). The FIN respects bone biology, which is mandatory for good bone consolidation. Osteoactive properties of intramedullary elastic implants are favorable for bone formation and as well as for stable position of nails without risks of migration in long-term follow-up., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Postoperative analgesia is imperative in the youngest patients. Pain, especially if experienced during childhood, has numerous adverse effects-from psychological, through complications of the underlying disease (prolonged treatment, hospital stay, and increased costs of the treatment) to an increase in the incidence of death due to the onset of the systemic inflammatory response. Peripheral blocks provide analgesia for 12-16 h, and are safer due to rare side effects that are easier to treat. The continuous peripheral block (CPNB) has been increasingly used in recent years for complete and prolonged analgesia of pediatric patients, as well as a part of multidisciplinary treatment of complex regional pain syndrome. It has been shown that outpatient CPNB reduces the need for parenteral administration of opioid analgetics. It has also been proved that this technique can be used in pediatric patients in home conditions. Safety of CPNB is based on the increasing use of ultrasound as well as on the introduction of single enantiomers local anesthetics (ropivacaine and levobupivacaine) in lower concentrations. It is possible to discharge patient home with catheter, but it is necessary to provide adequate education for staff, patients, and parents, as well as to have dedicated anesthesiology team. Postoperative period without major pain raises the morale of the child, parents. and medical staff.

Background: Femoral neck fractures in children are very rare and account for about 1% of all paediatric fractures. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyse the clinical and radiographic outcome in paediatric femoral neck fracture and to review the role of early decompression of the hip in the final outcome., Patients and Methods: The study was performed at the Department of Paediatric Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University Children's Hospital in Belgrade, Serbia from January 1996 to January 2010. The study included 28 patients, 12 female and 16 male, aged 4-14 years. Patients who were aged over 14 years or who had pathological femoral neck fractures or metabolic disturbances were excluded from the study. The type of neck fracture was determined according to the Delbet and Colonna classification. The patients were treated using different surgical procedures: closed reduction and cast immobilisation, closed reduction and percutaneous fixation with Kirschner wires (K-wires), closed reduction and fixation with cannulated screws and open reduction with Wagner plate stabilisation. The final outcome was evaluated using the clinical outcome (based on the Howorth-Ferguson scale), radiographic outcome and occurrence of complications., Results: The median age of patients included in the study was 10.75 years and the average follow up was 9 years. According to the Delbet classification, there was one patient with type I, eight patients with type II, 16 patients with type III and three patients with type IV femoral neck fracture. Based on the Colonna classification, there were 23 displaced and five non-displaced femoral neck fractures. Decompression of the hip was performed in 21 patients. Avascular necrosis (AVN) developed as the main complication in 11 patients. The final outcome was excellent in 14 patients, good in four patients and poor in 14 patients., Conclusion: Our study unequivocally confirms the positive effect of urgent treatment on the incidence of AVN as well as on the outcome. We have established a 12-hour interval after injury as an optimal time limit for commencing treatment. Unambiguously positive effects of hip decompression on the incidence of AVN were also noted. We found similar efficiency for open and needle hip decompression., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the complications associated with leg lengthening in children treated with the Ilizarov external fixator (IEF) and compare them between two groups of patients: one group was treated using an IEF alone and the other group was treated using an IEF in association with intramedullary alignment (IA)., Patients and Methods: The study was performed at the University Children's Hospital in Belgrade, Serbia during a fourteen-year period (from 2000 to 2014). Complications occurred in 73 paediatric patients who underwent the leg lengthening procedure. Complications were classified according to the Caton classification and compared between two groups. Group I comprised 39 patients who underwent the limb lengthening procedure using IEF alone. Group II consisted of 34 patients who were treated with the combination of IEF and IA using two Kirschner wires (K-wires) or Titanium Elastic Nails (TEN). The duration of hospital treatment was also compared between the two groups and the impact of the type of IA on the occurrence of complications was assessed., Results: There was a high rate of complications in patients treated using an IEF compared with those treated using the combination of IEF and IA, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. There was a statistically significant difference in the duration of initial hospitalisation between the two groups, particularly when comparing TEN usage in IA. A comparison of the group of patients treated using an IEF in association with K-wires and patients treated using IEF and TEN showed there was no statistically significant difference in complication rate and duration of initial hospitalisation., Conclusion: IA has multiple advantages as a method of treatment of leg length inequality. The major effect of applying IA in association with a circular IEF is significantly reduced complication rate and duration of initial hospitalisation, particularly when using TEN as a method of IA. This method of treatment also decreases hospital costs., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a relatively rare and clinically very heterogeneous autosomal recessive disorder., Objective: Presentation of clinical characteristics of AATD in the first months after birth, as well as the significance of testing brothers and sisters for its presence., Methods: Objectives of the study were analyzed on a sample of eight children (four male and four female, aged 63 months (mean 14.81 ± 23.96 months; range 1-63 months) with AATD confirmed based on its low serum value and pathological phenotype. RESULTS Of the total of eight patients, six manifested cholestasis syndrome (three male and three female, mean age 2.25 ± 1.37 months; range 1-4.5 months), while two patients, a 3.5-year-old girl and a 5.25-year-old boy, were without symptoms and clinical-laboratory signs of the disease, disclosed during family testing. Serum alpha-1-antitrypsin level rated 0.30-0.66 g/L (0.37 ± 0.12), among which seven were with ZZ phenotype 0.30-0.39 (0.33 ± 0.04), and in a boy with FZ the phenotype was disclosed on family screening, 0.66 g/L. In the group of patients with cholestasis syndrome (serum GTT 444.80 ± 203.15 U/L; range 201-676 U/L), three had mild to moderate hepatomegaly, one had longitudinal growth delay (< P3; -10.50%) and two had icterus with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia (92 and 109 μmol/L) and prolonged prothrombin time (PT 14.8 and 17 sec). All children with cholestasis syndrome also had hypertransaminasemia (ALT 80.83 ± 33 U/L; range 37-124 U/L and AST 116.67 ± 62.82 U/L; range 58-230 U/L)., Conclusion: Cholestasis syndrome represents a basic manifestation of AATD in the first months after birth, while early testing of brothers and sisters enables early disclosure and adequate treatment of the subclinical forms of the disease.