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Background: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) has been associated with unnecessary referrals, but the provider and patient costs associated with these referrals remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated costs of unnecessary referrals for AIS in a university hospital-based orthopaedic clinic. These data are required to estimate the cost-efficacy of scoliosis screening programs., Methods: We accessed the electronic medical records of all patients referred during 2013-2014 with suspected AIS. Spine radiographs were reviewed to determine whether the referral was "unnecessary," defined as a Cobb angle <20 degrees. Patient and provider costs were estimated. Patient costs included transportation expenses and parental lost wages. Provider costs included orthopaedic evaluation, diagnostic imaging, and overhead. Transportation costs were based on actual driving distances and the Internal Revenue Service standard mileage rate. Parental lost wages and the cost of evaluation by an orthopaedic surgeon were calculated with time-driven activity-based costing. Diagnostic imaging costs were calculated with a traditional activity-based costing methodology., Results: Three hundred thirty-seven patients were included. The prevalence of unnecessary referrals was 39% (n=131). 17% of patients had a Cobb angle <10 degrees and 22% had a Cobb angle between 10-20 degrees. Males were more likely to be referred unnecessarily than females, 49% to 35% (p=0.02) as were non-Caucasians (54% vs. 37%, p=0.04). No difference was noted related to source of insurance (private or public, p=0.18). The average total cost of an unnecessary referral was $782.13 USD, including $231.07 in patient costs and $551.06 in provider costs., Conclusions: Nearly 40% of all referrals for AIS were deemed unnecessary. The average cost of an unnecessary referral is approximately $780, imposing significant costs on both patients and the healthcare system. Level of Evidence: III., Competing Interests: Disclosures: The authors report no potential conflicts of interest related to this study.

Background: The "Gothic Arch" is a radio-graphic finding on AP pelvis x-rays postulated to be predictive of hip osteoarthritis., Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of measurement of the Gothic Arch in patients with no known hip pathology and patients with unilateral developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH)., Patients and Methods: After obtaining IRB approval, nine skeletally mature patients (18 hips) with no known hip pathology were selected to serve as the control group. The AP pelvis x-rays at skeletal maturity of eight patients (16 hips) with unilateral DDH treated with closed reduction and casting comprised the comparison group. A digitizing program was designed to measure the Gothic Arch based on landmarks identified by the user. Two pediatric orthopaedic surgeons and two orthopaedic residents completed the program on two separate occasions. Intra-and interobserver reliability were determined using intraclass cor-relation coefficients (ICC) for continuous variables., Results: Both the unilateral DDH group and the control group demonstrated excellent inter- and intraobserver reliability (ICC >0.70) for base, height, area, and orientation of the Gothic Arch, but poor reliability (ICC <0.40) for medial and lateral sharpness., Conclusion: The Gothic Arch can be reliably measured on AP pelvis x-rays of patients with normal and dysplastic hips., Level of Evidence: III, Diagnostic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Background: Type III growth disturbance (T3GD) following reduction for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a relatively rare, but potentially devastating complication. This study evaluated the long-term outcomes of patients treated for DDH who developed a T3GD hip compared to those who didn't, with an emphasis on possible risk factors., Methods: A case-control design was used. All radiographs of a consecutive set of patients with DDH were evaluated. Twenty-two patients (29 hips) developed T3GD. The control group consisted of 57 patients (72 hips) without any sign of growth disturbance. Variables examined included age at reduction, type of reduction and serial radiographic parameters reflecting pre- and post-reduction status. Average age at final follow up was 26 years in the T3GD group and 34 years in the control group., Results: Evidence of T3GD was first noticed radiographically at 11 months after reduction and healing of the epiphysis occurred an average of 8.5 months later. Univariate analysis demonstrated no increased risk of T3GD related to age at presentation, presence or absence of the ossific nucleus, type of reduction, initial acetabular index or Smith's centering ratios. However, the Tönnis grade was significantly associated with an increased risk of T3GD. Tönnis grade 4 hips (high-degree dislocations) had 3.43 times greater risk of developing T3GD compared to those with lower dislocations. At maturity, 90% of the T3GD hips were classified as Severin III/IV, compared to 35% of the controls. At last follow-up, 7 of the 29 T3GD hips (32%) had undergone total hip replacement at an average age of 39 years (range 19 to 57 years)., Conclusions: T3GD remains the most severe and devastating complication after treatment of DDH in children. In most cases, poor acetabular development and flattening of the femoral head lead to early degenerative changes in the hip joint. The risk increases in high-degree dislocations, independent of the treatment performed.

Little substantive data is available in the literature on the long-term clinical and radiological results of Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation (CDI) for the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. We therefore retrospectively investigated the long-term clinical and radiographic outcome of patients who underwent (CDI) for right thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. 54 consecutive patients (45 females, 9 males) who underwent CDI for right thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with an average age of 14 years (range 10-21 years) at surgery were included in this series. There were 18 King Type II, 19 Type III, 5 Type IV, 3 Type V and 9 double major curves. The average coronal Cobb angle of the primary thoracic curve preoperatively, postoperatively and at latest follow-up was 55 degrees, 17 degrees and 22 degrees, respectively. The lumbar curve (secondary and double major) averaged 40 degrees, 21 degrees and 23 degrees, respectively. Coronal balance (deviation from the central sacral line) was slightly improved from 13 mm to 11 mm. The average shoulder elevation increased from 3 degrees to 5 degrees, presumably as a result of the rod derotation maneuver. Thoracic kyphosis (20 degrees to 22 degrees) and lumbar lordosis (49 degrees to 54 degrees) was preserved or even improved by the instrumentation. All patients were doing well and had no complaints with regard to a substantial limitation of professional or sports activity. There were no apparent non-unions, infections or neurological complications. CDI of adolescent right thoracic idiopathic scoliosis provides encouraging clinical and radiographic results at an average follow-up of 9 years (2 to 16 years). Overall patient satisfaction, functional status and subjective cosmetic improvement is high.

This paper evaluates the efficacy the Moss-Miami System instrumentation for surgical treatment of spinal deformity. Eight-five patients with AIS underwent a posterior spinal fusion with using this system between 1994 and 1998. Radiographs of the spine were taken preoperatively, at discharge, one year after surgery, and at the latest follow-up (average of 2.5 year, range 2 to 6 years). All radiographs were assessed for curve magnitude, coronal balance, kyphosis, lordosis, junctional kyphosis, and sagittal balance. The Scoliosis Research Society instrument was administered at the final follow-up. The average curve correction ranged from 53 to 65 percent. All patients showed solid fusion by final follow-up. Three patients required a second operation for complications related to their scoliosis; two patients showed a rod fracture without evidence of pseudoarthrosis or curve progression. Two transient neurological complications related to the surgery were observed. SRS results were favorable with regard to function and cosmetic appearance.