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Introduction Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMTD) is one of the most common inherited neurologic disorders and can be associated with hip dysplasia. Little is known regarding outcomes of the PAO for patients with CMTD. Our purpose is to document the early results and complications of the PAO for hip dysplasia associated with CMTD. Methods A two centre, retrospective clinical and radiographic review was performed. Demographic and surgical data were recorded. Pre- and postoperative lateral centre edge angle (LCEA), acetabular index (AI), ventral centre edge angle (VCEA), and Tönnis osteoarthritis grade were compared. Hips were classified according to Severin. The Harris Hip Score (HHS) and the Western Ontario and McMasters University (WOMAC) index documented self-reported function. Results Nineteen hips in 14 patients underwent PAO, mean age 16.2 (range 11.2–21 years). Thirteen concomitant procedures were performed, including seven proximal femoral osteotomies. Average follow-up was 3.4 years (range 0.9–8.5). Postoperative radiographic measurements significantly improved. Complications included femoral head AVN ( 1 ), transient complete bilateral peroneal nerve palsy ( 1 ), inferior rami fractures ( 4 ), and heterotopic ossification (Brooker stage 3) ( 1 ). The HHS significantly improved from a mean 49.6 pre-operatively to 82.2 at final follow-up of four patients. Seven subjects reported a mean postoperative WOMAC score of 94 (range 58.3–100). Conclusions Most patients presented with severe dysplasia in the second decade of life. The PAO successfully corrected the radiographic abnormalities. Complications were common. The majority of patients reported improved outcomes, although seven showed signs of radiographic progression of osteoarthritis.

Background: Symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is associated with hip pain, functional limitations, and secondary osteoarthritis. There is limited information from large patient cohorts defining the specific population affected by FAI. Establishing a large cohort will facilitate the identification of “at-risk” patients and will provide a population for ongoing clinical research initiatives. The authors have therefore established a multicenter, prospective, longitudinal cohort of patients undergoing surgery for symptomatic FAI. Purpose: To report the clinical epidemiology, disease characteristics, and contemporary surgical treatment trends in North America for patients with symptomatic FAI. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Upon approval of the institutional review boards at 8 institutions, 12 surgeons enrolled consecutive patients undergoing surgical intervention for symptomatic FAI. Patient demographics, physical examination data, radiographic data, diagnoses, operative data, and standardized patient-reported outcome measures were collected. The first 1130 cases are summarized in this study. Results: A total of 1076 consecutive patients (1130 hips) were enrolled; 55% (n = 622) were female, and 45% (n = 508) were male, with an average age of 28.4 years and average body mass index (BMI) of 25.1. Demographics revealed that 88% of patients who were predominantly treated for FAI were white, 19% reported a family history of hip surgery, 47.6% of hips had a diagnosis of cam FAI, 44.5% had combined cam/pincer FAI, and 7.9% had pincer FAI. Preoperative clinical scores (pain, function, activity level, and overall health) indicated a major dysfunction related to the hip. Surgical interventions were arthroscopic surgery (50.4%), surgical dislocation (34.4%), reverse periacetabular osteotomy (9.4%), limited open osteochondroplasty with arthroscopic surgery (5.8%), and limited open by itself (1.5%). More than 90% of the hips were noted to have labral and articular cartilage abnormalities at surgery; femoral head-neck osteochondroplasty was performed in 91.6% of the surgical procedures, acetabular rim osteoplasty in 36.7%, labral repair in 47.8%, labral debridement in 16.3%, and acetabular chondroplasty in 40.1%. Conclusion: This multicenter, prospective, longitudinal cohort is one of the largest FAI cohorts to date. In this cohort, FAI occurred predominantly in young, white patients with a normal BMI, and there were more female than male patients. The disease pattern of cam FAI was most common. Contemporary treatment was predominantly arthroscopic followed by surgical hip dislocation.

Multiple mechanical factors affecting the hip have been associated with the development of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). Whether acetabular depth plays a role in the development of a SCFE has not been elucidated.(1) What is the prevalence of a deep acetabulum in SCFE? (2) Is the presence of a deep acetabulum associated with physeal instability? (3) Is the presence of a deep acetabulum associated with the occurrence of a contralateral SCFE?We retrospectively reviewed 232 patients (156 males) who presented with a unilateral SCFE. Fifty (22%) subsequently developed a contralateral SCFE. The involved and uninvolved sides were evaluated for the presence of a deep acetabulum (DA). Preoperative radiographic parameters, slip stability, development of a contralateral SCFE, and demographic factors were then compared between patients with and without DA.DA was present in 120 hips (52%) with a SCFE. DA was more common in females (55 of 76 [72%]) than males (65 of 156 [42%]). Patients with DA presented with a higher lateral center-edge angle (33° versus 31°), slip angle (52° versus 43°), and with a lower body mass index (28.1 versus 30.0 kg/m(2)). Increased acetabular depth was more common in patients with an unstable SCFE (29 of 41 [71%]) than those with a stable SCFE (91 of 191 [48%]). The presence of DA either on the affected side or the contralateral side did not predict a contralateral SCFE.Despite not predicting a contralateral SCFE, DA may influence physeal stability if a SCFE does develop. Therefore, the contralateral hip with DA should be closely monitored.Level II, prognostic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Background: The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons position statement on the treatment of pediatric femoral shaft fractures could not comment on the safety of flexible intramedullary (IM) rod removal because of a lack of published evidence. This study reviews the acute complications of flexible IM rod removal from pediatric patients treated for femoral shaft fractures. Methods: A retrospective clinical and radiographic analysis at a single institution over a 5-year period. Demographic and radiographic parameters were analyzed to determine their influence on intraoperative and immediate postoperative complications. Results: One hundred sixty-three subjects (133 males, 30 females), mean age of 9.3±2.8 years (range, 2.7 to 14.8 y) and mean weight of 34.4±15.3 kg (range, 14.0 to 139.0 kg), underwent femoral flexible IM rod removal a mean 12.4±10.8 months (range, 2.4 to 63.8 mo) after placement with mean operative time of 51.1±22.3 minutes (range, 10 to 131 min). One hundred fifty-one subjects (92.6%) had stainless-steel Ender rods and the remaining nails were titanium. There were no significant demographic, intraoperative, or radiographic differences comparing subjects with Ender versus titanium rods. Indications for rod removal were pain at insertion site, family request, or surgeon's recommendation. There were 4 (2.5%) minor intraoperative difficulties, including the inability to remove 1 of 2 rods secondary to IM migration (n=1) and complete bone overgrowth at insertion site resulting in prolonged extraction time (n=3). Three of the 4 subjects had the rods placed >60 months before removal. Immediately postoperative (n=134), there were 4 (3.0%) complications, including superficial wound infection (n=3, 2.2%) and knee contracture (n=1, 0.8%). Subjects were released to full activities at a mean 4.7±1.8 weeks postoperatively with no known postoperative fractures. Conclusions: The rate of intraoperative and immediate postoperative complications is low. Neither patient demographics, fracture characteristics, nor operative technique influenced the complication rate. Intraoperative difficulties may be minimized with removal of rods before signs of overgrowth. Levels of evidence: Level IV, intervention case series.

Physeal fractures of the distal tibia and fibula are common and can be seen at any age, although most are seen in the adolescent. An understanding of the unique anatomy of the skeletally immature ankle in relation to the mechanism of injury will help one understand the injury patterns seen in this population. A thorough clinical exam is critical to the diagnosis and treatment of these injuries and the avoidance of potentially catastrophic complications. Nondisplaced physeal fractures of the distal tibia and fibula can be safely treated nonoperatively. Displaced fractures should undergo a gentle reduction with appropriate anesthesia while multiple reduction attempts should be avoided. Gapping of the physis >3 mm after reduction should raise the suspicion of entrapped periosteum that will increase the risk of premature physeal closure. Open reduction of displaced Salter-Harris type III and IV fractures is critical to maintain joint congruity and minimize the risk of physeal arrest.

Anatomic dissections were performed on five cadaveric lower extremities. Measurements of important neurovascular structures in relation to the fibula were obtained at 1-cm intervals along the length of the fibula with the tip of the fibular head as the reference point. Neurovascular structures adjacent to the fibula in danger of injury with fibular osteotomy were identified. At the proximal one-third of the fibula, the peroneal nerves and their muscular branches are at primary risk. The anterior tibial artery is vulnerable where it penetrates the interosseous membrane and where it runs adjacent to the fibula with the deep peroneal nerve. In the middle one-third of the fibula, the peroneal artery and vein are the major structures at risk. In the distal one-third of the fibula the peroneal vessels are at less risk because they branch and enter the region of the syndesmosis curving anteriorly. The other neurovascular structures are not adjacent to the fibula. Based on these data, general recommendations for fibular osteotomy include (a) placement of the osteotomy as distally along the shaft as is feasible, commensurate with the surgical goal; (b) direction of the osteotomy blade along a line connecting the axis of the fibula with the midpoint of the subcutaneous tibial surface in the proximal and middle one-third of the fibula; and (c) direction of the osteotomy blade from the axis of fibula to the anterior subcutaneous border of the tibia in the distal one-third of the fibula.

Although the success of the Bernese periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) has been reported for primary dysplasia, there is no study analyzing the radiographic, functional, and gait results of the PAO to correct residual hip dysplasia after previous pelvic surgery.We assessed (1) radiographic and (2) functional and gait outcomes of patients treated with a PAO after previous pelvic surgery (PPSx) and compared their results with results of patients with no previous surgery (NPSx) to determine whether the PAO was equally effective in patients with revision pelvic surgery.Twenty-nine dysplastic hips in 26 patients (average age, 16.3 years) were included: 13 in the PPSx group and 13 in the NPSx group. Radiographic parameters included the lateral center-edge angle, acetabular index, and femoral head extrusion index measured preoperatively and at 6 months and 1 year. We assessed preoperative and postoperative function using the Harris hip score (HHS). Preoperative and postoperative gait analysis included the hip abductor impulse.Improvements in groups were seen from preoperatively to 1 year postoperatively for the lateral center-edge angle, acetabular index, and femoral head extrusion index without differences between groups. The modified HHSs improved at 6 months and were maintained at 1 year for patients in both groups without differences between groups. The hip abductor impulse returned to preoperative values at 6 months in the NPSx group but not until 1 year in the PPSx group.The Bernese PAO is effective in providing similar final radiographic and functional results, however, a trend toward decreased hip flexion and abduction power at 1 year was seen with previous pelvic surgery.

Background: The Bernese (Ganz) periacetabular osteotomy is an effective surgical procedure to reorient the acetabulum, allowing restoration of anatomic femoral head coverage and medial translation of the hip in adults with hip dysplasia. However, it is a challenging surgical procedure, and we know of no study that has specifically analyzed the complications and associated factors seen with this procedure in adolescent patients. Methods: A retrospective clinical and radiographic review of a consecutive series of adolescent patients who underwent a Bernese periacetabular osteotomy for hip dysplasia was conducted. Results: Eighty-three osteotomies were performed in seventy-six patients with an average age (and standard deviation) of 15.6 ± 2.4 years. Significant improvement from the preoperative to the two-year follow-up evaluation was seen radiographically with regard to the lateral center-edge angle (–0.14° to 35.5°), the ventral center-edge angle (–5.13° to 31.3°), and the femoral head extrusion index (38.4% to 7.7%) (p < 0.0001 for all). There were three major complications, including excessive arterial bleeding requiring embolization in a patient with a prior acetabuloplasty, osteonecrosis of the acetabular fragment in a patient with severe dysplasia and subluxation of the hip, and osteonecrosis of the femoral head following combined periacetabular and femoral osteotomies in a patient with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Eighteen hips (22%) had minor complications, including nonunion of the superior pubic ramus osteotomy (five hips), a superficial stitch abscess (four), and transient lateral femoral cutaneous nerve palsy (four). Nine hips (11%) underwent removal of symptomatic screws, and two required a second operation to reposition the acetabular fragment. An underlying diagnosis other than developmental dysplasia increased the prevalence of minor complications (p = 0.0017), while a major complication was more likely with longer surgery time, greater blood loss, and proximal femoral osteotomy. Conclusions: The Bernese periacetabular osteotomy is a joint-preserving procedure that very effectively corrects acetabular dysplasia in adolescent patients, providing improved radiographic results and a low rate of complications. Although the rate of minor complications is increased when there is an underlying diagnosis other than developmental dysplasia, no other predictors were identified. However, a major complication is more likely with a longer duration of surgery and with a concomitant femoral varus osteotomy. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

BACKGROUND Trauma continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children. There is a perception among pediatric orthopaedists that the volume of pediatric orthopaedic trauma care is increasing. We hypothesized that the change in trauma volume was greater than the local and regional population change. METHODS This retrospective analysis (1996 to 2006) of our institution's trauma registry analyzed changes in general trauma and orthopaedic trauma admissions, surgical volumes, patient and population demographics, and hospital reimbursement. RESULTS For the decade, the local pediatric population increased annually by only 2% to 3%. During that same period, there was an increase in the proportion of patients treated from outside the immediate county, from 13% in 1996 to 28% in 2006. Total general trauma patient admissions increased at an average of 10% per year from 1996 to 2006, whereas total orthopaedic trauma admissions and orthopaedic trauma admissions requiring operative treatment increased by an annual average of 18%. Orthopaedic trauma admissions as a percentage of total trauma admissions steadily increased from 26% in 1996 to 45% in 2006. During 2005 and 2006, an average total of 1216 orthopaedic trauma cases per year were performed generating an average 10,465 work relative value units per year. Between 1996 and 2005, the hospital's gross charges for pediatric orthopaedic trauma increased by an average of 26% annually; however, the percentage of total charges collected decreased from 67% in 1999 to 28% in 2005. CONCLUSIONS Pediatric orthopaedic trauma at this level 1 trauma center increased dramatically and more rapidly than the local population over the last decade, increasing the demand for physician and hospital resources. Physicians, hospitals, and the communities they serve face financial and logistical problems of providing care for an expanding volume of pediatric orthopaedic trauma patients with decreasing reimbursements, changing referral patterns and a decreasing population of pediatric orthopaedic specialists. Care of the pediatric orthopaedic trauma patient could become a national crisis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Economic analysis-level III.

Hip pain and loss of motion in young adults with previous Legg-Calve-Perthes-Disease may be caused by anterior femoro-acetabular impingement. Eleven patients (12 hips) with the chief complaint of groin pain and significant proximal femoral deformity were treated. Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance arthrography in ten patients indicated labral injury and adjacent acetabular cartilage lesions in nine hips. A surgical dislocation of each hip confirmed that there was impingement induced intra-articular injury consistent with the pathology indicated on the MRI. Reshaping of the femoral head, with correction of the femoral head/neck offset, and treatment of the acetabular rim pathology was performed for each hip in conjunction with other procedures for the proximal femur. Correction of the impingement and increased range of motion could be visualized intra-operatively At a mean follow-up of 33 months, half of all patients were pain-free and all had improvement in pain compared with preoperatively Ten patients had an improved range of motion and two a slight decrease. No additional necrosis following the dislocation of the femoral head was seen.

Transepiphyseal screw fixation of displaced distal tibial epiphyseal fractures is the most common method of treatment for these intraarticular injuries. Recent literature indicates that retained transepiphyseal metallic screws cause an increase in ankle joint contact pressure, thus favoring screw removal. Our hypothesis is that bioabsorbable screw fixation is an alternative to metallic fixation, which offers similar results without the need for screw removal.This is a retrospective review of distal tibial epiphyseal ankle fractures treated with screw fixation. Two groups, those treated with bioabsorbable screw fixation (group B, n = 24) and those with metallic screw fixation (group M, n = 26), were compared (t test) for differences in clinical and radiographic outcomes.Analysis of demographic data revealed no significant differences between groups for sex, ethnicity, age, and height. Group B was significantly heavier than group M (67.4 vs 55.6 kg; P = 0.0496). Each group had a similar number of Salter-Harris types III and IV medial malleolus fractures and transitional fracture types. There was no significant difference between groups in the time from injury to fixation or in operative time. Radiographically, there were no nonunions in either group, and at final follow-up, 1 patient in group B had distal tibial joint line irregularity versus 3 in group M. Clinically, there were no significant differences between groups in time to full weight bearing or time to full activities.There were fewer complications in group B. A single case of loss of reduction requiring revision fixation occurred in each group. There was one documented growth arrest in group M and 2 suspected growth arrests in each group. Two patients in group M were successfully treated for a superficial wound infection with oral antibiotics. Fourteen patients in group M underwent planned screw removal.Bioabsorbable screw fixation can be used for distal tibial epiphyseal fractures with no increase in operative time, nonunion rate, number of unplanned secondary surgeries, or other complications. The use of bioabsorbable screws eliminates the need for epiphyseal screw removal. A prospective randomized study is planned to eliminate the potential selection bias and to standardize clinical and radiographic follow-up.Level III, case-control study.

Transepiphyseal screws have traditionally been removed after fixation of pediatric ankle fractures due to concerns about increased forces and contact pressures within the tibiotalar joint secondary to the implant. No study has assessed pressure across the ankle joint after such fixation. Seven adult and two pediatric cadaveric ankles underwent axial loading in a uniaxial material test machine. Each was tested before fixation (control), after fixation (screw in place), and after removal (after screw removal). Three sequential test runs at three loading conditions (approximate body weight, twice body weight, and five times body weight) were performed to simulate forces of standing and ambulation. Total force, peak contact pressure, and contact area were measured with an intra-articular sensor. After screw placement, all loads caused a significant increase in total force versus control. Peak contact pressures after placement also increased significantly. Screw removal subsequently led to a net decrease in force and peak pressure values. Total contact area was unchanged. Concerns regarding subchondral screws in the distal tibia appear warranted. Findings in this study support implant removal following union of such fractures.

This retrospective study compares Pavlik harness application versus spica casting for the treatment of children under 1 year of age with a femoral shaft fracture. The clinical and radiographic outcomes of 24 patients treated in a Pavlik harness were compared with 16 patients treated in a spica cast. The average age and weight of the two groups were significantly different, but there were no differences in radiographic outcomes between the Pavlik and spica cast groups. Approximately one third of all spica patients had a skin complication that added an additional risk to the patient. There were no similar complications in the Pavlik group. There were no differences in the outcome of the fractures in the two groups. The authors believe that all children under 1 year of age with a femoral shaft fracture are candidates for treatment with a Pavlik harness.

This study compares the intra- and interobserver variance of Cobb angle measurements of primary and secondary curves on digital radiographs versus traditional radiographs. Four orthopaedic surgeons of varying experience measured the Cobb angles from a standard posteroanterior thoracolumbar scoliosis radiograph (25 digital, 25 traditional) on two occasions 2 weeks apart. The intra- and interobserver variances were calculated and compared for major versus minor curves and the digital versus traditional radiographs. There was no statistical difference in the mean error index, the variability in choosing the end vertebra on successive measurements, between the digital and traditional groups. Similarly, there was no significant difference in the intraobserver or interobserver variance between the digital and traditional groups. Digital radiographs are comparable to the use of traditional radiographs for following patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Furthermore, increasing years of experience appears to result in fewer errors and more consistency using the Cobb method.

Coronal computed tomography (CT) scan was used in the evaluation of a fractured process of the talus in 10 patients. Because routine radiographs failed to determine either the size or comminution of the fractured process, CT imaging was used to accurately assess the size, displacement, and comminution of the fractured process. CT scans also showed the extent of subtalar joint involvement, any associated tendon pathology, or additional fractures. In two patients the nature of the injury was initially missed, and CT scan diagnosed a nonunion of the lateral process. In all patients, CT scan altered the management of the fracture or helped in selecting the surgical approach. The authors recommend that coronal CT scans be used in the evaluation of a fractured process of the talus.

Sir, We read with interest the article by Uglow and Clarke[1][1] in the July 2004 issue entitled ‘The management of slipped capital femoral epiphysis’. While we found most of the article to be an excellent review and discussion, we must take exception to the recommended management of the

A 27 year-old man was involved in a high-energy-impact motor-vehicle accident and sustained multiple injuries including a medial subtalar fracture dislocation. The dislocation of the subtalar joint was reduced by closed means, but a large, comminuted, displaced posterior process fracture remained. Open reduction and internal fixation through a posteromedial approach with mobilization of the neurovascular bundle was used to restore congruity to the subtalar joint.