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Background Juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (JOCD) lesions are rarely located in the trochlea and few studies have focused on the causes and outcomes of JOCD lesions in this part of the knee. The purpose of this study is to (1) evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients who undergo surgery for JOCD in this unusual location as well as (2) assess the association between trochlear JOCD and participation in sporting activities that load the patellofemoral joint. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 34 trochlear JOCD lesions in 30 patients. Cases that involved traumatic cartilage shear or patella instability were excluded. Preoperative and postoperative magnetic resonance images and x-rays were evaluated and demographic data, sports played, comorbidities, surgical procedures, and clinical data were extracted from medical records. A case-control cohort of 102 femoral condyle lesions was used to assess the correlation between sports played and lesion location. Results The cohort comprised 34 consecutive trochlear JOCD lesions in 30 patients (26 males, 4 females). Average age at surgery was 13.8 years (9.3 to 18.0 y). In total, 27 (90%) patients were active, and of these active patients, soccer and basketball were the most common sports played. In the case-control comparison, the correlation between playing either basketball or soccer and the presence of a trochlear JOCD lesion was statistically significant (P=0.017). In total, 21 knees (62%) received operative treatment. Sixteen of the surgical patients underwent repair and fixation with bioabsorbable nails. The average length of clinical and radiographic follow-up was 21.1 months. All patients who underwent fixation showed radiographic and/or clinical indications of healing at most recent follow-up. Thirteen of the patients who underwent fixation were active, and all of these patients reported successful return to sports. Thirteen knees underwent nonoperative treatment, and the majority of these patients had limited follow-up. Conclusions We report a significant association between pediatric athletes who play basketball and soccer and the development of trochlear JOCD, suggesting that repetitive loading of the patellofemoral joint may play a role in the development of JOCD lesions. Patients with trochlear JOCD lesions were likely to undergo surgery, and repair and fixation of the lesions produced good outcomes at short-term follow-up. Level of evidence Level III-case-control study.

Obstetrical providers have had to rapidly rethink how to provide comprehensive prenatal care during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. At our institution, we implemented a risk-stratified approach to incorporating telemedicine into our prenatal care. The objective of this study was to determine acceptability of virtual prenatal care and preferences for future pregnancies among our patient population.We sought feedback from a convenience sample of patients regarding the acceptability of virtual prenatal care and desires for future pregnancies.We found that virtual prenatal care is acceptable to patients, and the majority would like to incorporate it into future post-pandemic pregnancy care, although preferences differ by race.Virtual prenatal care should continue to be employed in post-pandemic obstetric practice. Obstetrical providers must determine how to incorporate this practice in a risk-stratified and equitable fashion.

BACKGROUND: Prior reports suggest that osteoarticular infections may be increasing over time. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We sought to determine if incidence rates, median in-hospital costs, and length of stay (LOS) of osteomyelitis, septic arthritis (SA), and combined infections have changed over time for pediatric patients, and how they compare to previously reported rates. METHODS: The Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID), a US national sample of pediatric hospital discharge records from 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2012, was used to determine yearly estimated counts of infections in children 20 years of age or younger. US census data was used to calculate yearly incidence rates. Trend tests using linear contrast analysis were used to compare estimated median LOS and inflation-adjusted median costs over time for each type of infection. RESULTS: From 1997 through 2012, the incidence rate of osteomyelitis increased from 7.9 to 10.5 per 100,000, SA was unchanged from 5.3 to 5.2 per 100, and combined infections increased from 0.8 to 1.3 per 100,000. Median LOS from 1997 to 2012 showed no significant change for osteomyelitis (5.0 to 4.9 days), SA (4.4 to 4.1 days), or combined infections (6.5 to 6.8 days). Median in-hospital costs from 1997 to 2012 increased for osteomyelitis ($7735 to $11,823), SA ($5041 to $10,574), and combined infections ($12,691 to $16,260). CONCLUSION: In pediatric patients, the estimated incidence rate of SA appeared stable, while rates of osteomyelitis and combined infections increased. These estimated rates fall within previously reported ranges. Despite stable LOS, costs have increased over time. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s11420-018-9644-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Study Design Retrospective study with follow-up. Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of intraspinal and extraspinal MRI abnormalities in a consecutive series of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and to describe the evaluation and management of these abnormalities. Summary of Background Data Indications for preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with AIS remain controversial. Previous studies have reported a wide range of abnormality rates; however, the majority of these studies focus on a nonconsecutive series of patients, and none of these studies report the incidence of extraspinal abnormalities. Methods We studied a consecutive series of patients with AIS managed with spinal deformity surgery. All patients underwent a routine neural axis MRI prior to surgery. MRI reports were reviewed, and intraspinal and extraspinal abnormalities were recorded. Additional chart review and follow-up was performed to determine the rates of evaluation and management for these abnormalities. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the incidence and types of abnormalities, as well as the rates of evaluation and management. Results This study included a consecutive series of 259 patients with AIS. MRI abnormalities were noted in 115 patients (44%). After excluding patients with degenerative changes, MRI abnormalities were noted in 64 patients (25%). The incidence of Chiari malformation was 4.2% and syringomyelia was 5%. Extraspinal abnormalities were noted in 10% of patients, and these findings ranged from benign cysts to malignant soft tissue tumor. Approximately 10% of patients needed additional evaluation because of their preoperative MRI findings, and 0.7% of patients required surgical management prior to spinal deformity surgery. Conclusions Significant MRI abnormalities were noted in patients with AIS, and some patients required further evaluation prior to surgery. Additional study including cost-effectiveness analysis is needed to better define the role of preoperative MRI in patients with AIS. Level of Evidence Level II.

Objectives: Describe the clinical characteristics, image findings, and outcomes of patients with juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (JOCD) of the knee. To our knowledge, this is the largest single-surgeon cohort of JOCD patients. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of knee JOCD patients assessed by a single pediatric orthopaedic surgeon at a tertiary care center between 2005-2015. All diagnoses were confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patients with patellar dislocations or osteochondral fractures were excluded. Demographic data, sports played, comorbidities, surgical procedures, and clinical data were extracted from charts. Images were analyzed to identify the location and size of lesions. Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests were used to compare discrete variables, and Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis tests to compare continuous variables between groups. P-values of Results: Sample consisted of 180 patients (207 knees), 124 boys and 56 girls. Average age at diagnosis was 12.8 years (7.5-17.5). Majority were active in sports (80.8%), primary soccer (36.7%) and basketball (29.4%). JOCD was present bilaterally in 27 patients (15%), 14 knees had bifocal OCD (6.8%), and only 1 patient had bifocal lesions in both knees. Most common location was medial femoral condyle (56.3%) followed by lateral femoral condyle (23.1%), trochlea (11.4%), patella (9%), and tibia (0.5%). In the sagittal view, most common location was the middle third of the condyles (48.7%). Surgery was performed in 72 knees (34.8%), with an average age at surgery of 14.1 years (9.3-18.1). Bilateral JOCD was present in 13 surgical patients (18.8%), but only 3 patients had bilateral surgery. Two operative patients had bifocal JOCD (2.7%) and surgery on both lesions. Location distribution did not differ between surgical and non-surgical lesions. The average normalized area of non-surgical JOCD lesions was 6.8 (0.1-18), whereas surgical lesions averaged a significantly higher area of 7.7 (0.5-17) (p=0.023). Average BMI was 21.6 versus 20.2 for surgical and non-surgical patients, respectively, significantly higher for those who underwent surgery (p=0.002). Most common procedure was fixation with 1.6 mm bioabsorbable nails (54.2%), using an average of 4 nails (1-9). Only 2 cases were fixed using metallic headless screws. Other surgical treatments were drilling (13.9%), microfracture (13.9%), microfracture + fixation (6.9%), removal of loose body/chondroplasty (6.9%), and allograft transplantation (4.2%). Fixation was achieved all-arthroscopic in 43.1% of the cases, and 61.3% of the lesions that were fixed underwent curettage of the subchondral bone. Revision surgery was required in 14 knees (19.4%). The most common revision procedures were microfracture, removal of hardware, chondroplasty and allograft implantation, where some revisions had combined procedures. Most surgical patients had postoperative MRIs (55 knees), with an average radiological follow-up of 14.5 months (range 2.1-55.4). Conclusion: JOCD occurs more frequently in young adolescent athlete boys, affecting the middle third of the medial femoral condyle. In our cohort, 1/3 of the patients had surgery, where bigger lesions and higher BMI were risk factors for operative treatment. At short-term follow up, the success rate following surgery was above 80%.