Hip Screening in Infants Presenting with Asymmetricity of Lower Extremity / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the clinical features of congenital postural deformities and lower extremity asymmetry with respect to the presence of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in infants with a discrepancy of the limb length referred for suspected DDH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and radiographs of 150 infants who visited Korea University Anam Hospital Orthopedic Clinic for suspected DDH between March 2013 and March 2015. RESULTS: There were greater numbers of infants with a shorter lower extremity on the left side (n=86, 57.3%) than the right. Plagiocephaly was present in 62 infants and trunk curvature in 124 infants (82.7%). Pelvic tilting—indirectly assessed by a skewed direction of the external genitalia in female infants—was present in 62 infants (63.3%). None of the 139 infants with normal physical examination of the hip were diagnosed with DDH. Of those 11 infants with abnormal findings from the hip physical examination, a total of 6 infants were diagnosed with DDH. CONCLUSION: Regardless of the associated findings of congenital postural deformation, all infants diagnosed with DDH had abnormal findings from the physical examination of the hip joint. Thus, we conclude that the hip examination is important as the primary clinical screening in aiding the diagnosis of DDH.

Attenuation of Spinal Curvature and Pelvic Obliquity by Body Shape Molded Inner System in Cerebral Palsy with Non-Fixed Scoliosis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the body shape molded inner system on attenuation of spinal curvature and pelvic obliquity in cerebral palsy (CP) with scoliosis. METHOD: Fifteen patients with CP who had fixed or non-fixed scoliosis were recruited. By radiographic studies, Cobb's angle and pelvic obliquity were measured with or without sitting in the body shape molded inner system. RESULTS: Spinal curvature assessed by Cobb's angle was significantly reduced when CP patients were seated in the body shape molded inner system rather than in conventional seats. Although pelvic obliquity was not improved in patients with fixed scoliosis, it was significantly ameliorated in patients with non-fixed scoliosis when seated in the body shape molded inner system. CONCLUSION: The body shape molded inner system attenuated spinal curvature and pelvic obliquity in CP patients with non-fixed scoliosis which had a flexible spinal curve.

The Effect of Shoe Lift on Lumbar Scoliosis Associated with Pelvic Obliquity / 대한척추외과학회지

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study designed to evaluate the effect of a shoe lift on the lumbar scoliosis associated with pelvic obliquity. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the changes in pelvic height, Cobb angle and clinical manifestations after application of a shoe lift. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: The most common form of scoliosis in adolescence is idiopathic (85% of scoliosis), which is a form of structural scoliosis. Some non-structural scoliosis may be assessed as an idiopathic form, which can result in an unnecessary treatment, such as bracing. Pelvic obliquity may be a cause of non-structural scoliosis, and a shoe lift may be used for its correction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve cases of lumbar scoliosis associated with pelvic obliquity, between April, 1998 and October, 2002, were investigated for the changes in the pelvic height and Cobb angle. Standing T-L AP and standing pelvic AP for measuring the Cobb angle and pelvic obliquity, respectively, were checked before and after application of a shoe lift. The Bell-Thompson method was used for measuring the limb length discrepancy. The shoe lift was composed of a compact cork pad and soft sponge tissue. The extent of a shoe lift was determined with the use of the most comfortable wood block height on stand-ing still. The radiological and clinical outcomes of the shoe lift were investigated. RESULTS: After the introduction of the shoe lift, 9 cases (75%) achieved a leveled pelvis (height difference less than 0.3cm) 1 week post-shoe lift. The mean Cobb angle before treatment was 16degrees ranging from 9 to 26degrees which was reduced to 6.7degrees ranging from 0 to 23degrees due to the shoe lift 1 week post-shoe lift. The mean correction of the Cobb angle after the introduction of a shoe lift was 73.9%. Clinically, 2 cases with low back pain achieved an improvement in the pain, and most patients expressed that walk-ing and standing had become more comfortable. CONCLUSION: A shoe lift seems to be significantly effective in correcting the Cobb angle and pelvic height in lumbar scoliosis associated with pelvic obliquity.

Classification and Management of Fixed Paralytic Pelvic Obliquity / 대한정형외과학회잡지

In order to group the pelvic obliquity into clinically useful classification and to develop appropriate guidelines for treatment, we evaluated 55 patients who had been treated between 1985 and 1993 for pelvic obliquity after poliomyelitis. Age at surgery ranged from 15 years to 49 years (average 27 years). Fixed pelvic obliquity after poliomyelitis was classified into two major types according to the level of the pelvis relative to the short limb and into four subtypes in each type according to the direction and severity of scoliosis. Forty-six patients had obliquity with the pelvis down (type I), and nine patients had the pelvis up (type II) on the short limb side. Subtype A: straight spine with localized lower lumbar compensatory angulation, mainly at the L4-5 intervertebral space. Subtype B: mild scoliosis with convexity to the short limb side, Subtype C: mild scoliosis with convexity opposite to the short limb side. Subtype D: moderate to severe paralytic scoliosis, which has a convexity to the short limb side in type I and opposite to the short limb side in type II. In the pelvis of type I-A, I-B and I-C deformities, abduction contracture of the hip was released on the side of affected short limb, and lumbodorsal fasciotomy was performed on the contralateral side of short limb, where iliolumbar angle converged and the pelvis was elevated, if necessary. In most cases, hip instability existed on the side of short limb and it was treated with triple innominate osteotomy, which also contributed to leg length equalization by lengthening. In type II-A, II-B and II-C deformities, it was necessary to perform a triple innominate osteotomy on the side of affected short limb with adducted unstable hip in most cases. Lumbodorsal fasciotomy was performed above the iliac crest of elevated hemi-pelvis with short limb, where iliolumbar angle converged. In case of abduction contracture of contralateral hip, contracted fascia was released. In the pelvis that had a type I-D or type II-D deformities, treatment might include bony surgeries such as spinal fusion or triple innominate osteotomy, with appropriate soft tissue release. We propose a systemic and comprehensive classification for fixed pelvic obliquity after poliomyelitis. According to this classification, we and decide to combine corrective surgeries, and find the side where the surgery should be performed.

Leg Length Equalization by Correction of Pelvic Obliquity and Acetabular Dysplasia / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Fixed pelvic obliquity refers to a composite deformity induced by contractures both above and below the pelvis and the elements of this deformity are frequently interrelated during the period of growth. From the functional standpoint, leg length discrepancy is caused by deformities of the pelvis and lower extremities, such as pelvic obliquity and acetabular dysplasia, as well as by inequality of true limb bone length, and these deformities either aggravate or compensate functional discrepancy. During fhe fourteen years period, from August 1968 to August 1982, at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, we treated 35 cases of fixed pelvic obliquity and acetabular dysplasia associated with true or functional limb length discrepancy by means of lumbodorsal fasciotomy or pelvic osteotomies such as Salters innominate osteotomy or Steels triple osteotomy, combined, if necessary, with contralateral abductor fasciotomy to gain functional limb length as well as to improve posture and balance. In many cases of residual poliomyelitis, epiphysiodesis was also performed when indicated. These cases were reviewed and following observations were made: 1. Of the 35 cases, residual poliomyelitis with 29 cases (83%) was by far the main cause of leg length discrepancy. Cerebral palsy (2cases), Legg-Perthes disease (2 cases), and fibrous ankylosis secondary to septic hip (2 cases) comprised the remainder. 2. The male-to-female ratio was about equal, being 17 to 18. 3. The average age at the time of operation was 17.9 years, the youngest being 7 years and the oldest being 30 years. The average age at the time of current follow-up was 18.8 years. 67% of those followed was skeletally mature. 4. An average of 1.35cm of bone length was gained radiographically by pelvic osteotomies. Steels triple osteotomy was more effective in gain than Salters innominate osteotomy. 5. An average of 2.43cm of functional length when standing was gained radiographically by lumbodorsal fasciotomy alone. 6. An average of 2.61cm of functional length when standing was gained radiographically by lumbodorsal fasciotomy and combined contralateral Soutters or Campbells fasciotomy. 7. An average of 3.57cm of functional length when standing was gained radiographically by lumbodorsal fasciotomy and combined ipsilateral Steel's triple osteotomy. 8. An average of 1.73cm of functional lengthening when standing was corrected radiographically by ipsilateral Soutter's fasciotomy. 9. When lumbodorsal fasciotomy and Steel's triple osteotomy were combined with contralateral Soutter's or Campbell's fasciotomy, the average radiographic gain in standing length was 3.77cm. 10. Leg length discrepancy in terms of true bone length is conventionally corrected either by epiphysiodesis or bone shortening on the longer limb, or by bone lengthening on the shorter limb. We believe that when leg length discrepancy is associated with fixed pelvic obliquity, frequently aggravating the disability functionally, lumbodorsal fasciotomy and/or pelvic osteotomies on the shorter side and, combined if necessary, Soutters or Campbells fasciotomy on the longer side, can, in many instances, successfully correct or reduce functional limb discrepancy and improve balance, posture and function. Any residual discrepancy, true or functional, may then be corrected by conventional methods.

Surgical Treatment of the Paralytic Scoliosis / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Paralytic scoliosis is a disease characterized by its long severe curve and the continuous progression of the deformity even after cessation of growth. It is also resistent to conservative treatment and more patients require surgical treatment than those with idiopathic or congenital curvature. Patients suffer from marked limitation of normal activities in walking and sitting due to imbalanced paralysis of trunk muscles and pelvic obliquity. The indication for the conservative treatment with Milwaukee brace allowing for skeletal growth in a straight alignment is much limited and surgical correction and fusion are almost always indicated even in a young age. This paper was aimed to review our experience with ninteen patients with paralytic scoliosis who were treated with various methods of preoperative corrections and surgery from Jan. 1970 to Dec. 1981 and the following results were obtained. 1. The average age when scoliosis was observed was 7.7 years but the average age of surgery was deferred to 17.7 years. 2. No treatment had been done until most of the patients could no longer maintain balanced posture in sitting and walking due to collapsing spine and marked pelvic obliquity. 3. The causes of paralysis were poliomyelitis in 15 cases, meningocele in two, cerebral palsy and Charcots disease in each one. 4. Preoperative average degree of scoliosis was 107.8° and the final correction was 47.9°(44.4%) with loss of correction 3.6° (3.4%) after 5.6 years of follow-up in average. 5. The more severe the curve was, the more flail was the spine and the more correction could be obtained. 6. Preoperative correction was performed for 16 cases and Harrington instrumentation and posterior fusion were performed for all cases except one meningocele with defect of posterior element in which Dwyer instrumentation was indicated. 7. Breakage of Harrington rod was observed in two cases 1.3 and 3.8 years postoperatively but no problem arose from it in seven and two years of follow-up respectively. 8. Significant pelvic obliquity was observed in seven cases, which were treated by Harrington instrumentation with sacral bar or sacral hook and posterior fusion extended to sacrum.