Feasibility study of determining a risk assessment model for obstructive sleep apnea in children based on local findings and clinical indicators.

OBJECTIVE: To test a feasible and reliable model for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children, based on the clinically relevant parameters, in comparison to a polysomnography. METHODS: A total of 94 children with the suspected underlying OSA were included in the analyses. An association between clinical parameters (modified Mallampati score, tonsil size, adenoid size, age, gender, and body mass index) and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) obtained following an overnight polysomnography was assessed, and significant variables were incorporated in the logistic regression model. Also, the sensitivity and specificity calculations of the model with the inclusion of ROC curve analysis were performed. RESULTS: All tee local clinical parameters were significantly associated with AHI (P < 0.001). The most significant correlation with AHI was shown with the modified Mallampati score (r = 0.723), following with tonsil size (r = 0.673), and adenoid size (r = 0.502). The sensitivity of the tested model was 84%, and specificity was 74%. CONCLUSION: This study derived a model based on the local clinical findings that significantly overlapped with the results of an overnight polysomnography, in diagnosing OSA in children.

RESULTS OF CLAVICLE FRACTURE TREATMENT IN CHILDREN.

Treatment of clavicle fracture is principally outpatient. Operative treatment is accompanied by the need for more x-rays and possible complications. Fractures with absolute indications for operative treatment occur only sporadically and these indications are relatively clear, but children often undergo surgery because of relative indications (shortening, fragment displacement, multifragmentary fractures), which are open to debate. In a retrospective study on 256 children, of 44 (17%) patients that received operative treatment only one 17-year-old boy had an absolute indication for surgical intervention. Other indications were fragment distraction (22 mm on average), age, associated injuries, and multifragmentary fracture. The placement of K-wire of appropriate thickness is often difficult, since the wire tends to bend and break, and patients have to undergo two additional operations of plate and screw fixation and later removal. In this retrospective study, we considered the advantages of using titanium or an elastic steel pin. All patients had favorable outcome, although some experienced numbness around the operation scar (4.5%), skin infections around the wire (15%), and/or the implanted K-wire damage (7%).