What Do We Really Know About the Natural History of Spastic Hip Dysplasia and Pain in Total-involvement Cerebral Palsy? A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Hip surveillance protocols and surgery for spastic hip dysplasia have become standard of care for children with cerebral palsy (CP) out of concern for long-term sequelae, including pain. It is unclear if available data support that spastic hip dysplasia/dislocation independently correlates with pain in total-involvement CP. A better understanding of this correlation may help guide decision-making for these medically complex patients. METHODS: We undertook a systematic literature review to assess published data on the association of spastic hip dysplasia and pain in total-involvement CP using PubMed (which includes the MedLine databases) and EMBASE databases. A total of 114 English-language articles were identified. Fifteen articles met the inclusion criteria and were evaluated using the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews. RESULTS: Of 15 articles that specifically assessed the association of spastic hip dysplasia and pain, 5 articles provided strong evidence per our criteria regarding the correlation of pain and spastic hip dysplasia. All 5 articles described the severity of CP in their studied population, radiographically defined hip displacement, included a control group, and described how pain was assessed. Nevertheless, there was no standard classification of dysplasia between studies and the ages of patients and methods of pain determination varied. Four of the articles provided level III evidence and one provided level II evidence. Of these 5 articles with the strongest available evidence, data from 2 did not support a correlation between hip dysplasia and hip pain, 2 supported a correlation, and 1 was equivocal. CONCLUSIONS: Even the best available evidence on spastic hip dysplasia and pain reveals no consensus or conclusion on whether spastic hip dysplasia and dislocation in total-involvement CP is independently correlated with pain. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-Prognostic study.

Magnetically Controlled Growing Rods (MCGR) Versus Single Posterior Spinal Fusion (PSF) Versus Vertebral Body Tether (VBT) in Older Early Onset Scoliosis (EOS) Patients: How Do Early Outcomes Compare?

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of prospective data from multicenter registry. OBJECTIVE: Compare outcomes of posterior spinal fusion (PSF) versus magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR) versus vertebral body tethers (VBT) in 8- to 11-year-old idiopathic early onset scoliosis (EOS) patients. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: In EOS, it is unclear at what age the benefit of growth-sparing strategies outweighs increased risks of surgical complications, compared with PSF. METHODS: One hundred thirty idiopathic EOS patients, 81% female, aged 8-11 at index surgery (mean 10.5 yrs), underwent PSF, MCGR, or VBT. Scoliosis curve, kyphosis, thoracic and spinal height, complications, and Quality of Life (QoL) were assessed preoperatively and at most recent follow-up (prior to final fusion for VBT/MCGR). RESULTS: Of 130 patients, 28.5% received VBT, 39.2% MCGR, and 32.3% PSF. The VBT cohort included more females (P < 0.0005), was older (P < 0.0005), more skeletally mature (P < 0.0005), and had smaller major curves (P < 0.0005). At follow-up, scoliosis curve corrected 41.1 ±â€Š22.4% in VBT, 52.2 ±â€Š19.9% in PSF, and 27.4 ±â€Š23.9% in MCGR (P < 0.0005), however, not all VBT/MCGR patients finished treatment. Fifteen complications occurred in 10 VBTs, 6 requiring unplanned surgeries; 45 complications occurred in 31 MCGRs, 11 requiring unplanned surgeries, and 9 complications occurred in 6 PSFs, 3 requiring unplanned revisions. Cox proportional hazards regression adjusted for age, gender, and preoperative scoliosis curve revealed that MCGR (hazard ratio [HR] = 21.0, 95% C.I. 4.8-92.5; P < 0.001) and VBT (HR = 7.1, 95% C.I. 1.4-36.4; P = 0.019) patients were at increased hazard of requiring revision, but only MCGR patients (HR = 5.6, 95% C.I. 1.1-28.4; P = 0.038) were at an increased hazard for unplanned revisions compared with PSF. Thoracic and spinal height increased in all groups. QoL improved in VBT and PSF patients, but not in MCGR patients. CONCLUSION: In older idiopathic EOS patients, MCGR, PSF, and VBT controlled curves effectively and increased spinal height. However, VBT and PSF have a lower hazard for an unplanned revision and improved QoL.Level of Evidence: 3.

A Case Report Describing Pre-operative Contouring of an Orthopedic Implant using a 3D-Printed Patient-specific Model.

Introduction: Paget's disease is a metabolic bone disorder characterized by abnormal patterns in bone remodeling, resulting in variable degrees of chronic bone pain, deformation of the long bones and rarely, and pathologic fracture. These issues can pose difficult surgical challenges, particularly in the elderly frail population, where the benefits of orthopedic intervention must be balanced with minimizing inherent surgical risks. Such considerations often include reducing operative time and blood loss, allowing for early mobilization, stabilizing an impending fracture, and providing symptom relief. Case Report: A 77-year-old female with a 10-year history of Paget's disease presented to an outside orthopedic clinic with progressive right leg pain and worsening anterior bowing following minor trauma to the extremity. Ultimately, the patient was offered in situ prophylactic intramedullary (IM) nail fixation, intended to augment her bone's native strength and prevent further microfractures and subsequent deformation. A three-dimensional (3D) printed patient specific model was developed to permit for pre-contouring of an off-the-shelf implant and subsequent sterilization and use at a future point in time. She underwent uneventful IM nailing of her tibia with the pre-contoured implant and proceeded to progress clinically postoperatively. Conclusion: In this report, we present an innovative use of a 3D printed patient-specific tibia model to pre-contour an IM nail. This surgical approach was undertaken to treat an elderly patient with a symptomatic and progressive deformity of the tibia secondary to Paget's disease of bone.