Radiographic evaluation of the normal ankle joint in children and adolescent.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of numerous radiographic measurements of the skeletally immature ankle joint, timing of ossification of medial malleolus and appearance of tibial incisura and differences in the values of radiographic measurements based on age and sex. METHODS: This study included 590 subjects (0-15 years), who underwent ankle AP, lateral and mortise radiographs. Presence of the medial malleolus and incisura fibularis were recorded. Tibiofibular overlap, tibiofibular clear space, medial clear space, talar tilt, talocrural angle, relative fibular width and fibular position were measured. RESULTS: All radiographic measurements showed good to excellent intraobserver and interobserver reliability (ICCs, 0.603 to 0.949). The timing of ossification of medial malleolus and appearance of tibial incisura between boys and girls were not different. Tibiofibular clear space on mortise views, and medial clear space on AP and mortise view significantly decreased by age. Tibiofibular overlap on AP and mortise views, relative fibular width on AP view significantly increased by age. Talocrural angle, tibiofibular overlap on AP view, tibiofibular clear space on AP and mortise views, medial clear space on AP and mortise views and fibular position were significantly larger in boys than in girls. The difference in tibiofibular overlap, tibiofibular clear space and medial clear space on AP view of both sides was <50% in 97.1%, 93.1%, and 97.2% of patients, respectively. The difference in tibiofibular overlap, tibiofibular clear space and medial clear space on mortise view of both sides was <50% in 98.0%, 96.5%, and 100% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: For skeletally immature patients, the criteria for absolute radiographic values used in adults to assess distal tibiofibular syndesmosis or deltoid ligament injury cannot be applied, but comparison of both sides of ankle joint could help physicians to predict the need for additional evaluations.

Undercorrection of planovalgus deformity after calcaneal lengthening in patients with cerebral palsy.

Calcaneal lengthening (CL) is one of the treatment options for planovalgus deformity in patients with cerebral palsy (CP). However, its indication still needs to be clarified according to the functional status of CP. The aim of this study was to investigate the radiographic outcome after CL in patients with CP and to evaluate the risk factors causing undercorrection of planovalgus deformities. We included consecutive patients with CP who underwent CL for planovalgus deformity, were followed for more than 2 years, and had preoperative and postoperative weight-bearing anteroposterior (AP) and lateral foot radiographs. Six radiographic indices were used to assess the radiographic outcome. The patient age, sex, and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level were evaluated as possible risk factors, and we controlled for the interaction of potentially confounding variables using multivariate analysis. A total of 44 (77 feet) patients were included in this study. The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 10.5±4.0 years and the mean follow-up was 5.1±2.2 years. Patients with GMFCS III/IV achieved less correction than those with GMFCS I/II in the AP talus-first metatarsal angle (P=0.001), lateral talocalcaneal angle (P=0.028), and the lateral talus-first metatarsal angle (P<0.001). The rate of undercorrection in the GMFCS III/IV group was 1.6 times higher than that in the GMFCS I/II group in the AP talus-first metatarsal angle (odds ratios: 1.6; 95% confidence interval: 1.2-2.0; P<0.001) and 1.6 times higher in the lateral talus-first metatarsal angle (odds ratios: 1.6; 95% confidence interval: 1.3-1.9; P<0.001). In GMFCS I/II patients with CP, we found CL to be an effective procedure for the correction of planovalgus foot deformities. However, in GMFCS III/IV patients with planovalgus deformities, CL appears to be insufficient on the basis of the high rate of undercorrection in these patients. For patients with GMFCS level III/IV, additional or alternative procedures should be considered to correct the deformity and maintain the correction achieved. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

Association of Gross Motor Function Classification System Level and School Attendance with Bone Mineral Density in Patients With Cerebral Palsy.

The present study aimed to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) and to critically analyze the effects of a variety of factors, particularly the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level, the Caregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities questionnaire, and the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI), on BMD. Fifty patients with CP who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were included. Collected data included the extent of involvement, muscle tone, demographic data, factors determined through chart review, and laboratory results. Factors associated with BMD in this group were analyzed by performing multiple regression analysis. The mean Z-scores in male and female patients were -3.252 ± 1.822 and -3.789 ± 1.764, respectively, in the proximal part of the femur and -2.219 ± 1.323 and -2.451 ± 1.434, respectively, in the lumbar spine. In multiple regression analysis, the GMFCS level and the average frequency of missed school in the PODCI were significant factors associated with both femur and lumbar spine BMD. Both the GMFCS level and school attendance were independently associated with BMD and should be considered for the prevention and management of osteoporosis in patients with CP.

Incidence and risk factors of hardware-related complications after proximal femoral osteotomy in children and adolescents.

Proximal femoral osteotomy has been used in cerebral palsy, Perthes disease, hip dysplasia, idiopathic femoral anteversion, and various hip diseases in children and adolescents. Conventionally, a blade plate (BP) has been used. However, the pediatric locking compression plate (LCP) has recently been applied widely. We compared the hardware-related complications of the BP and the LCP as well as the factors influencing these complications in patients who have undergone a proximal femoral osteotomy in children and adolescents. We enrolled consecutive patients aged less than or equal to 20 years who had undergone proximal femoral osteotomy with BP or LCP between May 2003 and December 2014, and who were followed up until 6 months after hardware removal. Following consensus building, hardware-related complications were identified from the patients' medical records and hip radiographs. Patient age, sex, type of plate, and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level in cerebral palsy patients were evaluated as possible risk factors, and a generalized estimating equation was used to assess the risk factors for hardware-related complications. A total of 417 hips from 251 patients were finally included in this study. Seven losses of fixation around the plate (five patients, 3.0%) occurred in the BP, three implant-related fractures (three patients, 3.6%) occurred in the LCP, and there was no significant difference (P=0.74). All hardware-related complications occurred in cerebral palsy patients, and the implant-related fractures occurred in patients with GMFCS IV/V. The risk of complications increased with age (P=0.002). The risk of loss of fixation around the BP is a well-known complication. However, LCP is not without hardware-related complications. The LCP provides strong stability of fixation. However, it is speculated that the LCP is related to implant-related fractures because of the stress shielding effect. Therefore, care should be exercised when using a locking plate in patients with osteoporosis, such as cerebral palsy with GMFCS IV/V. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III.

Normative Values of Physical Examinations Commonly Used for Cerebral Palsy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to establish normative values and to identify age-related change in physical examinations that are commonly used while evaluating patients with cerebral palsy (CP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred four healthy volunteers (mean age 36 years, standard deviation 15 years) were enrolled and divided into four age groups: 13-20, 21-35, 36-50, and 51 years and older. The eighteen physical examination tests for CP were selected by five orthopedic surgeons in consensus-building session. The measurements were taken by three orthopedic surgeons. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the measures of physical examination among all the age groups, except for the Staheli test (p=0.002). The post hoc test revealed that the mean hip extension was 2.7° higher in the 13-20-year-old group than in the other age groups. The bilateral popliteal angle had a tendency to increase in those over 36-years-old. There were 31 participants (30%) with a unilateral popliteal angle greater than 40°. CONCLUSION: We documented normative values that can be widely used for evaluating CP in patients 13 years and older.

Factors influencing outcomes after medial hamstring lengthening with semitendinosus transfer in patients with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: Although several studies have investigated the outcomes after distal hamstring lengthening (DHL), no study has undertaken an approach that included all or most of the important factors that could influence the results. This study was performed to evaluate the outcomes after DHL and analyze the factors that influence the improvement and serial change in knee motion after surgery in patients with cerebral palsy (CP), using a linear mixed model (LMM). METHODS: The study included 314 ambulatory CP patients (594 limbs) with spsastic diplegia who were followed up after undergoing DHL as part of a single-event multilevel surgery and who underwent preoperative and postoperative 3-dimensional (3D) gait analyses. Relevant kinematic values, including knee flexion at initial contact, minimum knee flexion in the stance phase, knee range of motion (ROM), mean pelvic tilt and gait deviation index (GDI) score, were the outcome measures. Changes in knee motion and the GDI score were adjusted for multiple factors, such as sex, the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level, and concomitant surgeries as fixed effects, and follow-up duration, laterality, and each subject as random effects, using a LMM. RESULTS: We found significant improvements in knee flexion at initial contact, minimum knee flexion in the stance phase, knee ROM, and GDI score 2 years after DHL. In patients with GMFCS level I and II, improvement in all sagittal knee kinematics was maintained during follow-up. In addition, GDI score, which represents overall gait pathology, consistently improved throughout the follow-up duration (1.2 per year, p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Medial hamstring lengthening with semitendinosus transfer, as a part of a SEMLS, was effective procedure in treating flexed knee gait with regard to sagittal knee kinematics and GDI score in spastic CP with flexed knee gait.

Differences in Body Composition According to Gross Motor Function in Children With Cerebral Palsy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess differences in body composition according to gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP) compared with healthy controls. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. SETTING: Tertiary referral center for CP. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (N=146) comprised consecutive patients with CP (n=100; mean age, 11.5±4.2y) who were admitted for orthopedic surgery between May 2014 and March 2016 and typically developing children (TDC, n=46; control group). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was used to assess body composition, including body fat, soft lean mass (SLM), fat-free mass (FFM), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), body cell mass (BCM), bone mineral content (BMC), and basal metabolic rate. Body composition measures were compared according to Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level, as well as between children with CP and TDC. RESULTS: Children with CP with GMFCS levels IV and V had a lower height, weight, and body mass index than those with GMFCS levels I to III. Children with CP with GMFCS levels IV and V had a significantly lower SLM, SLM index, FFM, FFM index, SMM, SMM index, BCM, BCM index, BMC, and BMC index than those with GMFCS levels I to III and TDC. GMFCS level significantly affected SLM and BMC. CONCLUSIONS: Body composition analysis using BIA showed that nonambulatory children with CP had significantly lower FFM, SLM, SMM, BCM, and BMC than ambulatory children with CP and TDC. However, further study is required to allow the use of BIA as a valid nutritional assessment tool in patients with CP.

Correlation Between Central and Peripheral Bone Mineral Density Around the Elbow Measured by Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry in Healthy Children and Adolescents.

This pilot study was performed to evaluate the correlation between central bone mineral density (BMD) and peripheral BMD around the elbow in children and adolescents and to compare BMD values across skeletal sites. Twenty-seven healthy volunteers between 5 and 18 yr of age were recruited for the study. Anthropometric measurements including height and weight were performed. Central BMD at the lumbar spine and left femur and peripheral BMD at the supracondylar area, medial condyle, lateral condyle, and olecranon were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Higher BMD levels were found in the central skeleton (lumbar spine and femur) than in peripheral sites around the elbow (p < 0.001). BMD values around the elbow ranged from 44.4% to 63.2% compared to the BMD values of the central skeleton. Among the peripheral sites around the elbow, the highest BMD was observed at the supracondylar area and olecranon, and the lowest BMD was found at the lateral condyle. Peripheral DXA measurements around the elbow were significantly correlated with central DXA measurements at the lumbar spine and femur. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the measurements of BMD around the elbow were correlated with BMD at central sites. Given the small sample size in this pilot study, further study with a large cohort is required to use the BMD measurements around the elbow as a valid clinical tool for fracture risk assessment and population-based epidemiological studies.