Development of Consensus-Based Best Practice Guidelines for the Peri- and Post-operative Care of Pediatric Patients with Spinal Deformity and Programmable Implanted Devices.

STUDY DESIGN: Modified Delphi consensus study. OBJECTIVE: To develop consensus-based best practices for the care of pediatric patients who have implanted programmable devices (IPDs) and require spinal deformity surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Implanted programmable devices (IPDs) are often present in patients with neuromuscular or syndromic scoliosis who require spine surgery. Guidelines for monitoring and interrogating these devices during the peri-operative period are not available. METHODS: A panel was assembled consisting of 25 experts (i.e., spinal deformity surgeons, neurosurgeons, neuro-electrophysiologists, cardiologists, and otolaryngologists). Initial postulates were based on literature review and results from a prior survey. Postulates addressed the following IPDs: vagal nerve stimulators (VNS), programmable ventriculo-peritoneal shunts (VPS), intrathecal baclofen pumps (ITBP), cardiac pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD), deep brain stimulators (DBS), and cochlear implants. Cardiologist and otolaryngologists participants responded only to postulates on cardiac pacemakers or cochlear implants, respectively. Consensus was defined as ≥80% agreement, items that did not reach consensus were revised and included in subsequent rounds. A total of three survey rounds and one virtual meeting were conducted. RESULTS: Consensus was reached on 39 total postulates across six IPD types. Postulates addressed general spine surgery considerations, use of intraoperative monitoring and cautery, use of magnetically-controlled growing rods (MCGRs), and use of an external remote controller to lengthen MCGRs. Across IPD types, consensus for the final postulates ranged from 94.4-100%. Overall, experts agreed that MCGRs can be surgically inserted and lengthened in patients with a variety of IPDs and provided guidance for the use of intraoperative monitoring and cautery, which varied between IPD types. CONCLUSION: Spinal deformity correction surgery often benefits from the use of intraoperative monitoring, monopolar and bipolar cautery, and MCGRs. Final postulates from this study can inform the peri- and post-operative practices of spinal deformity surgeons who treat patients with both scoliosis and IPDs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V- Expert opinion.

The Oswestry Disability Index is reflective of pain interference and mobility in children.

PURPOSE: The 9-item Oswestry Disability Index version 2.1a (ODI-9) has never been formally validated in children. Our primary purpose was to evaluate the ODI-9 using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pediatric Pain Interference (PI) and Mobility Computer Adapted Test (CAT) and Pain Catastrophizing Scale for Children (PCS-C) as anchors to determine concurrent validity in children. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed cross-sectional patient-reported outcomes data using a convenience sample of children referred to a tertiary pediatric orthopedic institution for any spine condition from April 2021 to April 2022. The ODI-9, PI, and Mobility were completed at clinic intake in 2,097 children (1453 girls, 644 boys) aged 14.2 ± 2.6 years (range 5-18 years) during the same visit. The ODI-9 was administered when children or caregivers responded "yes" to the presence of back pain. The PCS-C was administered only when pain intensity was rated as "very severe" or "the worst imaginable" on Item 1 of the ODI-9 (n = 51). RESULTS: Average ODI-9 scores were 18.3% ± 14.8%, indicating minimal disability (ODI-9 ≤ 20%). Moderate, statistically and clinically significant associations were seen between the ODI-9 and PI (r = 0.68, p < 0.001), the ODI-9 and Mobility (r = - 0.68, p < 0.001), and the ODI-9 and PCS-C (r = 0.59, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Worse ODI-9 scores correlate with worse PROMIS PI scores, worse PROMIS Mobility scores, and worse PCS-C scores. The associations were moderate (PROMIS PI [r = 0.68], PROMIS Mobility [r = - 0.68], PCS-C [r = 0.59]).

Back pain and disability according to early onset scoliosis etiology in children younger than 10 years.

PURPOSE: To determine caregiver-reported back pain prevalence, disability, pain interference, and associations with curve magnitude in early onset scoliosis (EOS) using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information Systems (PROMIS) measures. METHODS: A single-center, retrospective review was performed in children below 10 years of age according to EOS etiology. Caregiver-reported back pain prevalence, ODI, PROMIS Pain Interference, Mobility, and Anxiety measures, and curve magnitude were recorded as part of routine clinic appointments. RESULTS: A total of 1212 patients with EOS (588 idiopathic, 295 congenital, 217 neuromuscular, 112 syndromic) ages 6.6 ± 2.7 were included; 23% had caregiver-reported back pain. Neuromuscular EOS patients had the highest prevalence of back pain (29%). ODI scores were higher in neuromuscular (48%) and syndromic (35%) patients than congenital (20%, p < 0.05) and idiopathic (16%, p < 0.01) patients. Neuromuscular patients also had higher PROMIS Pain Interference scores (53.3) compared to idiopathic (41.6, p < 0.001) and syndromic (45.0, p = 0.016) patients. A higher curve was associated with the presence of back pain (39° vs. 30°, p < 0.001) and had positive correlations with ODI scores (r = 0.38, p < 0.001) and PROMIS Pain Interference scores (r = 0.34, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Approximately one in five children with EOS under the age of 10 have caregiver-reported back pain, with the neuromuscular EOS type exhibiting higher pain prevalence, interference, and disability scores. Larger curve magnitude is associated with an increased prevalence of caregiver-reported back pain, increased disability, and increased pain interference. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 - case-control study.

Elective musculoskeletal surgery is associated with postoperative weight changes in pediatric and adolescent patients.

Purpose: Patients of elective orthopedic surgeries often reduce activity levels during postoperative recovery. It is unclear whether these extended periods of modified activities lead to weight changes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in body mass index percentile in pediatric patients over 2.5 years following primary musculoskeletal surgeries. Methods: Institutional records for utilized current procedural terminology codes were used to identify patients aged 21 years or younger who underwent elective surgery at a single pediatric orthopedic institution between October 2016 and December 2018. Non-primary surgeries and patients without preoperative body mass index measurements were excluded. Demographic characteristics, height, weight, and body mass index within 30 months of surgery were collected. Body mass index relative to age was calculated. Analysis of body mass index changes at follow-up intervals of 3-7, 9-18, and 24-30 months after surgery was performed for the overall sample, within surgical categories, and within preoperative weight classifications. Results: A total of 1566 patients (53.1% female, average age 12.4 years) were included. Over one-third of patients were overweight or obese at presentation. The average change in body mass index percentile relative to baseline was increased at all follow-up intervals. Values reached significance at 9-18 months (p = .002) and 24-30 months (p = .001). While underweight and normal-weight patients had increased body mass index at all three timepoints, overweight or obese patients decreased. Conclusions: Patients undergoing elective orthopedic procedures may experience significant changes in body mass index percentile postoperatively. At extremes of weight, patients experience improvement toward the mean, but most patients may undergo body mass index increases beyond what would be expected during normal growth. Level of evidence: Retrospective level III.

Do Children With Medicaid Insurance Have Increased Revision Rates 5 Years After Posterior Spinal Fusions?

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic disparities in musculoskeletal care are increasingly recognized, however, no studies to date have investigated the role of the insurance carrier on outcomes after posterior spinal fusion (PSF) with segmental spinal instrumentation for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). METHODS: A US insurance dataset was queried using the PearlDiver Mariner software for all patients aged 10 to 18 undergoing PSF for a primary diagnosis of AIS between 2010 and 2020. Age, sex, geographic region, number of levels fused, and baseline medical comorbidities were queried. Complications occurring within 90 days of the index surgery were queried using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) and International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes. Revision surgery was also queried up to 5 years after the index PSF. Categorical variables were compared using the Fisher χ 2 tests and continuous variables were compared using independent t tests. All-cause revision within 5 years was compared using the Kaplan-Meier analysis and a log-rank test. Significance was set at P -value <0.05. RESULTS: A total of 10,794 patients were identified with 9006 (83.4%) patients with private insurance and 1788 (16.6%) patients insured by Medicaid. The mean follow-up in the database was 5.36±3 years for patients with private insurance and 4.78±2.9 years for patients with Medicaid insurance ( P <0.001). Children with AIS and Medicaid insurance had a significantly higher prevalence of asthma, hypertension, and obesity. A larger percentage of children with Medicaid insurance (41.3%) underwent a ≥13-level PSF compared with privately insured children (34.5%) ( P <0.001). Medicaid patients did not experience higher odds of postoperative complications; in addition, revision surgeries occurred in 1.1% and 1.8% of patients with private insurance and Medicaid insurance, respectively at 5 years postoperatively ( P =0.223). CONCLUSION: Despite worse baseline comorbidities and longer fusion constructs, AIS patients insured with Medicaid did not have higher rates of complications or revisions at 5-year follow-up versus privately insured patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-retrospective cohort study.

Angelman and Prader-Willi Syndromes: Sister Imprinting Disorders With High Complication Rates Following Spinal Deformity Surgery.

We sought to examine the modern surgical treatment of spinal deformity associated with sister imprinting disorders, Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and Angelman syndrome (AS), with emphasis on the specific complications encountered in these patient populations. Fifteen patients with PWS and 5 patients with AS who underwent surgical intervention for spinal deformity between 2000 and 2018 were identified. Postoperative complications were classified using the modified Clavien-Dindo-Sink (CDS) system and further categorized into specific subtypes including excessive drainage, dehiscence, implant failure, infection, and delayed wound healing. Perioperative and final follow-up radiographic data were analyzed. Mean age at surgery was 12.9 years (range, 4-21 years) with mean follow-up of 46.1 months (range, 1-145 months). There were postoperative complications in 17 patients (85%). Ten major complications (CDS ≥ 3) occurred in 9 patients (45%). These included 5 infections requiring reoperation, 1 seroma requiring drainage, 2 severe cervical-thoracic deformities requiring reoperation, 1 implant failure requiring reoperation, and 1 death secondary to fungal sepsis and thromboembolic disease. Eight additional patients (40%) had minor complications (CDS 1 or 2). Eight intraoperative complications occurred in 5 patients (25%), including loss of neuromonitoring signals and cerebrospinal fluid leaks. Surgical intervention for scoliosis in PWS and AS continues to have high complication rates secondary to medical and behavioral comorbidities found in these patient populations. The exact etiology of the high complication rates encountered cannot be definitively stated, but both syndromes frequently present with a number of unique features that may predispose patients to develop surgical complications. [Orthopedics. 2023;46(4):e223-e229.].

The evolving stall rate of magnetically controlled growing rods beyond 2 years follow-up.

PURPOSE: Magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR) have become the dominant distraction-based implant for the treatment of early onset scoliosis (EOS). Recent studies, however, have demonstrated rising rates of implant failure beyond short-term follow-up. We sought to evaluate a single-center experience with MCGR for the treatment of EOS to define the rate of MCGR failure to lengthen, termed implant stall, over time. METHODS: A single-center, retrospective review was conducted identifying children with EOS undergoing primary MCGR implantation. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of implant stalling, defined as a failure of the MCGR to lengthen on three consecutive attempted lengthening sessions with minimum of 2 years follow-up. Clinical and radiographic variables were collected and compared between lengthening and stalled MCGRs. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was conducted to assess implant stalling over time. RESULTS: A total of 48 children met inclusion criteria (mean age 6.3 ± 1.8 years, 64.6% female). After a mean 56.9 months (range of 27 to 90 months) follow-up, 25 (48%) of children experienced implant stalling at a mean of 26.0 ± 14.1 months post-implantation. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that only 50% of MCGR continue to successfully lengthen at 2 years post-implantation, decreasing to < 20% at 4 years post-implantation. CONCLUSION: Only 50% of MCGR continue to successfully lengthen 2 years post-implantation, dropping dramatically to < 20% at 4 years, adding to the available knowledge regarding the long-term viability and cost-effectiveness of MCGR in the management of EOS. Further research is needed to validate these findings.

Pain Catastrophizing Influences Preoperative and Postoperative Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) often report chronic back pain; however, there is inadequate research on psychological factors associated with pain in this patient population. Pain catastrophizing, a psychological factor that describes a pattern of negative thoughts and feelings about pain, has been associated with poorer responses to medical treatment for pain. The purpose of this study was to report the prevalence of pain catastrophizing in the AIS population and assess its relationship with preoperative and postoperative self-reported outcomes. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study of consecutive patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion (PSF) for AIS, patients experiencing clinically relevant pain catastrophizing, defined as a Pain Catastrophizing Scale for Children (PCS) score in the 75th percentile or higher, were compared with patients with normal PCS scores. Preoperative and 2-year postoperative Scoliosis Research Society Society Questionnaire-30 (SRS-30) scores were correlated with the preoperative PCS score. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-nine patients underwent PSF for AIS, and 20 (10.6%) were considered to be experiencing pain catastrophizing. Despite comparable demographic and radiographic variables, pain catastrophizing was associated with significantly lower preoperative scores than were found in the normal-PCS group in all SRS-30 domains, including pain (2.98 versus 3.95; p < 0.001), appearance (2.98 versus 3.48; p < 0.001), activity (3.51 versus 4.06; p < 0.001), mental health (3.12 versus 4.01; p < 0.001), and total score (3.18 versus 3.84; p < 0.001), except satisfaction (3.72 versus 3.69; p > 0.999). At 2 years, the pain catastrophizing group experienced significant improvement from their preoperative scores in most SRS-30 domains, including a large clinically relevant improvement in pain (from 2.98 preoperatively to 3.84 postoperatively; p < 0.001) and the total score (from 3.18 to 3.85; p < 0.001), but continued to have lower scores than the normal-PCS group for pain (3.84 versus 4.22; p = 0.028) and the total score (3.85 versus 4.15; p = 0.038). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that an SRS-30 pain score of <3.5 has good sensitivity for predicting pain catastrophizing (PCS ≥75th percentile). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, patients with AIS who exhibited pain catastrophizing experienced significant improvement in self-reported health 2 years after PSF. However, they did not have the same levels of self-reported health as the normal-PCS group. Pain catastrophizing may be identifiable by lower preoperative SRS-30 pain scores. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level II . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Concurrent Syndromic Diagnosis in Presumed Idiopathic Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip.

BACKGROUND: Infants referred for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) may have a previously unidentified concomitant diagnosis of syndromic pathology. Our purpose was to examine the incidence of syndromic pathology in infants referred to a tertiary center with presumed idiopathic DDH and identify risk factors and difference in treatment courses between idiopathic and nonidiopathic cohorts. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort of infants younger than 3 years who were evaluated for DDH between 2008 and 2013 with a minimum 2-year follow-up. The clinical history and treatment were noted to determine the incidence and nature of concomitant syndromic diagnoses, after a confirmed diagnosis of DDH. RESULTS: There were 202 patients: 177 were females (87.6%). Thirteen patients (6.4%) were later diagnosed with a neurologic/syndromic diagnosis. The workup leading to additional diagnosis was initiated by the orthopaedic surgeon in 8 of 13 patients (61.5%). Half of the referrals (4 of 8) made to other specialists were because of an abnormal treatment course (three-failure of typical DDH treatment and one-relapsed clubfeet). 7 of the 8 referrals were made because of developmental delays and decreased tone. 5 of the 13 nonidiopathic patients had other orthopaedic problems. The syndromic diagnoses included three cerebral palsy, two Kabuki syndrome, one Down syndrome, one myopathy, and one neuropathy. The diagnosis was made at an average of 2.3 years (0.04 to 4.7). No notable difference was observed in the incidence of the four known risk factors for DDH in syndromic patients compared with the idiopathic group. The syndromic patients required more open reductions (P = 0.002). DISCUSSION: By the age of 3 years, 6% of the patients treated for DDH were found to have a syndrome or neurologic abnormality, and the referral for workup was made by the treating surgeon greater than 60% of the time.

When Will You Succeed Casting Patients With Early-onset Scoliosis? Prospective Evaluation of Predictive Radiographic Parameters.

BACKGROUND: In a recent retrospective study, in cast correction of the major curve correlated with final curve size in patients with early-onset scoliosis treated with casting. We therefore sought to perform a prospective study with controlled methodology to determine if there are parameters associated with reduction of coronal deformity. METHODS: A prospective, observational study was conducted between 2014 and 2019 at selected sites willing to comply with a standard radiographic and follow-up protocol. Radiographic data was collected at time points of precast, in traction, initial in-cast, and at minimum 1 year follow-up. Multivariate linear regression models were utilized to control for potential confounders using a stepwise procedure. Twenty-nine patients met inclusion criteria. RESULTS: On multivariate analysis, traction major curve (P=0.043) and initial in-cast (P=0.011) major curve Cobb angles were independently associated with final out of cast major curve Cobb angle. The only factor that was independently associated with failure to cure (<15-degree major curve) was traction major curve Cobb angle (P=0.046). A threshold traction major curve Cobb angle of 20 degrees was found to have good accuracy with 81% sensitivity and 73% specificity (receiver operator curve area: 0.869, P<0.001). A traction major curve Cobb angle over 20 degrees would accurately predict failure of casting treatment to cure scoliosis in 79% of cases. A threshold in-cast major curve Cobb angle of 21 degrees was found to have slightly less accuracy than traction with 69% sensitivity, 82% specificity, and 74% accuracy (receiver operator curve area: 0.830, P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Radiographic measurements in traction and initially in the cast are predictive of curve size at follow-up for children with early-onset scoliosis treated with casting. The standardization and utility of traction films should be further explored. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

Coaching and Surgical Performance.

Surgical coaching is a form of mentoring that can improve surgical performance. While professional athletes have coaching their entire career, other professions, such as medicine, law, and education, are expected to manage their own improvement in performance over their careers. Methods of surgical coaching and the pros and cons of coaching to improve surgical performance and improve patient safety will be presented.

Outcomes and Cost of Reduction of Overriding Pediatric Distal Radius Fractures.

BACKGROUND: This study compared radiographic outcomes of pediatric patients undergoing closed reduction of 100% displaced distal radius fractures to a historical, published cohort treated with casting alone. We also examined the expense associated with sedated reduction. METHODS: Single-center, retrospective cohort study examining radiographic outcomes following reduction of 100% translated distal radius fractures in 50 consecutive pediatric patients. Radiographic outcomes were compared with a historical cohort published by Crawford and colleagues. Charges associated with emergency department (ED) and clinic visits were compared between the reduction cohort and a comparison cohort of 13 patients with fractures not requiring reduction. RESULTS: Forty-nine children (mean age 4.7 y) were included in this study. Duration of casting averaged 51 days and ED visit duration was 6.6±2.5 hours. Mean sagittal and coronal angulation at time of injury were 16.4 and 15.6 degrees, respectively, and were 13.2 and 9.4 degrees at the time of final follow-up. All fractures achieved radiographic union. Eighteen patients underwent a total of 21 unexpected cast changes. No patients required repeat sedation or surgical management.Angulation after casting was significantly better in the reduction cohort compared with the casting-only cohort initially, however, at final follow-up, both coronal and sagittal angulation were significantly worse in the reduction cohort compared with the casting-only cohort (coronal angulation 8.59 vs. 0.75, P<0.0001; sagittal angulation 13.49 vs. 2.2, P<0.0001).Charge analysis compared 46 patients in the reduction cohort to 13 patients with unreduced fractures from the same institution during the same time period. Mean clinic charges were similar ($1957 vs. $2240, P=0.3008). ED charges were higher in the reduction cohort compared with the nonreduction cohort ($7331 vs. $3501, P<0.001), resulting in higher total charges in the reduction cohort ($9245.04 vs. $5740.99, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: While closed reduction of 100% translated distal radius fractures in the pediatric population improves angulation initially, casting alone may provide similar or better radiographic outcomes, expedited care, reduced patient exposure to the risks of procedural sedation, and avoidance of ED charges associated with procedural sedation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-therapeutic.

Low BMI (< 10th percentile) increases complications and readmissions after posterior spinal fusion in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

PURPOSE: While obesity has been shown to predict negative outcomes following PSF in AIS patients, less is known about the effects of low BMI. We sought to elucidate the impact of low BMI on 30-day outcomes in this population. METHODS: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients undergoing PSF were identified using the 2015-17 ACS-NSQIP-Pediatric database. Patients were placed in underweight (UW, < 10th percentile) and normal weight (NW 10-90th percentile) cohorts based off CDC BMI-to-age growth charts. Demographics, comorbidities, intra-, and postoperative factors were compared via univariate analysis with Benjamini-Hochberg adjustment. Multivariable logistic regression models were generated to assess UW status as a predictor of complications. RESULTS: Two thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine AIS patients undergoing PSF (NW = 2517, UW = 282) were identified. UW patients were older (15.6 vs. 14.7 years), less female dominant (62.4% vs. 79.5%), and had more pulmonary (2.5% vs. 0.4%) and minor cardiac comorbidities (6% vs. 1.7%) compared to NW patients (p < 0.001). UW patients had a greater percentage blood loss (6.7% vs. 5.3% of total blood volume, p < 0.001) and higher complication (3.9% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.008), pneumonia (1.4% vs. 0.1%, p = 0.006), and readmission (3.5% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.001) rates compared to NW patients. UW status was a predictor of ≥ 15% blood volume loss (adjusted OR = 2.65; 95% CI = 1.76-3.97; p < 0.001), pneumonia (aOR = 6.57; 95% CI = 1.80-24.00; p = 0.004), and hospital readmission (aOR = 2.47; 95% CI = 1.02-6.01; p = 0.046). CONCLUSION: There is a higher occurrence of complications in UW AIS patients undergoing PSF. Low BMI is an independent predictor of ≥ 15% blood loss, pneumonia, and readmissions. Like their overweight counterparts, underweight AIS patients have an increased postoperative risk for negative complications.

Growth-friendly surgery results in more growth but a higher complication rate and unplanned returns to the operating room compared to single fusion in neuromuscular early-onset scoliosis: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: Compare radiographic outcomes, complications, and QoL in neuromuscular early-onset scoliosis (EOS) patients treated with single posterior spinal fusion (PSF) versus growth-friendly surgery and definitive fusion (GFDF). METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study, children with neuromuscular EOS, age 8-11 years at index surgery with PSF or GF devices, with minimum 2-year follow-up after final fusion were identified from a multicenter database. RESULTS: 16 PSF and 43 GFDF patients were analyzed. Demographics were similar except PSF patients were older at index surgery and had shorter follow-up. PSF patients had greater percentage major curve correction (62% vs 38%, p = 0.001) and smaller major curve at final follow-up (23° vs 40°, p = 0.005). The GFDF group underwent over five times more surgeries (8.7 vs 1.6, p = 0.0001). Four PSF patients (25%) experienced ten complications, resulting in five unplanned returns to the operating room (UPROR) in three patients (19%). 36 GFDF patients (84%) experienced 83 complications, resulting in 45 UPRORs in 24 patients (56%). Poisson regression adjusted for age showed that the GFDF group had more complications (p = 0.001) and UPRORs (p = 0.01). Although the GFDF patients had smaller preoperative T1-T12 and T1-S1 lengths, these were similar to the PSF patients at final follow-up, indicating that the GFDF patients had greater spinal growth. PSF patients had better postoperative EOSQ-24 Financial Impact and Family Burden scores. CONCLUSION: While there was a difference in age at index surgery, PSF may be more effective than GFDF at controlling neuromuscular EOS. GFDF patients achieved more spinal growth but eight times more complications and nine times more UPRORs.

Effect of Etiology, Radiographic Severity, and Comorbidities on Baseline Parent-Reported Health Measures for Children with Early-Onset Scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: The Classification of Early-Onset Scoliosis (C-EOS) allows providers to differentiate patients, for clinical and research purposes, on the basis of the etiology of their disease as well as radiographic parameters. The Early Onset Scoliosis Questionnaire (EOSQ) is the first disease-specific, parent-reported HRQOL (health-related quality-of-life) outcome measure for this condition. We sought to determine the influence of the C-EOS etiology designation, radiographic parameters, and medical comorbidities on EOSQ scores to differentiate quality of life in this heterogeneous patient population. We hypothesized that baseline EOSQ scores for patients with EOS would be strongly affected by the C-EOS etiology designation. METHODS: The analysis included prospectively enrolled patients with EOSQ scores recorded in a multicenter EOS database prior to intervention for the EOS. EOSQ scores were compared across C-EOS etiologies, severity of disease based on radiographic measurements, and patient comorbidities prior to scoliosis intervention. RESULTS: Six hundred and ten patients with EOS were available for analysis; 119 had congenital, 201 had idiopathic, 156 had neuromuscular, and 134 had syndromic EOS. In multivariate analysis, neuromuscular and syndromic etiologies were associated with lower scores than congenital and idiopathic etiologies in many EOSQ domains including general health, transfer, daily living, fatigue/energy level, and emotion. Patients with neuromuscular EOS had the lowest EOSQ scores in general. Congenital and idiopathic EOS did not differ from each other in any EOSQ domain. Coronal Cobb and kyphosis angles had significant inverse but generally weak correlations with EOSQ domains. Individual medical comorbidities had a minor effect on certain domains while American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class and total number of comorbidities had inverse correlations with most domains. CONCLUSIONS: The underlying etiology of EOS appears to have a significant influence on the parent-reported HRQOL outcomes of the disease. Specifically, syndromic and neuromuscular C-EOS diagnoses are associated with lower EOSQ scores before treatment compared with congenital and idiopathic diagnoses. Radiographic measurements of severity have a relatively small influence on EOSQ scores. These baseline differences in C-EOS-designated etiology should be accounted for in studies comparing outcomes of treatment for this heterogeneous patient population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Staged Management of Cervicothoracic Lordosis and Scoliosis in an Emery-Dreifuss VI Muscular Dystrophy Patient: A Case Report.

CASE: We report the case of an 18-year-old man with extreme cervicothoracic lordosis and a progressive scoliosis secondary to Emery-Dreifuss Type VI muscular dystrophy. In a staged fashion, the patient underwent posterior cervical muscle release, halo-gravity traction, and posterior instrumented spinal fusion from C3-L4 with multiple posterior column osteotomies. The patient was followed over 2 years postoperatively with restoration of normal spinal alignment in both the coronal and sagittal profiles. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported case illustrating the gradual correction of severe lordoscoliosis in this patient population.

Defining the volume of consultations for musculoskeletal infection encountered by pediatric orthopaedic services in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: Adequate resources are required to rapidly diagnose and treat pediatric musculoskeletal infection (MSKI). The workload MSKI consults contribute to pediatric orthopaedic services is unknown as prior epidemiologic studies are variable and negative work-ups are not included in national discharge databases. The hypothesis was tested that MSKI consults constitute a substantial volume of total consultations for pediatric orthopaedic services across the United States. STUDY DESIGN: Eighteen institutions from the Children's ORthopaedic Trauma and Infection Consortium for Evidence-based Study (CORTICES) group retrospectively reviewed a minimum of 1 year of hospital data, reporting the total number of surgeons, total consultations, and MSKI-related consultations. Consultations were classified by the location of consultation (emergency department or inpatient). Culture positivity rate and pathogens were also reported. RESULTS: 87,449 total orthopaedic consultations and 7,814 MSKI-related consultations performed by 229 pediatric orthopaedic surgeons were reviewed. There was an average of 13 orthopaedic surgeons per site each performing an average of 154 consultations per year. On average, 9% of consultations were MSKI related and 37% of these consults yielded positive cultures. Finally, a weak inverse monotonic relationship was noted between percent culture positivity and percent of total orthopedic consults for MSKI. CONCLUSION: At large, academic pediatric tertiary care centers, pediatric orthopaedic services consult on an average of ~3,000 'rule-out' MSKI cases annually. These patients account for nearly 1 in 10 orthopaedic consultations, of which 1 in 3 are culture positive. Considering that 2 in 3 consultations were culture negative, estimating resources required for pediatric orthopaedic consult services to work up and treat children based on culture positive administrative discharge data underestimates clinical need. Finally, ascertainment bias must be considered when comparing differences in culture rates from different institution's pediatric orthopaedics services, given the variability in when orthopaedic physicians become involved in a MSKI workup.

The Song Classification Is Reliable and Guides Prognosis and Treatment for Pediatric Lateral Condyle Fractures: An Independent Validation Study With Treatment Algorithm.

BACKGROUND: Lateral condyle fractures account for 15% to 20% of pediatric elbow fractures. Among numerous proposed classification systems, the Song classification appears the most comprehensive. The utility of any classification system relies on its ability to be descriptive, reproducible, and to guide prognosis/treatment. We assessed the Song classification by applying it to 736 retrospectively treated patients. METHODS: A total of 736 pediatric patients with lateral condyle fractures were identified between 2007 and 2014. In total, 60 patients were selected for a radiographic interclass and intraclass correlation study. Radiographs of the patients were reviewed by 6 observers, who independently measured radiographs for displacement on radiographs and assigned a Song classification. Treatment and outcomes were then reviewed on all 736 patients and evaluated as a successful outcome when achieving a healed fracture at discharge without significant complication or necessitating a change from initial treatment modality. RESULTS: Weighted κ values for intrarater and interrater reliability to assign Song classification indicated excellent agreement. Intraclass correlation coefficients of 6 observers measuring displacement on radiographs in millimeters indicated good to excellent agreement. In total, 106 Song 1 fracture were primarily treated by casting alone and only 5.5% required conversion to operative intervention. Overall, 139 Song 2 fractures were treated by closed treatment (n=114, 82% successful nonoperatively, 16% converted to operative management) or surgical means (n=25, 100% success) without treatment superiority (P>0.999) and both modalities had high success rates. Song 3 fractures (n=17) demonstrated a failure rate of 80% with casting (n=10) and were better managed by closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (n=7, 100% success, P=0.002). Song 4 (n=325) fractures had low success rate (34%) with casting (n=35), but achieved higher success rates (P<0.001) when managed with either closed (n=57) or open reduction (n=233) and pin fixation (89.5% and 92.7% success, respectively, P=0.401). Song 5 fractures (n=149) generally required an open reduction in our series with good success rates (91.2%). CONCLUSION: This study validates the Song classification with high interobserver and intraobserver reliability. The Song classification improves on existing classification systems by better distinguishing fractures at risk for failure of nonoperative treatment and guiding treatment outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Pathologic arterial changes in neurovascularly intact Gartland III supracondylar humerus fractures: a pilot study.

This pilot study was performed to describe changes in arterial flow in completely displaced neurovascularly intact Gartland III pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures using Duplex ultrasonography. This is a prospective study of 11 Gartland type III supracondylar humerus fractures with no cortical continuity but with palpable radial pulse and normal neurologic examination. Duplex ultrasonography was performed on injured and uninjured arms, both preoperatively and postpinning, and interpreted by a board-certified pediatric radiologist. Degree of artery stenosis and peak systolic velocity (PSV) of arterial flow were recorded from the duplex. Ultrasound wrist/brachial indexes (WBI) were calculated using the higher value of the radial/brachial or the ulnar/brachial index. Only three patients had normal Duplexes without stenosis and with flow comparable in the brachial, radial, and ulnar arteries of the affected arm, compared to the unaffected arm, both preoperatively and postpinning. One group of six patients had brachial artery stenosis at the fracture site when compared to the artery proximal to the fracture site, increased PSV at the fracture site compared to proximal to the fracture site, and the WBI was variable when compared to the contralateral side. A third group of two patients also had brachial artery stenosis at the fracture site but had decreased PSV and decreased WBI compared to the contralateral side. Type III supracondylar humerus patients with a normal neurovascular examination may have abnormal Duplex ultrasonography with brachial artery stenosis and elevated peak systolic velocity preoperatively although distal flow remains comparable to the contralateral side. Level of evidence: prognostic - Level II.