[Temporary Hemiepiphysiodesis in the Correction of Axial Deformities for Genua Valga: Retrospective Assessment and Comparison of Outcomes Achieved with the Use of Eight-Figure Plates and Blount Staples]. / Temporární hemiepifyzeodéza pri korekci osových deformit pro genua valga: retrospektivní zhodnocení a srovnání výsledku pri pouzití osmickových dlah a Blountových skob.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Axial deformities of the lower limbs of various aetiologies are relatively common orthopaedic diagnoses in paediatric population. Fixed deformity is an indication for correction in order to reduce the pain and to delay the early osteoarthrosis of adjacent joints and pain. Temporary hemiepiphysiodesis is technically a fairly simple method for modulating growth at the level of the growth plate and thus correcting the skeletal axis. MATERIAL AND METHODS 59 patients who underwent axial deformity correction of lower limbs at KDCHOT FN Brno were retrospectively analysed. Group 1 consisted of 21 patients with Blount staples implantation, Group 2 consisted of 38 patients to whom eight-figure plates had been applied. Anthropometric parameters (BMI, age, gender, intermalleolar distance (IMD)), duration of therapy, X-ray parameters (anatomical lateral distal femoral angle (aLDFA), anatomical medial proximal tibial angle (aMPTA)) and complications were recorded. The rate of correction was evaluated as the difference in X-ray parameters before and after surgery with respect to the time interval of the therapy. RESULTS The groups were comparable in terms of anthropometric parameters (BMI (p=0.800), IMD (p=0.334), gender (p=0.87)). The only statistically significant difference was found when comparing the mean age of the groups (p=0.005), with Group 1 (12.7±0.7) containing patients with a higher mean age than Group 2 (11.6±1.5). The groups were also comparable in terms of the average rate of correction over a one-month interval (aLDFA p=0.393; aMPTA p=0.831). The mean correction rate for Group 1 was: aLDFA 0.52±0.20/month, aMPTA 0.12±0.08/month; for Group 2: aLDFA 0.56±0.28/month, aMPTA 0.12±0.20/month. Individual implants differed in the type of complications, but no significant statistical difference in the incidence of complications was found between the analysed groups (p=0.526). DISCUSSION Recently, the system of eight-figure plates has been adopted as a standard method for correction of axial deformities of limbs. Although the benefits of this system are indisputable, when comparing the average monthly correction rate, no significant difference was found between the system of eight-figure plates and Blount staples in our study. Another monitored parameter was the occurrence of complications, which was evaluated fairly strictly. Even in this case, no statistically significant difference was found. We believe that the issue of using eight-figure plates is still open, as evidenced by studies, which often produce different results and conclusions. Therefore, a precise evaluation of the indication for correction, including individual characteristics of patients, is needed. CONCLUSIONS Based on the results, it can be concluded that the use of eight-figure plates in comparison with Blount staples provides neither faster correction of axial deformities nor lesser occurrence of complications. It can therefore be argued that the Blount staples still have their place in the indication of correction of axial deformities. The use of eight-figure plates represents a suitable solution for children of younger age to whom anchoring of the screws of eight-figure plates is a suitable solution in the cartilaginous epiphysis of long bones of younger children. Key words: temporary hemiepiphysiodesis, growth plate, Blount staples, eight-figure plates.

[Comparison of Two Minimally Invasive Osteosynthesis Techniques for Radial Head Fractures in Paediatric Patients]. / Porovnání dvou metod miniinvazivní osteosyntézy u zlomenin hlavicky vretenní kosti u detí.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Radial head fractures in paediatric patients account for 5-19% of all elbow injuries and approximately 1% of all fractures in children. Non-displaced fractures are treated with plaster cast fixation. If the fracture is displaced, we proceed to closed reduction, or to osteosynthesis in case of unstable fragments. If closed reduction fails, we opt for open reduction and osteosynthesis. The prospective randomised clinical study aims to compare the two methods of minimally invasive osteosynthesis using the pre-bent Kirschner wire or Prévot nail and to identify differences between them. MATERIAL AND METHODS The prospective randomised clinical study was conducted in 2015-2019. The final cohort included 32 patients who met the inclusion criteria. The patients in whom other osteosynthesis implants had been used or in whom open reduction had to be performed were excluded from the study. Also excluded were the patients with serious concomitant injuries of elbow. For patients included in the cohort, demographic data, precise evaluation of the displacement and location of the fracture as well as the duration of plaster cast fixation and osteosynthesis implants used were recorded. In the clinical part, the methods were compared based on the achievement of full range of motion in dependence on the degree of original displacement, use of osteosynthesis implant, and occurrence of early and delayed complications. Clinical and radiological outcomes were compared. In both types of minimally invasive osteosynthesis, Métaizeau surgical technique was used. RESULTS Based on the clinical trial criteria, 26 (81%) excellent, 4 (13%) good and 2 (6%) acceptable outcomes were achieved. In 3 cases the loss of rotation was up to 20°, in 1 case the loss of flexion was up to 10°. In one patient the loss of flexion was 15° and rotation up to 30°. In another patient the loss of rotation was up to 40°. The radiological assessment showed 14 (44%) excellent outcomes, 15 good (47%) and 3 (9%) acceptable outcomes. The statistical analysis of both the groups of the cohort using non-parametric tests revealed no statistically significant differences in individual demographic parameters. The comparisons of both types of osteosynthesis in dependence on the degree of displacement by non-parametric Fisher's exact test showed no statistically significant difference in the radiologic or clinical results. The only statistically significant difference was observed in the duration of metal implant placement. DISCUSSION Comparable studies report excellent or good clinical outcomes in 80-95% of cases (1,13,16). In our cohort, excellent or good clinical outcomes were achieved in 30 patients (94%). In two patients, in whom Prévot nail was used, the outcomes were acceptable. Nonetheless, this fact did not result in any statistical significance when comparing the two methods separately or in comparisons based on the degree of displacement. CONCLUSIONS The comparison of the two methods of minimally invasive osteosynthesis revealed no statistically significant difference, namely not even when both the methods were compared based on the degree of displacement. When Kirschner wire is used, the possibility to remove the metal implant in the outpatient setting is considered to be an advantage. The drawback consists in potential penetration of the sharp Kirschner wire in the radiocapitellar joint, which we did not encounter when the second technique of osteosynthesis was used. The advantage of Prévot nail includes a lower risk of pin-tract infection. Key words: minimally invasive osteosynthesis, radial head, fracture, child.

Retrospective analysis of necrotizing pneumonia in children between 2015-2019.

INTRODUCTION: An increased incidence rate of cases of complicated pneumonia, reaching up to the stage of necrotizing pneumonia was observed at University Hospital Brno in the past period. The aim of this study was to perform a single-center retrospective analysis of patients with acquired inflammatory lung disease requiring surgical treatment, comprising a long-term follow-up group. METHODS: Patients hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia and surgically treated in the years 2015-2019 were analyzed. The rates of necessary chest drainages, decortications and lung resections in relation to the whole group and individual years were monitored. Clinical and X-ray examinations were performed one year after hospitalization and the prognosis was determined for individual types of required treatments. The age, gender and etiological agents were also monitored. RESULTS: A total of 688 patients were included in the study with the incidence rising until 2018 and decreasing slightly in 2019. A statistically significantly higher number of community-acquired pneumonias and complications was recorded between 2017 and 2018 (p.

[Comparison of Two Methods of Minimally Invasive Osteosynthesis for Proximal Radius Fractures in Paediatric Patients]. / Porovnání dvou metod miniinvazivní osteosyntézy u zlomeniny proximálního konce vretenní kosti v detském veku.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The presented study was construed as a retrospective multicentric clinical study focused on paediatric skeletal injuries of the proximal radius. As a general rule, the Type I displaced fractures (Judet classification) are treated conservatively, with no reduction. In the case of Type II-IV displacement, the fracture necessitates reduction or is also transfixed by a Kirschner wire (K-wire) or a Prevot nail (P-nail) where subsequent fragment instability occurs. The comparison aimed to ascertain whether there is a statistically significant difference between the two methods. No difference was expected by the authors, therefore a null hypothesis was set. MATERIAL AND METHODS The patients were treated at the Clinic of Paediatric Surgery, Orthopaedics and Traumatology (CPSOT) of the Faculty of Medicine of the Masaryk University and at the Clinic of Orthopaedics and Traumatology of the Musculoskeletal System of the University Hospital in Pilsen in the period from 2006 to 2015. Two methods of closed reduction and minimally- invasive osteosynthesis were evaluated. The first method was the elastic stable intramedullary nailing (ESIN) with a P-nail, the second method was an osteosynthesis using a K-wire. In the clinical part of the study, comparisons were made based on the monitoring of the same parameters - final restriction of movement, time to full weight bearing of the extremity and incidence of serious complications. RESULTS The final group comprised a total of 31 patients, of whom 7 boys and 24 girls aged 3-16 years with the median of 9-10 years. Some restriction of movement following the treatment occurred in a total of seven patients (44%) with the K-wire and in four patients (27%) with the P-nail. When comparing the movement at 5% level of significance using the Chi-Square tests, no significant difference was found (p = 0.446). When evaluating the serious complications at 5% level of significance using the Chi-Square tests, the difference between the two methods of treatment was again insignificant (p = 0.365). When the full weight bearing was compared (median K-wire 8 weeks, median P-nail 10 weeks), a statistically significant difference was obtained at 5% level of significance using the Fischer exact test (p = 0.003). DISCUSSION In these fractures, usually the metaphysis or the physis are involved in the injury, in which case the fractures are classified according to Salter and Harris, with the most frequent occurrence of SHII epiphyseal separation and rare SHIII and SHIV epiphyseal fractures. The radial head fractures are mostly caused by valgus force. Therefore, the individuals with a higher elbow valgosity are more prone to injuries. The girls strongly prevail (77%) also in our study. In general, our results as well as the literature have proven that as the displacement increases, the necessity of closed reduction and osteosynthesis grows. The post-treatment complications in our group were observed in 35.5% of patients, namely most often in the form of limited movement. The literature refers to complications in 26.5-53% of patients. CONCLUSIONS The clinical results clearly show that when comparing the complications after the radial head fracture in children there is no statistically significant difference between the methods of osteosynthesis. This study shall serve as a starting point for the currently ongoing prospective multicentric study evaluating the modified ESIN technique using a pre-bent Kirschner wire. Key words:children, fracture, radius, proximal, osteosynthesis.