Pedicle Screw Fixation with Percutaneous Vertebroplasty for Traumatic Thoracolumbar Vertebral Compression Fracture.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) combined with percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for the treatment of the thoracolumbar vertebral compression fracture (VCF) without neurologic deficits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational study. Between January 2015 and December 2018, 62 patients who had suffered from traumatic thoracolumbar (VCF) burst fractures without neurologic deficits were included in this study. The patients were divided into two groups as follows: patients who underwent PPSF combined with PVP (PPSF-PVP Group; n = 24) and patients who underwent only PPSF (PPSF Group; n = 38). The patients were (PPSF and PPSF-PVP Group) followed up for more than 9 months. The kyphotic angle, compression ratio, and visual analog scale (VAS) score for back pain were analyzed and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The patients were followed up for an average of 9.1 months. Hospital stay significantly decreased in PPSF-PVP Group (P < 0.001). The median VAS score significantly decreased after the surgery in both the groups (P < 0.005), and mean VAS scores in PPSF-PVP Group were significantly lower than those in PPSF Group. No significant (P > 0.005) changes in local kyphosis and the vertebral body height gains obtained at the end of the follow-up period in PPSF-PVP Group. However, local kyphosis increased significantly (P < 0.005) and the central and anterior vertebral body height decreased significantly (P < 0.005) when compared with the PPSF-PVP Group. CONCLUSION: PPSF combined with PVP procedure is a good choice for the treatment of traumatic thoracolumbar VCF; however, due to the lack of long-term follow-up data, concern still exists regarding the effects of pedicle screw procedure after PVP.

Prevalence of developmental dysplasia of the hip in preterm infants with maternal risk factors.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in preterm infants with maternal risk factors. METHODS: A prospective review of the medical records and ultrasound (US) scans of all preterm infants at one tertiary-care children's hospital was completed to identify all premature infants without any infantile risk factors at a particular time frame. We consecutively evaluated 421 babies (842 hips) who satisfied the criteria for inclusion. Hip US images were classified according to Graf. RESULTS: Overall, one hip was diagnosed as DDH (Graf type 2c). Female infants had significantly lower alpha angles (70.2 ± 6.6 and 71.4 ± 4.4 for females and males, respectively) (P = 0.033). There was no correlation between oligohydramnios and alpha and beta angles and hip sides (P = 0.345 and P = 0.789 for left and right hips, respectively). US examination of the infants revealed no differences between the alpha and beta angles of the hips and birth weight and age at gestation. Although it was statistically not significant, US evaluation of left hips among singletons demonstrated one immature hip (P = 0.864) and that of right hips demonstrated one immature hip for both singletons and twins (P = 0.904). CONCLUSIONS: Prematurity with or without maternal risk factors does not have an effect on DDH.