Analysis of the cause, classification, and associated injuries of 166 consecutive pediatric pelvic fractures.

SUMMARY: Pediatric pelvic fractures are serious injuries. Anatomical differences exist between pediatric and adult populations, leading to different causes and rates of death, fracture patterns, and associated injuries. This study is the largest consecutive series of pediatric pelvic fractures from one institution emphasizing the unique aspects seen in pediatrics. One hundred sixty-six children were included. Plain radiography and computed tomography scans were used to classify pelvic fractures. Multisystem injuries occurred in 60%, and 50% sustained additional skeletal injuries. The death rate was 3.6%. Head and/or visceral injuries were the causes of all deaths. Life-threatening hemorrhage did not occur. Urethral injury was not seen as often as in adults. Anterior ring fractures were the most common type, dominated by pedestrian versus motor vehicle trauma. Anatomical differences and mechanism of injury may play a role in these contrasting findings.

Determining femoral rotational alignment in total knee arthroplasty: reliability of techniques.

Several anatomic axes routinely are used for determining femoral rotational alignment in total knee arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of these techniques. The transepicondylar axis, anteroposterior axis, and balanced flexion gap tension line were identified relative to the posterior condylar axis in 8 fresh frozen cadaver knees by 3 independent observers. The flexion-extension axis was defined in each knee for comparison. The anteroposterior and balanced tension axes defined most reliably the flexion-extension axis and best balanced the flexion gap with no significant interobserver differences. The transepicondylar axis was less predictable and significantly more externally rotated than the anteroposterior axis (P < .005) and the balanced tension line (P < .00001). Flexion gap tensioning may offer superior reliability because of its independence of obscured or distorted bone landmarks.

Role of computed tomography in the classification and management of pediatric pelvic fractures.

In adults, pelvic computed tomography (CT) scanning plays an important role in the treatment of pelvic fractures; however, the role of CT scanning in the management of pediatric pelvic fractures is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of CT scanning in the management of pelvic fractures in children. One hundred three consecutive patients were identified. All patients underwent anteroposterior plain radiographic evaluation; CT scans were performed in 62. Three orthopaedic surgeons independently reviewed the plain radiographs and determined fracture classification and management. Subsequently, each observer was shown corresponding CT scans and again determined classification and management. Interobserver agreement was calculated using Kappa statistics. After the addition of CT scans, the mean changes in classification were nine (15%) and in management two (3%). Plain radiographs alone reliably predicted the need and type of operative intervention. Kappa statistics demonstrated "excellent" agreement for classification and management without and with CT scans. We reliably determined fracture classification and management based on plain radiographs alone.

Post-traumatic spinal deformity.

There are approximately 50,000 fractures to the bony spinal column each year in the United States. The vast majority of unstable spinal injuries are recognized early and managed appropriately. Rarely, the initial treatment may have been inadequate, or in less obvious injuries, less aggressive immobilization techniques may have been chosen. This along with continued exposure to physiologic stresses may lead to a gradual post-traumatic deformity that may further impede the functional as well as emotional status of these often already compromised patients. The management of post-traumatic deformity can be extremely challenging. A post-traumatic kyphotic deformity may occur in the cervical, thoracic, thoracolumbar, or lumbar spine, and once appropriate imaging studies are obtained, careful surgical considerations must be undertaken. Surgical intervention is considered if the kyphotic deformity is progressive over time or there is new onset or progression of a neurologic deficit. Surgical procedures include either a posterior or anterior only approach or any variation of a combined anterior or posterior procedure. In most cases a posterior only fusion is often insufficient for optimal correction and stabilization. Although the majority of patients developing a post-traumatic deformity usually occur after spinal column trauma initially treated nonoperatively, several miscellaneous causes of post-traumatic deformity may occur after surgery. These include nonunion, implant failure, Charcot spine, and technical error. The overall outcome after the surgical management of post-traumatic deformity has been satisfactory with better outcomes in the patients treated earlier as opposed to later. Operative complications include the increased risk of neurologic injury because of the draping of the neural elements over the anterior vertebral elements, any pre-existing spinal cord injury, and possible scarring with cord tethering. Trauma to the spinal cord and column is a devastating injury that may be fraught with many complications including post-traumatic deformity. Certainly, the best treatment is prevention with close follow-up and early intervention when needed. Once present, the treatment of post-traumatic deformity follows basic biomechanical principles consisting of re-establishing the integrity of the compromised spinal columns so that spinal stability can be restored.

Conversion of indwelling chest port catheters to tunneled central venous catheters.

PURPOSE: To determine the safety and efficacy of the conversion of subcutaneous chest wall infusion ports to tunneled central venous catheters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During a period of 34 months, 67 patients were referred for conversion of indwelling subcutaneous chest wall ports to tunneled central venous catheters as part of a bone marrow transplant protocol. Six patients were deemed unacceptable for conversion and the remaining 61 underwent successful conversion. All patients had functioning surgically placed single-lumen (n = 50) or double-lumen (n = 11) chest ports, which were removed to maintain the original venous access sites for placement of a tunneled central venous catheter, incorporating the chest wall pocket for tunneling, in 46 patients (75%). A new tunnel was created in the other 15 patients. There were no immediate complications and all patients were followed until catheter removal or patient demise with the catheter in place. RESULTS: 57 of 61 (93%) catheters were used without evidence of infection for 23-164 days (mean, 57 d) after placement. Two (3%) were removed (both at 26 days) because of persistent neutropenic fever without physical signs or laboratory evidence of catheter infection, and two (3%) were removed (at 11 and 77 days) because of proven catheter infection, yielding an overall infection rate of 1.2 per 1,000 catheter days. Two catheters required exchange and two required stripping because of decreased function, resulting in an overall catheter-related complication rate of 2.4 per 1,000 catheter days. CONCLUSIONS: Indwelling subcutaneous chest wall infusion ports can be safely converted to tunneled central venous catheters, even in an immunocompromised patient population, with a low risk of complications such as infection.

A solitary osteochondroma of the pediatric thoracic spine: a case report and review of the literature.

The objective of this study design is to describe the diagnosis and successful treatment of a pediatric patient with an osteochondroma of the thoracic spine. An osteochondroma is a bone tumor that rarely occurs in the thoracic spine, especially in the pediatric population. A simple painless mass may be the only presenting symptom. The laboratory findings are usually nonspecific. Radiographs may be nondiagnostic in certain cases, and computed tomography is the imaging modality of choice. The diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of a pediatric patient with an osteochondroma of the thoracic spine, including a possible genetic predisposition, are reviewed, along with a complete review of the literature. Anteroposterior and lateral plain radiographs illustrated a well-defined solid mass arising from the posterior elements of the tenth thoracic vertebrae. A computed tomography (CT) scan further delineated that the mass arose from the spinous process with no obvious impingement of the nerve roots. After excision of the lesion, gross pathological and histologic evaluation was consistent with an osteochondroma. The use of CT allowed accurate diagnosis of the osteochondroma. This led to appropriate surgical intervention, resulting in definitive treatment.

Two primary osteosarcomas in a patient with Rothmund-Thomson syndrome.

Rothmund-Thomson syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by poikilodermatous skin changes that develop in infancy. Associated manifestations include juvenile cataracts, sparse hair, short stature, skeletal defects, dystrophic nails and teeth, and hypogonadism. An increased incidence of malignancy, including osteosarcoma, has been reported in patients with Rothmund-Thomson syndrome. The molecular basis of the disorder is not known. This report describes a patient with Rothmund-Thomson syndrome in whom two primary osteosarcomas developed 12 years apart. The presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of osteosarcoma in this patient with Rothmund-Thomson syndrome are described. Cytogenetic and molecular analysis of peripheral blood and skin fibroblasts had low level mosaicism for trisomy of chromosomes 2 and 8. Although several patients have been described with mosaic trisomy 8 and i(2q) (mosaic isochromosome for the long arm of chromosome 2), the patient described here is the first to have mosaic trisomy for the entire chromosomes 2 and 8. The cytogenetic findings in this patient are consistent with an underlying defect in chromosomal stability.

Insidious destruction of the hip by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and why early diagnosis is critical.

Tuberculosis has re-emerged as an important problem in the United States. More than 10 million people presently are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the United States alone. The symptoms at first presentation of the disease have become more diverse. With extrapulmonary manifestations, such as musculoskeletal infections, as the sole presenting sign, it often can be difficult to determine the correct diagnosis early in the course of the disease. The presenting symptoms, physical signs, and radiographic findings of intra-articular tuberculosis can mimic those of other intra-articular diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and avascular necrosis. In view of the nonspecific findings early in course of the disease, tubercular infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis when there is insidious articular destruction. Failure to consider tuberculosis can lead to devastating outcomes otherwise preventable with today's chemotherapies.

Carbon dioxide and gadopentetate dimeglumine venography to guide percutaneous vertebroplasty.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is an effective procedure for relieving pain due to vertebral body compression fractures. The technique employs iodinated contrast venography to exclude needle placement directly within the basivertebral complex. We present two cases in which carbon dioxide (CO2) and gadopentetate dimeglumine venography was used to guide percutaneous vertebroplasty in patients with a contraindication to iodinated contrast.