Anterior elbow release of spastic elbow flexion deformity in children with cerebral palsy.

This study evaluated anterior elbow release for spastic elbow flexion deformity in children with cerebral palsy. Forty-two consecutive surgical procedures are reported in 40 children with a minimum of 1 year of follow-up. The procedure included incision of the lacertus fibrosus, fractional lengthening of the brachialis aponeurosis, and denuding the peritendinous adventitia from the biceps tendon to remove afferent nerve fibers and receptors. Preoperative and postoperative measurements of the flexion posture angle, active extension, and active flexion were obtained, as well as completion of a written questionnaire by the parents. Flexion posture angle improved from 104 degrees before surgery to 55 degrees after surgery, a reduction of 49 degrees; active extension improved from 43 degrees to 27 degrees. There was no significant change in elbow flexion. Before surgery, the average percentage use of the arm was 12%, which improved significantly to 44% after surgery. The authors conclude that anterior elbow release can significantly improve the flexion posture angle and active extension of the elbow, as well as both the functional use and aesthetic appearance of the involved upper limb.

Polyarticular pigmented villonodular synovitis in a child.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis is rare in the younger child. Polyarticular involvement in this condition, regardless of patient age, is distinctly uncommon. The authors describe a case of pigmented villonodular synovitis involving multiple joints in a young boy who also had congenital anomalies of the genitourinary tract. Although rare, pigmented villonodular synovitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of multiple joint swellings in children with congenital anomalies.

Management of forearm deformity in multiple hereditary osteochondromatosis.

The records of 97 patients with multiple hereditary osteochondromatosis were retrospectively reviewed. Seventy-eight patients had one or more osteochondroma(s) of one or both forearm(s). Fifty-three operations were performed, of which 41 were excisions of symptomatic osteochondromas or dislocated radial heads. All forearm, wrist, and elbow radiographs were reviewed. Four common radiographic parameters were measured: radial articular angle, carpal slip, relative ulnar shortening, and forearm-third metacarpal angle. Thirty-seven of these 78 patients were contacted by telephone questionnaire. The results indicated that skeletally mature patients do well on a functional basis and are comfortable with their appearance, despite deformity. Surgery can improve aesthetic appearance and provide pain relief when done before or after skeletal maturity. Because of these results, we are less aggressive in the early treatment of forearm deformities.

Surgical treatment of displaced olecranon fractures in children.

Thirty-five children who had fractures of the olecranon were reviewed. Age at the time of injury ranged from 0 years 2 months to 15 years 4 months. Fractures were retrospectively classified as type I or II according to the amount of displacement apparent on the initial radiographs. Type I fractures were those with < 3 mm of displacement, and type II were those with displacement of > or = 3 mm. Type I fractures (n = 23) were treated with closed methods, and splint or cast immobilization was maintained for an average of 3 weeks. All 23 type I fractures had satisfactory results on follow-up. Type II fractures (n = 12) were treated with open reduction and internal fixation. Greater intraarticular displacement was often seen intraoperatively than had been appreciated radiographically. Ten of 12 patients with type II fractures were available for follow-up; all had satisfactory results. Restoration of the articular surface in children with olecranon fractures optimizes joint function and growth potential. The amount of fracture may be more than is apparent on plain radiographs.

Pemberton pelvic osteotomy and varus rotational osteotomy in the treatment of acetabular dysplasia in patients who have static encephalopathy.

Forty-four patients (fifty-two hips) who had static encephalopathy and acetabular dysplasia were managed with a Pemberton osteotomy as part of a comprehensive operative approach. Thirty-three patients had quadriplegia and were unable to walk; the remaining eleven patients had diplegia and could walk. The age at the time of the operation ranged from four years and five months to sixteen years and five months, as an open triradiate cartilage is a prerequisite for the Pemberton procedure. Concomitant operative procedures included a varus rotational osteotomy in fifty of the involved hips, a soft-tissue release in thirty-seven hips, and an open reduction in thirteen hips. The mean center-edge angle preoperatively was -11 degrees (range, -80 to 17 degrees), which improved to a mean of 27 degrees (range, 5 to 62 degrees) at the time of the latest follow-up. The mean duration of follow-up was four years (range, two years to eight years and eight months). At the time of writing, none of the hips had redislocated but one hip had subluxated. Eight of the hips had been painful preoperatively, but none of these was painful at the time of the most recent follow-up. One patient who had not had pain in the hip preoperatively had pain at the time of the follow-up evaluation. There were no complications attributable to posterior uncovering of the hip. The age of the patient at the time of the operation had no discernible effect on the result.

Closed reduction of developmental dislocation of the hip in children older than 18 months.

Thirty-eight hips in 32 patients > or = 18 months of age had closed reduction attempted for developmental dislocation of the hip. Twenty-six hips in 24 patients had an initially successful closed reduction. During cast treatment three of 26 hips had progressive subluxation or dislocation requiring open reduction with or without concomitant osteotomies. The remaining 23 hips, with an average follow-up of 8 + 8 years, are thought to have had a successful closed reduction. Eleven of those hips have required no further surgical procedures and had an average acetabular index of 18 degrees at last follow-up. Twelve of the 23 hips that had successful closed reduction required a femoral or pelvic osteotomy for failure to remodel. Younger age (< 22 months) at the time of reduction and lower grade (I and II) dislocation were favorable prognostic indicators of the likelihood of successful closed reduction.

Post-traumatic irreducible nondissociative carpal instability: a case report.

We present a case that is unusual in two respects. To our knowledge, it is the first clearly documented instance in the literature of a post-traumatic, irreducible nondissociative volar intercalated carpal instability to result from a known wrist flexion force and a known dorsal capsuloligamentous tear. Second, the same wrist revealed a coalition at both intraosseous levels of the proximal carpal row: a synfibrosis at the scapholunate joint and a synostosis at the lunotriquetral joint. Treatment by open removal of an interposed capsuloligamentous flap from the radiocarpal joint, followed by alignment of carpal elements, temporary internal fixation, and repair of the damaged dorsal capsule and ligaments gave an excellent result.

A surgical technique of radioulnar osteoclasis to correct severe forearm rotation deformities.

Twenty-six forearms in 23 patients with marked pronation or supination deformities were treated with osteoclasis. Etiologies included 12 radioulnar synostoses, five brachial plexus injuries, three hemiplegias, two hemimelias, and four other types of deformities. Drill-assisted osteotomy of both the radius and ulna was followed 10 days later by manipulation to the desired functional position. Dominant extremities were placed in 20 degrees pronation, and nondominant extremities in 20 degrees supination. Range of motion was not significantly changed, but the arc of motion occurred in a more functional hand position. Average correction for 15 pronation deformities was 81 degrees and 69 degrees for 11 supination deformities. Two nonunions healed after bone grafting and there were no instances of neuromuscular compromise. Functional improvement was obtained in 25 of 26 forearms.

Ulnar nerve decompression at the cubital tunnel.

A limited surgical decompression of the ulnar nerve within the cubital tunnel by incision of the arcuate ligament was effective in relieving pain and dysesthesia in 22 of 27 patients. No patient had any apparent muscle weakness or atrophy preoperatively. Twenty-five patients had evidence of compression of the ulnar nerve within the cubital tunnel at surgery, as noted by narrowing, hyperemia, or attachment of adhesions to the nerve. Three of four patients who had a subsequent anterior transposition obtained partial relief of symptoms.

Use of the Green transfer in treatment of patients with spastic cerebral palsy: 17-year experience.

We retrospectively reviewed Green procedures and transfer of the flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) in treatment of spastic forearm pronation, wrist volarflexion, and ulnar deviation deformities. Patient's ages ranged from 3 years 5 months to 16 years 5 months. Surgically, a single volar incision was made and the extensor carpi radialis brevis and/or longus (ECRB, ECRL) were used for insertion. The FCU was tensioned at neutral against gravity and immobilized in 5 degrees of dorsiflexion and 45 degrees of supination. Arc of flexion (47 degrees) did not change but was centered about neutral. Supination improved markedly when operation included a pronator procedure. Quadraplegia athetosis and intellectual impairment did not affect the operative result adversely. Patients aged greater than 12 years showed less functional improvement. Eighty-eight percent had cosmetic improvement, and 79% improved functionally. None had a decreased functional rating.

Sever-L'Episcopo transfers in obstetrical palsy: a retrospective review of twenty cases.

Since 1963, 25 patients have undergone Sever-L'Episcopo transfers for obstetrical birth palsy at the St. Louis Unit of the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children. A follow-up of 2-6 years was possible with a retrospective review of 16 patients. Substantial improvement in shoulder external rotation as well as subjective functional improvement was obtained by all patients. Three transient and one permanent axillary nerve palsies resulting from this procedure are reported.

Radiographic features of hand and wrist surgery excluding arthroplasties.

The normal and abnormal radiographic appearances of various hand and wrist surgical procedures have been presented. It is hoped that increased familiarity with these procedures and their radiographic features will lead to more meaningful radiographic interpretations by consulting radiologists.

Radiographic features of hand and wrist arthroplasties.

The normal and abnormal radiographic appearances of various arthroplasties of the hand and wrist have been presented. It is hoped that increased familiarity with these procedures and their radiographic features will lead to more meaningful radiographic interpretations by consulting radiologists.

Heel cord advancement for treatment of equinus deformity in cerebral palsy.

Spastic equinus deformity is common in patients with cerebral palsy. Since 1981, 612 anterior transpositions of the Achilles tendon as described by Murphy have been performed. One hundred patients with at least 30 months' follow-up were selected and retrospectively reviewed. Good correction of the equinus deformity was obtained without the need for prolonged bracing. No patient had a calcaneal gait or recurrence of equinus.

Blind zone determination of the femoral head.

An easily learned and applied method of accurately determining the blind zone of the femoral head is presented. This method is based on a geometric analysis of individual pins relative to the subchondral plate as apparent on mutually perpendicular roentgenograms. This method can be used with fluoroscopy or plain radiographs for intraoperative or postoperative evaluation.

Use of the Herbert bone screw for scaphoid nonunions.

The Herbert bone screw was used to treat 22 selected patients with established scaphoid nonunions. The indications for its use included evidence of avascular necrosis, proximal third fracture fragment, previous bone graft, fracture angulation or displacement, and a bipartite scaphoid. Treatment resulted in radiographic and clinical evidence of healing in 16 patients; 4 patients were symptom-free, but had incomplete healing as evidenced by radiograph; and 2 patients had persistent symptoms with radiographic evidence of nonunion.

Dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica at the metacarpophalangeal joint.

Dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica (DEH) or Trevor's disease is a rare developmental disorder of asymmetric epiphyseal cartilage overgrowth accompanied by an accessory, epiphyseal ossification center. No published reports exist of metacarpal or phalangeal DEH. We report a case of bilateral DEH of the index finger: right-sided distal index metacarpal and left-sided index proximal phalanx. Both were surgically corrected with excision of the accessory ossification center; a transepiphyseal cartilaginous wedge was excised, and the articular surface was maintained. Follow-up shows maintenance of alignment without recurrence at 12 and 18 months after operation.

Comparison of pronator tenotomy and pronator rerouting in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Forty-one patients with cerebral palsy and pronation contracture of the forearm were treated with pronator teres rerouting compared with 16 patients who were treated with pronator teres tenotomy. The mean age of patients with pronator tenotomy was 4 years 3 months compared with 7 years 3 months for patients with rerouting. Follow-up averaged 94 months for tenotomy and 21 months for rerouting. Average gain in supination was 78 degrees for rerouting and 54 degrees for tenotomy. No patient lost active range of motion during follow-up. Although pronator teres tenotomy increased active supination of the forearm, greater active supination of the forearm was afforded patients treated with pronator teres rerouting.

Fracture of the dorsoulnar tubercle of the trapezium.

The dorsoulnar tubercle of the trapezium may fracture, and this fracture may be missed without precise physical examination and correct radiographic studies. If there is persistent localized pain and tenderness in this region and the results of routine wrist radiographic examination are normal, a bone scan should be performed. If there is localized uptake in the area of the trapezium, additional radiographic studies may be necessary to confirm or exclude this fracture. Four patients with this previously unreported fracture and a method for its detection are presented.