Novel Dual Bicolumnar Fibula Graft Reconstruction of Distal Humerus in Pediatric Patients After Massive Bone Resection: A Report of Two Cases.

CASE: We describe 2 case studies, involving a 10-year-old girl with an aneurysmal bone cyst and a 12-year-old adolescent boy with Ewing sarcoma. The patient with Ewing sarcoma was previously managed with wide surgical excision and fibular graft reconstruction and subsequently experienced significant graft resorption, hardware failure, and fracture 24 months after operation. A revision limb salvage attempt was undertaken. In both cases, fibular strut grafts were harvested and fixed with intramedullary k-wires to recreate the medial and lateral columns of the distal humeral triangle. CONCLUSION: The technique achieved complete osseous integration, structural support, and functional restoration of the elbow in both cases, with good functional outcomes.

Pediatric distal femur fixation by proximal humeral plate.

Distal femoral metaphyseal fractures are common injuries in children. Multiple treatment options have been described for this type of injury. For older children with distal metaphyseal fracture, there is still no optimal method of fixation. We propose that the commonly used proximal humeral plate can provide good method of fixation for this fracture in adolescents. Two children (12 and 14 years old) with distal metaphyseal femoral fracture were treated with proximal humeral plate. We describe the surgical technique and postoperative management. The two children healed with good alignment and full range of motion of the knee. No external immobilization (other than knee immobilizer for the first 2 weeks) was used. We concluded that proximal humeral plate can provide adequate fixation for teenagers with distal femoral metaphyseal fracture. It is readily available; provide multiple options for screw fixation in the distal part of the fracture and fits easily on the distal part of the femur proximal to the physis.

Results of surgical treatment of unresolved Osgood-Schlatter disease in adults.

Osgood-Schlatter is a common disease with most cases resolving spontaneously with skeletal maturity. Adults with continued symptoms may need surgical treatment if they fail to respond to conservative measures. The purpose of this study is to describe the pathological lesions, our surgical technique, and the results of our surgical treatment of Osgood Schlatter disease in adults. Thirty-five adult patients (37 knees) had surgery for unresolved Osgood-Schlatter disease. Three patients were lost for follow-up. An incision over the anterolateral aspect of the patellar tendon was used. Direct anterior incisions were avoided to decrease postoperative pain with kneeling. The patellar tendon was reflected medially, and the ossicle was removed from the posterior surface of the tendon. A tibial tuberosity reduction osteotomy was done in 29 cases (85%). A beak of the distal part of the tibial tubercle was found in 24 cases (71%) with impingement of the patellar ligament. Thirty-one knees (91%) had complete resolution of preoperative pain. There was one case of painful scar. This surgical technique for treatment of Osgood-Schlatter disease in adults is effective and safe especially for those who have the habit of frequent kneeling.

Late-onset radial nerve palsy associated with conservatively managed humeral fracture. A case report and suggested classification system.

Radial nerve palsy can occur with humerus fracture, either at the time of injury (primary) or during reduction (secondary). Late-onset radial nerve palsy (not immediately related to injury or reduction) has been very seldom reported in the English literature. We describe a case of late-onset radial nerve palsy, which developed 9 weeks after an attempted closed management of a midshaft humerus fracture. Exploration of the nerve was performed. The radial nerve was found to be stretched over the ends of the fracture. Open reduction and external fixation of the fracture with mobilization of the nerve from the fracture site lead to complete return of radial nerve function occurring by 3 months. We recommend exploration of cases of late-onset radial nerve palsy in contrast to primary or secondary radial nerve palsy, which can be treated conservatively. Our experience suggests that the cause of the palsy is a continuous ongoing pathology and not a single time event as in primary or secondary cases. Radial nerve palsies associated with humeral fracture should be classified as either primary (at the time of injury), secondary (at the time of reduction), or late onset (not related to either injury or reduction).

Screw fixation of the radial head: radiological assessment of the proximal radio-ulnar joint and average radial head diameter-an anatomic study.

INTRODUCTION: Anatomical study of 11 radii heads was done. METHOD: A screw which is 2 mm longer than radial head diameter was used. Five views (AP with the forearm in supination, neutral rotation, pronation and LAT view the arm in supination and neutral rotation) were taken. In all cases the screw penetration was detected in one or two of the anteroposterior views. The lateral views were not sensitive to detect the screw penetration. For intraoperative assessment of screw length, the anteroposterior views in different position of rotation is sensitive method to detect penetration of the open reduction of head radius. Anteroposterior and lateral view with the arm in same position can miss some case of screw penetration. The diameter of the radial head was assessed. RESULT: A difference in the radial head diameter between males and females was noticed. This can be reflected on the screw diameter.

Treatment of acute salmonella epiphyseal osteomyelitis using computed tomography-guided drainage in a child without sickle cell disease.

Salmonella osteomyelitis occurs infrequently in children without sickle cell disease. Similarly, acute osteomyelitis of the epiphysis has been rarely reported. We present a case of primary epiphyseal osteomyelitis caused by Salmonella in the distal femur of an otherwise healthy 17-month-old child. Before isolating an organism, parenteral nafcillin provided ineffective clinical, radiographic, and laboratory responses. Repeated fluoroscopic-guided percutaneous surgical drainages allowed for identification of the Salmonella, but did not resolve the epiphyseal infection, as the infection focus was missed. In the effort to eradicate the infection yet minimize further trauma to the epiphysis, computed tomography-guided drainage was performed and the infection subsequently resolved. Owing to its greater localization accuracy and minimal invasiveness, the computed tomography-guided intervention allowed for precise drainage without compromising the contiguous growth plate. At latest follow-up, the patient was ambulating well, had a normal knee examination, and had no evidence of leg length discrepancy or growth disturbance.

Treatment of idiopathic clubfoot using the Ponseti method: minimum 2-year follow-up.

One hundred and thirty-seven idiopathic clubfeet were treated by the Ponseti technique and followed for at least 2 years. Nine feet (7%) were not corrected with initial casting and required early surgery. Recurrence after correction was related to compliance with bracing. At latest follow-up, two-thirds of those noncompliant with brace had recurrences with one-third of these recurrences requiring more extensive surgery than Achilles tenotomy and anterior tibial tendon transfer while only 14% of those compliant with brace had recurrences with none requiring more than Achilles tenotomy and anterior tibial tendon transfer. Early failures and recurrences constituted about 20% of our 137 feet by 2 years of follow-up. When the Ponseti method was fully followed, including initial casting, compliance with brace and treatment of recurrences by recasting, Achilles tenotomy and/or anterior tibial tendon transfer, our success rate was 93%.