Characterization of Pediatric Female Genital Trauma Using a Novel Grading System and Recommendations for Management.

BACKGROUND: There is no standardized grading system for pediatric female genital trauma (PFGT), so patients may have over-utilization of resources relative to injury severity. We described current treatment patterns and outcomes at a high-volume trauma center, developed a novel PFGT grading system, and proposed algorithm for management of PFGT. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed female patients <19 years presenting with genital trauma to our Level 1 pediatric trauma center between 1/2018-12/2022. A novel grading system developed by pediatric surgery and pediatric gynecology was retrospectively applied to injuries. Patient demographics, injury characteristics, types of intervention, and need for anesthesia were recorded. Outcomes were compared between grades of injury with Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: Among 353 patients, median age was 6.4 years. Half of patients had grade 1 or 2 injuries, of which 6% required suture repair. 15% of patients had grade 5 or 6 injuries, 75% of whom required suture repair. General anesthesia was used for 83% of all patients undergoing repair. 18% of patients who underwent general anesthesia did not need suture repair. Of patients who were brought to the operating room, median operative duration varied by grade and was 15.0 min for all injuries, 7.0 min for both grade 1 and 2 injuries, and 22.0 and 37.0 min for grade 5 and 6 injuries, respectively (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Based on our novel grading system, we propose an algorithm for managing PFGT. Grade 1 and 2 injuries rarely require suture repair and can often be managed without surgical consultation. We recommend surgical consultation for higher grade injuries, however given typically short operative times, repair with bedside sedation should be strongly considered when resources allow. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Müllerian anomalies in girls with congenital solitary kidney.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of Müllerian anomalies (MA) among patients with congenital solitary functioning kidney (SFK) is not well defined. A delay in diagnosis of obstructive MA can increase the risk of poor clinical outcomes. This study describes the prevalence of MA in patients with congenital SFK. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of patients within the Nationwide Children's Hospital system with ICD9 or ICD10 diagnostic codes for congenital SFK defined as either unilateral renal agenesis (URA) or multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) and confirmed by chart review. Patients with complex urogenital pathology were excluded. Renal anomaly, MA, reason for and type of pelvic evaluation, and age of diagnosis of anomalies were evaluated. RESULTS: Congenital SFK occurred in 431 girls due to URA (209) or MCDK (222). Pelvic evaluation, most commonly by ultrasound for evaluation of abdominal pain or dysmenorrhea, occurred in 115 patients leading to MA diagnosis in 60 instances. Among 221 patients ages 10 years and older, 104 underwent pelvic evaluation and 52 were diagnosed with an MA of which 20 were obstructive. Isolated uterine or combined uterine and vaginal anomalies were the most common MA. MA were five-fold more common in patients with URA compared to MCDK. In 75% of patients, the SFK was diagnosed prior to the MA. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of MA in patients with congenital SFK was 24% among those age 10 years or older, and 38% were obstructive. This justifies routine screening pelvic ultrasound in girls with congenital SFK to improve early diagnosis.

Young Men's Attitudes and Understanding of Menstruation.

PURPOSE: To identify sources of information, perceptions, and potential misinformation about menstruation among college-aged men in the United States. METHODS: This is a mixed-methods cross-sectional survey study of students in the United States. Inclusion criteria included participants aged 17-29 years, male gender identity, enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student, and no personal history of menstruation. RESULTS: This study included 70 participants. Almost half of all participants (42.9%) first learned about menstruation from family members. More than two-thirds of respondents felt that menstrual education was essential or very important for all genders. The most common symptoms noted to be associated with periods included cramping (93.6%), mood changes (80.9%), and vague "hormonal" changes (36.2%). When asked how a menstrual period might affect someone's ability to perform daily activities, one-third reported debilitating or very burdensome symptoms, whereas one-fifth felt periods do not have much impact. DISCUSSION: Comprehensive education and accurate reproductive health knowledge are critical in combating gender bias and stigma. Most males surveyed agree that education on menstruation is important, yet the majority do not have or do not remember formal education on this topic, instead relying on family members and friends as learning tools and resources. Most participants identified negative symptoms associated with menstrual periods, especially mental health concerns including mood changes and irritability. This association with mood changes, as well as vague "hormonal fluctuations," contributes to the societal bias against people who menstruate by marking them as prone to emotional instability, thereby exacerbating gender prejudices. It is therefore critical that accurate menstrual education be widely available for everyone, regardless of gender.

Lichen Sclerosus throughout Childhood and Adolescence: Not Only a Premenarchal Disease.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of persistence of vulvar lichen sclerosus (LS) through the pubertal transition and assess if the symptomatology and exam findings differ by menarchal status at onset of symptoms DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study SETTING: Academic tertiary care hospital PARTICIPANTS: Females aged 21 years or younger with a diagnosis of vulvar LS INTERVENTION: None MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Menarchal status at symptom onset, presenting symptoms, exam findings, persistence after menarche RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Of the 196 patients who met criteria, 141 were premenarchal and 55 postmenarchal. Of these 55, 36 had postmenarchal symptom onset, and the others had premenarchal symptom onset or LS diagnosis. Over the data review period, 26 patients were followed through the pubertal transition, and 10 (38.5%) had continued symptoms of LS. The premenarchal group (n = 141) was significantly more likely than the symptom-onset postmenarchal group (n = 36) to present with vulvar itching (70.2% vs 52.8%; P = .048), vulvar bleeding (26.2% vs 5.6%; P = .008), and bowel symptoms (16.3% vs 0%; P = .009). The premenarchal group was significantly more likely on exam to have subepithelial hemorrhages (24.8% vs 5.6%; P = .01). The postmenarchal group had more clitoral adhesions (25.0% vs 4.3%; P < .0001) and loss of labia minora (47.2% vs 2.1%; P < .0001). Thirteen postmenarchal patients presented with dyspareunia. This study suggests that premenarchal LS can persist after menarche in about 40% of adolescents and can initially develop in postmenarchal adolescents. Initial symptoms and exam findings differ on the basis of menarchal status. Continued surveillance is recommended.

Should we screen for Müllerian anomalies following diagnosis of a congenital renal anomaly?

INTRODUCTION: Despite the well-established embryological relationship in the development of renal and Müllerian structures, no clear guidelines exist regarding screening for Müllerian anomalies (MA) in the setting of a renal anomaly (RA). Delayed diagnosis of MA can have significant reproductive consequences. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of coexisting MA in patients with congenital RA. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study of females age 12-35 years with a diagnosis of RA, identified by diagnosis codes, who were followed for care between 2013 and 2020. Data were collected on demographics, medical history, clinical presentation, and imaging studies. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. This study was IRB approved. RESULTS: A total of 465 patients were included in this study, of whom 326 patients (70.3%) had a pelvic evaluation during the study period. Of these 326 patients, 125 (38.3%) were found to have coexistent MA. About one-third of patients who underwent pelvic evaluation due to pain were found to have MA. For 69.6% (87/125) of patients with MA, the RA was diagnosed prior to the MA. The average age at time of RA diagnosis was 6.4 ± 8.8 years and the average age of MA diagnosis was 16.4 ± 6.9 years. Forty-eight (38.4%) patients had obstructive anomalies. Of the Müllerian obstructions, 93.8% were treated with urgent surgery and the remainder started on hormonal suppression. The prevalence of MA was dependent on the RA diagnosis (Figure). Of patients with a solitary kidney, 67.1% were diagnosed with MA. For other parenchymal RA, the prevalence of MA was 20-23%. In patients with solitary kidney, uterus didelphys was the most common MA (52.1%). Thirty percent of patients with a solitary kidney were diagnosed with an obstructive MA. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, 38% of patients with RA who underwent a pelvic evaluation were found to also have MA. Our study shows the strongest association between MA and solitary kidney, but also emphasizes a significant risk with other RA. Almost 40% of patients with diagnosed MA were found to have an obstruction that required urgent treatment. Delays in diagnosis and treatment of Müllerian obstructions can be detrimental for future reproductive health, due to risk of chronic pain, infertility, infection, and endometriosis. Given the high prevalence of MA in patients with RA, especially those with congenital solitary kidney, routine screening with pelvic ultrasound should be performed around the age of expected menarche.

Distal Vaginal Atresia with Spontaneous Perforation: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: The definitive treatment of distal vaginal atresia is surgery, but menstrual suppression is often helpful for initial management. CASE: A 13-year-old presented with primary amenorrhea and progressive abdominal pain. She was diagnosed with distal vaginal atresia and started on hormonal suppression. She then re-presented with heavy vaginal bleeding, and follow-up imaging revealed that spontaneous perforation had occurred. There was now evidence of a tract leading from the obstructed vaginal bulge to the introitus. Vaginoplasty was complicated by the tortuosity of the tract. Under ultrasound guidance, a pull-through vaginoplasty was performed. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: Spontaneous perforation of an atretic vagina is rare, but in such cases, urgent vaginoplasty is indicated to prevent infection. Despite the presence of a spontaneous tract leading to the obstruction, vaginoplasty can be complex, and intraoperative ultrasound could be beneficial.

A Novel Technique for Securing a Bolster For Skin Grafting after Extensive Vulvar Resection.

Patients with stage III hidradenitis suppurativa of the vulva and adjacent areas, unresponsive to other therapies, may require extensive surgeries. These include excision of diseased areas on the buttocks, vulva, groins, and abdomen, followed by delayed skin grafting. Negative pressure wound therapy has been used over grafts, but it can be difficult to maintain a seal when extensive areas have been resected. We present a novel technique to bolster skin grafts for optimal success. A total vulvectomy and resection of the buttocks, groins, and abdomen are first performed for stage III HS, incorporating all diseased tissue. Negative pressure wound therapy is applied and changed on postoperative day 3-4. On postoperative day 7, split-thickness skin grafts are applied. The skin grafts are covered by Adaptic gauze (3M Company, Minn.), cotton, and a layer of Reston foam (3M Company, St. Paul, Minn.) which is cut to fit the size of the wound. Ostomy skin barriers (Hollister Incorporated, Libertyville, Ill.) are placed on the skin surrounding the excised areas. Pediatric Foley catheters are then placed through the ostomy skin barriers and tied together to prevent movement of the bolster. The use of ostomy skin barriers and pediatric Foley catheters to secure bolsters has not previously been described. We demonstrate a well-tolerated technique, using common surgical supplies, to provide consistent uniform pressure over the graft site. This technique also allows for easy bedside dressing change(s) when indicated.

Preparing for Puberty in Girls With Special Needs: A Cohort Study of Caregiver Concerns and Patient Outcomes.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To characterize the patient population with cognitive or physical impairments that presents for anticipatory guidance of puberty, evaluate caregiver concerns with respect to puberty, and describe chosen management strategies and outcomes following menarche. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study SETTING: Academic tertiary care women and children's hospital PARTICIPANTS: Eligible female patients with special needs up to age 26 years presenting for anticipatory guidance from 2009 to 2018 MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes included characterization of patients presenting for anticipatory guidance and their reasons for menstrual management. Secondary outcomes were satisfaction with menstrual management and bleeding patterns. RESULTS: A total of 61 patients presented for anticipatory guidance of puberty, on average 13.5 months prior to menarche. Compared to the overall adolescent population with special needs who presented for gynecologic care, patients who had autism spectrum disorder (ASD), were nonverbal, or had attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) were more likely to present for a pre-menarchal visit to discuss anticipated pubertal development (P < .001, P = .009, and P = .04, respectively). More than half of families described potential behavioral changes as their main concern. The majority of post-menarchal patients (80%) desired hormonal management of menses, including 30% of patients who had placement of a levonorgestrel intrauterine device. In all, 96% of patients were satisfied with their final menstrual bleeding pattern; 50% achieved amenorrhea or light spotting. CONCLUSIONS: This study describes the important role of pre-menarchal reproductive counseling for girls with disabilities. Anticipation of puberty causes great anxiety in families and patients, especially those with ASD, ADD/ADHD, and non-verbal status. Providers should consider initiating these conversations early in pubertal development.

Tubo-Ovarian Abscess in Non-Sexually Active Adolescent Girls: A Case Series and Literature Review.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We investigated risk factors and common causes of tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) in non-sexually active females in order to aid in earlier diagnosis, treatment, and improved outcomes. DESIGN: This is a retrospective observational case series of all non-sexually active females younger than age 25 years who were diagnosed with TOA. Review of the existing literature was also performed. SETTING: Academic tertiary care children's hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Ten patients meeting study inclusion criteria were identified for the study, and 33 other patients were identified in the literature. RESULTS: Average age at time of diagnosis was 14 years. Average body mass index was 24 kg/m2. Most presented with abdominal pain, often associated with fevers, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Seven of 10 patients were treated surgically with pelvic washout (4 primarily and 3 after failing empiric antibiotic therapy). Most frequently, anaerobic gut flora were isolated on culture. All patients received broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics, and were then discharged on a course of doxycycline and metronidazole or clindamycin. Three patients required additional admissions and multiple rounds of antibiotics due to persistent symptoms. The average length of stay was 3 days for patients treated with antibiotics only and 6 days for patients requiring surgical intervention. Six patients had complete resolution of symptoms and improvement on ultrasound within 2-4 weeks. The remainder were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSION: These cases, in conjunction with previous case reports, emphasize the importance of considering TOA in patients with concerning imaging or examination findings despite lack of sexual activity. Given the large proportion of cases attributable to anaerobic gut flora, treatment with antibiotics with adequate anaerobic coverage is recommended. Surgical drainage is not always necessary, but is often needed for diagnostic purposes or in patients not clinically improving with conservative measures.

Considerations in Adolescent Use of the Etonogestrel Subdermal Implant: A Cohort Study.

Objectives: To describe bleeding patterns and other side effects in adolescent implant users and characterize their impact on early discontinuation of the implant. Study Design: This is a retrospective cohort study of female patients under 18 years who had an implant placed from 2013 to 2018. Data were collected on demographics, medical history, and side effects. Results: Of 212 adolescents, the average age at insertion was 16 years and 84% desired placement for contraception. Common side effects included AUB (80%), mood changes (10%), and perceived weight gain (9%). Most (76%) used the implant for at least 12 months. Average time to removal was 22.1 months (SD 13.0 months) and this did not depend on presence of side effects. Twenty-seven percent of teens were able to achieve amenorrhea. Adolescents with frequent or prolonged bleeding were more likely to have implant removal prior to 12 months than those with other bleeding patterns (p = 0.003). Early removal was also more common in girls reporting weight or mood issues than those who did not (p < 0.001 and p = 0.045, respectively). BMI increased in 64% of adolescents. Average percentage change in BMI was 3.2% (0.87 kg/m2). There was no difference in baseline use of any mood-modulating medications in patients who did and did not complain of mood side effects following implant placement (p = 0.801). Conclusion: Characterization of bleeding patterns following implant placement in adolescents have not previously been reported. Prolonged or heavy bleeding, mood issues, and perceived weight gain were associated with earlier removal of the implant. A relatively small number had early removal of the implant due to weight or mood complaints. Therefore, a history of obesity, depression, or other mood disorders should not be a deterrent to implant placement.