Deformity correction from the convexity of the curve in neuromuscular scoliosis.

Background: "Convex Pedicle Screw Technique" reduces the theoretical risk of neurovascular injury. Our aim is to evaluate the efficacy of this technique in patients with neuromuscular scoliosis (NMS). Methods: Retrospective study of 12 patients who underwent a Convex Pedicle Screw Technique and were diagnosed with NMS. Patients who had undergone previous spinal surgery were excluded. The minimum follow-up required was 24 months. Demographic data, intraoperative data, neurovascular complications and neurophysiological events requiring implant repositioning, as well as pre- and postoperative radiological variables were collected. Results: Twelve patients diagnosed with NMS underwent surgery. The median operative time was 217 minutes. Mean blood loss was 3.8±1.1 g/dL hemoglobin (Hb). The median postoperative stay was 8.8±4 days. A reduction of the Cobb angle in primary curve of 49.1% (from 52.8°±18° to 26.5°±12.6°; P<0.001) and in secondary curve of 25.2% (from 27.8°±18.9° to 18.3°±13.3°; P=0.10) was achieved. Coronal balance improved by 69.4% (7.5±46.2 vs. 2.3±20.9 mm; P=0.72) and sagittal balance by 75% (from -14.1±71.8 vs. -3.5±48.6 mm; P=0.50). There were no neurovascular complications. There were no intraoperative neurophysiological events requiring implant repositioning, nor during reduction maneuvers. No infections were reported. Conclusions: The correction of the deformity from convexity in NMS achieves similar results to other techniques, and a very low complication rate.

Streptococcus agalactiae: causa de artritis séptica inusual a partir de los 3 meses de edad. Caso clínico / Streptococcus agalactiae: an unusual cause of septic arthritis beyond 3 months of age. Case report

La artritis séptica es una patología poco frecuente, pero con una alta morbilidad, debido a las importantes secuelas que puede originar. La etiología varía según la edad, y Staphylococcus aureus es el microorganismo más frecuente en todas ellas. Streptococcus agalactiae odel grupo B es una causa infrecuente de infección fuera del período neonatal; se asocia, a partir de los 3 meses de edad, con infecciones graves en pacientes inmunocomprometidos. El tratamiento de elección es penicilina G o ampicilina.Aquí se describe el caso de un niño de cuatro meses y medio de edad que desarrolló una artritis séptica por Streptococcus agalactiae odel grupo B, con inicio insidioso de la clínica. El diagnóstico etiológico obligó a descartar meningitis y una inmunodeficiencia asociada. La frecuencia extremadamente baja de dicha artritis a esta edad y la importancia de descartar una enfermedad diseminada son importantes puntos de aprendizaje en este caso.

Septic arthritis is not a very frequent disease, but with a high morbidity due to the important sequelae that it can cause. The etiology is age-specific, with Staphylococcus aureus being the most frequent microorganism in all ages. Streptococcus agalactiae or group B Streptococcus is an uncommon cause of infection outside the neonatal period. Beyond 3 months of age, infections by this pathogen are associated with serious infections in immunocompromised patients. The treatment of choice is penicillin G or ampicillin. A 4.5-month-old child who developed a group B Streptococcus septic arthritis is reported. The onset was insidious, and the etiological diagnosis prompted us to rule out meningitis and associated immunodeficiency. The extremely low frequency of group B Streptococcus septic arthritis at this age and the importance of ruling out a disseminated disease are crucial learning points in this case

[Streptococcus agalactiae: an unusual cause of septic arthritis beyond 3 months of age. Case report]. / Streptococcus agalactiae: causa de artritis séptica inusual a partir de los 3 meses de edad. Caso clínico.

Septic arthritis is not a very frequent disease, but with a high morbidity due to the important sequelae that it can cause. The etiology is age-specific, with Staphylococcus aureus being the most frequent microorganism in all ages. Streptococcus agalactiae or group B Streptococcus is an uncommon cause of infection outside the neonatal period. Beyond 3 months of age, infections by this pathogen are associated with serious infections in immunocompromised patients. The treatment of choice is penicillin G or ampicillin. A 4.5-month-old child who developed a group B Streptococcus septic arthritis is reported. The onset was insidious, and the etiological diagnosis prompted us to rule out meningitis and associated immunodeficiency. The extremely low frequency of group B Streptococcus septic arthritis at this age and the importance of ruling out a disseminated disease are crucial learning points in this case.

La artritis séptica es una patología poco frecuente, pero con una alta morbilidad, debido a las importantes secuelas que puede originar. La etiología varía según la edad, y Staphylococcus aureus es el microorganismo más frecuente en todas ellas. Streptococcus agalactiae o del grupo B es una causa infrecuente de infección fuera del período neonatal; se asocia, a partir de los 3 meses de edad, con infecciones graves en pacientes inmunocomprometidos. El tratamiento de elección es penicilina G o ampicilina. Aquí se describe el caso de un niño de cuatro meses y medio de edad que desarrolló una artritis séptica por Streptococcus agalactiae o del grupo B, con inicio insidioso de la clínica. El diagnóstico etiológico obligó a descartar meningitis y una inmunodeficiencia asociada. La frecuencia extremadamente baja de dicha artritis a esta edad y la importancia de descartar una enfermedad diseminada son importantes puntos de aprendizaje en este caso.

Scoliosis induced by costotransversectomy in minipigs model.

Aim To validate surgical costotransversectomy as a technique for creating a scoliosis model in minipigs and to assess whether differences in approach (posterior medial approach, posterior paramedial approach and anterior approach by video-assisted thoracoscopy) lead to differences in the production of spinal deformity. Creation of disease models in experimental animals, specifically in minipigs, is controversial, as no appropriate technique has been reported. Methods Surgical costotransversectomy was performed in 11 minipigs using 3 different approaches: posterior medial approach (4 animals, group I), posterior paramedial approach (3 animals, group II) and anterior approach by videothoracoscopy (4 animals, group III). A conventional x-ray study was performed in the immediate postoperative period. Follow-up lasted for 4 months. Specimens were humanely killed according to current protocols, and a second x-ray study was performed. A deformation was measured using the Cobb angle and direct observation of the rotational component. Results Data from group I revealed a scoliosis deformation of 27º-41º (mean 34.5º) with a macroscopic rotational component. No deformity (<10º) or rotational component was observed in groups II and III. Only a posterior medial costotransversectomy produced a significant deformity in minipigs and established a valid model for studying scoliosis in these animals. Conclusion Only a posterior medial costotransversectomy produces a significant deformity in minipigs and establish a valid model for studying scoliosis in these animals. A tensegrity model would elucidate such results and harmonize disparate conclusions. Further investigation is needed to demonstrate the reliability of tensegrity principles for spinal biomechanics.

Kingella kingae as the Main Cause of Septic Arthritis: Importance of Molecular Diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Kingella kingae is an emergent pathogen causing septic arthritis (SA) in children.The objective of this study was to analyze the etiology of SA in children before and after the implementation of universal 16S rRNA gene polymerase chain reaction and sequencing (16SPCR) in synovial fluid. METHODS: Children ≤14 years with acute SA from a Madrid cohort (2002-2013) were reviewed. Differences in etiology were analyzed before (period 1) and after (period 2) the implementation of bacterial 16SPCR in 2009. A comparison in epidemiology, clinical syndromes, therapy and outcome between infections caused by K. kingae and other bacteria was performed. RESULTS: Bacteria were detected from 40/81 (49.4%) children, with a higher proportion of diagnosis after 16SPCR establishment (period 2, 63% vs. period 1, 31.4%; P = 0.005). The main etiologies were Staphylococcus aureus (37.5%) and K. kingae (35%), although K. kingae was the most common microorganism in P2 (48.3%). Children with K. kingae SA were less likely to be younger than 3 months (0 vs. 42.3%; P < 0.001), had less anemia (21.4 vs. 50%; P = 0.010), lower C-reactive protein (3.8 vs. 8.9 mg/dL; P = 0.039), less associated osteomyelitis (0 vs. 26.9%; P = 0.033), shorter intravenous therapy (6 vs. 15 days; P < 0.001), and had a nonsignificant lower rate of sequelae (0 vs. 30%; P = 0.15) than children with SA caused by other bacteria. However, they tended to have higher rate of fever (86 vs. 57%; P = 0.083). CONCLUSIONS: K. kingae was frequently recovered in children with SA after the implementation of bacterial 16SPCR, producing a milder clinical syndrome and better outcome. Therefore, the use of molecular techniques may be important for the management of these children.