Residual lumbar hyperlordosis is associated with worsened hip status 5 years after scoliosis correction in non-ambulant patients with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a static encephalopathy with progressive musculoskeletal pathology. Non-ambulant children (GMFCS IV and V) with CP have high rates of spastic hip disease and neuromuscular scoliosis. The effect of spinal fusion and spinal deformity on hip dislocation following total hip arthroplasty has been well studied, however in CP this remains largely unknown. This study aimed to identify factors associated with worsening postoperative hip status (WHS) following corrective spinal fusion in children with GMFCS IV and V CP. METHODS: Retrospective review of GMFSC IV and V CP patients in a prospective multicenter database undergoing spinal fusion, with 5 years follow-up. WHS was determined by permutations of baseline (BL), 1 year, 2 years, and 5 years hip status and defined by a change from an enlocated hip at BL that became subluxated, dislocated or resected post-op, or a subluxated hip that became dislocated or resected. Hip status was analyzed against patient demographics, hip position, surgical variables, and coronal and sagittal spinal alignment parameters. Cutoff values for parameters at which the relationship with hip status was significant was determined using receiver operating characteristic curves. Logistic regression determined odds ratios for predictors of WHS. RESULTS: Eighty four patients were included. 37 (44%) had WHS postoperatively. ROC analysis and logistic regression demonstrated that the only spinopelvic alignment parameter that significantly correlated with WHS was lumbar hyperlordosis (T12-L5) > 60° (p = 0.028), OR = 2.77 (CI 1.10-6.94). All patients showed an increase in pre-to-postop LL. Change in LL pre-to-postop was no different between groups (p = 0.318), however the WHS group was more lordotic at BL and postop (pre44°/post58° vs pre32°/post51° in the no change group). Age, sex, Risser, hip position, levels fused, coronal parameters, global sagittal alignment (SVA), thoracic kyphosis, and reoperation were not associated with WHS. CONCLUSION: Postoperative hyperlordosis(> 60°) is a risk factor for WHS at 5 years after spinal fusion in non-ambulant CP patients. WHS likely relates to anterior pelvic tilt and functional acetabular retroversion due to hyperlordosis, as well as loss of protective lumbopelvic motion causing anterior femoracetabular impingement. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

The effects of botulinum toxin injection frequency on calf muscle growth in young children with spastic cerebral palsy: a 12-month prospective study.

PURPOSE: This study was a 12-month prospective investigation of changes in the medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscle morphology in children aged 2-5 years with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) who had received no previous intramuscular injections of botulinum neurotoxin type-A (BoNT-A) and were randomised to receive either single or multiple (three) BoNT-A injections to the gastrocsoleus. MG morphological changes were compared to age-matched typically developing (TD) peers. METHODS: Thirteen children with spastic CP with a mean age of 45 (15) months and 18 TD children with a mean age of 48 (14) months participated in the study. The principal outcome measures were MG muscle volume, fascicle length, pennation angle and physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA), which were obtained using 2D and 3D ultrasound. RESULTS: The single and multiple injection frequency groups significantly increased MG muscle volume at 12 months relative to the baseline by 13 and 15 %, respectively. There were no significant differences in the MG muscle volume 28.5 (12.3) versus 30.3 (3.8) ml, fascicle length 48.0 (10.4) versus 44.8 (1.2) mm or PCSA 7.0 (1.2) versus 6.6 (1.7) cm(2) between the single and multiple injection groups, respectively, at 12 months follow-up. The change in MG muscle volume in the single and multiple injection groups was significantly lower than the TD peers by 66 and 60 %, respectively. INTERPRETATION: In young children with spastic CP, naive to BoNT-A treatment, MG muscle growth over 12 months does not appear to be influenced by intramuscular BoNT-A injection frequency. However, MG muscle growth in the spastic CP groups was significantly lower than the age-matched TD peers. It is unclear whether this is an effect of intramuscular BoNT-A injections or reduced growth rates in children with spastic CP in general. Controlled investigations and longitudinal studies with multiple measurement time points are required in order to determine the influence of BoNT-A treatment on muscle physiological and mechanical growth factors in young children with spastic CP.

The development of Australian Standards of Care for Hip Surveillance in Children with Cerebral Palsy: how did we reach consensus?

Progressive hip displacement is the second most common deformity in children with cerebral palsy (CP). For many decades, the methods of monitoring hip health and development in children with CP varied widely between facilities. Recently, systematic population based studies have identified some of the factors and characteristics of children with CP who would most benefit from hip surveillance. Health services providing hip surveillance within Australia identified a need for clinical guidelines to assist in provision of comprehensive and best practice health care for children with CP across all patient demographics. Guidelines providing clear, evidence based information on specific timing for commencement, frequency, and discharge have not previously been published. This article analyses the supportive evidence for comprehensive hip surveillance, discusses the development of draft guidelines in Australia, and describes the process for achieving national consensus resulting in the Consensus Statement on Hip Surveillance for Children with Cerebral Palsy: Australian Standards of Care. These standards of care are being followed in clinical facilities across Australia and are endorsed by the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AusACPDM).

The Consensus Statement on Hip Surveillance for Children with Cerebral Palsy: Australian Standards of Care.

The 'Consensus Statement on Hip Surveillance for Children with Cerebral Palsy: Australian Standards of Care' ('Standards of Care') provides a clear and concise guideline for inclusion of hip surveillance into current services. The 'Standards of Care' have been developed by a multidisciplinary working group for the education and information of all health professionals working with children with CP and their families. The 'Standards of Care' were developed through extensive review of the literature and garnering of expert opinion from professionals working in the area within Australia and New Zealand. A formalized external consensus process was conducted from 2007 to 2008 and the 'Consensus Statement on Hip Surveillance for Children with Cerebral Palsy: Australian Standards of Care' became the basis for best practice around Australia in 2008. It has been endorsed by The Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AusACPDM). Prospective longitudinal study will evaluate both effectiveness and cost/benefit outcomes of this recommended hip surveillance standard of care.

Surgical correction of equinus deformity in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Equinus is the most common deformity in cerebral palsy. However, despite the large volume of published studies, there are poor levels of evidence to support surgical intervention. This study was undertaken to examine the current evidence base for the surgical management of equinus deformity in cerebral palsy. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature using "equinus deformity", "cerebral palsy" and "orthopaedic surgery" generated 49 articles. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 35 articles remained. The Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM) levels of evidence and the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) were used to grade the articles. RESULTS: Studies ranged in sample size from 9 to 156 subjects, with an average of 38 subjects. The mean age of subjects at index surgery ranged from 5 to 19 years. Nineteen studies used instrumented gait analysis, with an average follow-up of 2.8 years. Seven studies reported that a younger age at index surgery was associated with an increased risk of recurrent equinus. The average rate of calcaneus in hemiplegic children was 1% and it was 15% in those with spastic diplegia. Most studies were level 4 quality of evidence, leading to, at best, only grade C recommendation. CONCLUSIONS: Cerebral palsy subtype (hemiplegia versus diplegia) and age at index surgery were the two most important variables for determining the outcome of surgery for equinus deformity in cerebral palsy. Despite the great emphasis on differences in surgical procedures, there was less evidence to support the type of operation in relation to outcome.

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis: clinical outcomes after more than five years of follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical outcomes of children with chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO). STUDY DESIGN: Inception cohorts of children with CRMO were established at two tertiary pediatric centers. Outcome data were obtained through review of hospital charts, interview and examination of patients, and completion of questionnaires by patients. RESULTS: Of 45 eligible subjects, 23 (51%) were assessed. Median time since diagnosis was 13 years (range, 6-25). At evaluation, 6 (26%) had active disease; 18 (78%) had Health Assessment Questionnaire scores of 0 (no/minimal physical disability), and 5 had scores >0. Some impairment was seen in all domains of measurement of quality-of-life test, especially those concerning nonphysical aspects of health. Six (26%) subjects continued to have pain as a result of CRMO. Associated medical problems included arthritis in 6, sacroiliitis in 3, psoriasis in 5, recurrent pustular rashes in 2, and inflammatory bowel disease in 3. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term clinical outcomes for children with CRMO appear to be generally good, with most subjects having no evidence of disease activity or sequelae. However, a number of subjects had persistent disease and, therefore, remain at risk of physical and psychologic complications. Further research is required to identify patients at risk for persistent disease, and to determine therapies that may prevent morbidity.

Limb salvage after bony and vascular gunshot injuries in a five-week-old infant.

Combined bony and vascular injuries present challenging problems to orthopaedic and vascular surgeons. The use of temporary intraluminal vascular shunts produces significant reductions in ischaemia time and allows fracture stabilisation to be performed before definitive, delicate vascular repair. We report our management of a five-week-old infant who sustained a comminuted fracture of the femur with arterial and venous injuries in a shooting incident. Paediatric nasogastric feeding tubes were used as temporary vascular shunts to re-establish the distal circulation. Stabilisation of the fracture was then followed by vascular reconstruction and soft-tissue surgery, with a good result. We emphasise the need for skills from several surgical disciplines in the management of complex combined injuries.