Treating Older Children with Clubfoot: Results of a Cross-Sectional Survey of Expert Practitioners.

Treating clubfoot in walking-age children is debated, despite studies showing that using the Ponseti casting principles can correct the midfoot effectively. We aimed to explore techniques and approaches for the management of older children with clubfoot and identify consensus areas. A mixed-methods cross-sectional electronic survey on delayed-presenting clubfoot (DPC) was sent to 88 clubfoot practitioners (response rate 56.8%). We collected data on decision-making, casting, imaging, orthotics, surgery, recurrence, rehabilitation, multidisciplinary care, and contextual factors. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The qualitative data were analysed using conventional content analysis. Many respondents reported using the Pirani score and some used the PAVER score to aid deformity severity assessment and correctability. Respondents consistently applied the Ponseti casting principles with a stepwise approach. Respondents reported economic, social, and other contextual factors that influenced the timing of the treatment, the decision to treat a bilateral deformity simultaneously, and casting intervals. Differences were seen around orthotic usage and surgical approaches, such as the use of tibialis anterior tendon transfer following full correction. In summary, the survey identified consensus areas in the overall principles of management for older children with clubfoot and the implementation of the Ponseti principles. The results indicate these principles are well recognised as a multidisciplinary approach for older children with clubfoot and can be adapted well for different geographical and healthcare contexts.

Management of Neglected Traumatic Hip Dislocation in Children.

BACKGROUND: Neglected traumatic hip dislocation in children is uncommon and there is no consensus on appropriate management. Previous studies report varied operative management with high rates of avascular necrosis and postoperative subluxation/dislocation. We report a series of 7 consecutive cases who underwent operative reduction after neglected hip dislocation and describe our technique for treatment. METHODS: All 7 children sustained posterior dislocations and had no treatment before presentation at our institution. An associated marginal acetabular fracture was present in 2 cases. One additional patient was excluded from the study due to complete loss of articular cartilage that precluded open reduction. The mean time before surgical intervention was 13.1 months (4 to 36 mo) with a mean age of 7 years (5.3 to 10.8 y). All children underwent preoperative skeletal traction for 10 to 14 days. A postero-lateral approach was used in all cases. The acetabulum was cleared of scar tissue and a femoral shortening performed as required (5 cases). Minor erosion of the articular cartilage of the posterior aspect of the femoral head was noted in 3/6 cases. After reduction, a posterior capsulorrhaphy was performed and the patient immobilized in a hip spica for 6 to 12 weeks. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 44 months (33 to 56 mo). The majority of children (86%) could walk and run without a limp, could squat, and had no pain. One child had mild pain and a limp. Mean Harris Hip Score was 98.9. No hip subluxed or dislocated postoperatively. The radiographs at latest follow-up showed no evidence of growth disturbance in 29% of cases, coxa magna in 57%, and partial femoral head collapse in 1 case (14%). Of note, those patients managed within 8 months of injury had none or minimal evidence of growth disturbance. CONCLUSIONS: At medium-term follow-up, open reduction with a postero-lateral approach, posterior capsulorrhaphy, and femoral shortening (as required) produces a satisfactory outcome with a stable, congruent reduction. Good clinical function can be expected with a low incidence of avascular necrosis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Metatarsal stress fractures secondary to soft-tissue osteochondroma in the foot: case report and literature review.

Soft-tissue osteochondromas are rare, benign tumours developing in the soft tissues. Diagnosis is challenging however, as the differential includes malignancy. As simple excision is curative, early recognition by clinical and radiological evaluation will help avoid unnecessary surgery. A 43-year-old gentleman presented to us with a painful lump on the plantar aspect of his foot. Initial imaging suggested bony involvement of the lesion, raising concerns of malignancy. Further investigation demonstrated the bony abnormalities to be stress fractures, caused by altered forces due to the lump. The lump was excised and histologically confirmed to be a soft-tissue osteochondroma. Soft-tissue osteochondromas have not previously been reported in association with stress fractures. We present this case, a literature review and a list of differential diagnoses highlighting the importance of considering soft-tissue osteochondroma when evaluating a well-defined, osseous, soft-tissue mass in the extremity, and the difficulties in making this diagnosis.

Implementation of the NICE guidelines for venous thromboprophylaxis; a national survey of hip surgeons.

The 2007 United Kingdom National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) thromboprophylaxis guidelines concerning hip arthroplasty remain contentious in spite of significant evidence. A survey among British Hip Society members was performed to investigate the impact of these guidelines. Information on thromboprophylactic measures before and after guideline publication was gathered for three categories; Total Hip Replacement (THR), hip fracture and high-risk patients (as defined by NICE). The response rate was 185/250 (74%). All responders used thromboprophylaxis, but only 44%, 22% and 7% indicated they were currently acting in accordance with guidance for THR, high risk and hip fracture groups respectively. Only 19%, 14% and 14% had changed their practice since publication of the guidance in THR, high risk and hip fracture groups respectively. The effects of national guidance in influencing thromboprophylactic protocols have therefore been limited. The reasons were not investigated in this survey.