Subluxación rotatoria crónica atlanto-axial / Atlanto-axial chronic rotational subluxation

Introducción. La subluxación rotatoria atlantoaxial es relativamente frecuente en pacientes pediátricos, habitualmente secundaria a procesos inflamatorios o traumáticos, y favorecida por la gran movilidad cervical infantil. En pacientes no tratados puede cronificarse, produciendo una deformidad cervical fija de difícil diagnóstico y tratamiento. Hay escasas series publicadas, todas ellas con pocos casos, no existiendo criterios definidos para su diagnóstico y tratamiento. Casos clínicos. Se presentan tres casos de subluxación rotatoria crónica atlanto-axial tratados en un período de 15 años. Las edades de presentación fueron 9,7 y 16 años. En todos se siguió el mismo protocolo diagnóstico (radiografías, tomografía axial computarizada, en un caso resonancia magnética nuclear y terapéutico: tracción progresiva con halo hasta la reducción comprobada por tomografía axial computarizada e inmovilización con halo-yeso; en 1 caso no se consiguió la reducción completa, por lo que se hizo una artrodesis posterior C1-C2. Resultados. Los tres pacientes tienen un seguimiento mínimo de 2 años, con una buena situación clínica y movilidad cervical normal en los no artrodesados; el otro paciente presenta una ligera actitud en tortícolis con una leve limitación de la rotación cervical. No ha habido recidiva del cuadro. Conclusiones. La subluxación rotatoria crónica atlanto-axial es una afección rara, que implica graves repercusiones funcionales y dolorosas para el paciente, siendo su manejo dificultoso; en esta serie, se trataron todos los casos siguiendo el mismo protocolo: tracción craneal progresiva e inmovilización con halo-yeso, obteniéndose una reducción completa en 2 casos e incompleta en uno, por lo que se efectuó artrodesis posterior C1-C2; en la literatura no existen criterios unificados de tratamiento, por lo que se proponen protocolos de actuación

Introduction. Atlanto-axial rotational subluxation, a relatively common condition in pediatric patients, is normally secondary to traumatic inflammatory processes and is favored by the great degree of cervical mobility in children. If untreated, the condition may become chronic and result in a fixed cervical deformity whose diagnosis and treatment may pose a significant challenge. Only a few series have been published, all of them containing a small number of cases and there is an absence of definite criteria for the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. Clinical cases. Three cases are presented of atlanto-axial chronic rotational subluxation treated over a 15-year period. Ages at presentation were 9.7 and 16 year. In all patients, the same protocols, both diagnostic (x-rays, CT-scan and MRi in one case) and therapeutic (gradual halo traction until reduction was confirmed by a CT-scan and halo cast immobilization) were used. In one case full reduction was not achieved and, consequently, a C1-C2 posterior arthrodesis was performed. Results. All three patients had a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Patients not subjected to arthrodesis showed a satisfactory clinical situation and normal cervical motion; the remaining patient had slight torticollis with somewhat limited cervical rotation. There have been no relapses. Conclusions. Atlanto-axial chronic rotational subluxation is a condition with severe and painful repercussions for the patient and whose management poses serious challenges. In our series, all cases were treated following the same protocol: progressive cranial traction and halo cast immobilization. Complete reduction was achieved, while in the remaining one the reduction achieved was only partial, which made it necessary to perform a C1-C2 posterior arthrodesis. As the literature does not provide hard-and-fast treatment criteria, we suggest possible protocols for action

[Costoplasty in scoliosis surgery]. / Papel de la costoplastia en la cirugía de la escoliosis.

The rib hump is a protrusion of the apicals ribs of the convex side of the toracic scoliosis and it is due to the torsional deformity that appears in scoliosis. It originates a great cosmetic deformity that although improves with the correction of the scoliosis, it appears again by the costal elasticity. For this reason, in cases of important deformity it is necessary to associate a costoplasty for its definitive improvement. 10 cases of Idiopatic Scoliosis with 75.5 degrees of average and rib hump of 22.1 degrees were analysed. A resection of apicals ribs without stabilization in the same surgical act were done; the correction of the curve was 34.6 degrees (55%) and of the hump 8.1 degrees (64%); there were no important complications and the postoperative evolution was normal. The average follow up was 21,9 months, only in 1 case a slight deterioration of the hump was detected, although in all the cases the ribs recovered. In conclusion, costoplasty breaks the vertebro-bicosto-esternal ring. For that reason it is effective for the improvement of the costal hump without adding morbidity to the correction of the scoliosis.

Papel de la costoplastia en la cirugía de la escoliosis / costoplaty in scoliosis surgery

La giba costal es una prominencia de las costillas apicales del lado convexo de la escoliosis torácica y obedece a la deformidad torsional que ocurre en la escoliosis. Origina una gran deformidad cosmética que, aunque mejora con la corrección de la escoliosis, recidiva al cabo del tiempo por la elasticidad costal, por ello, en casos de deformidad importante se debe asociar una costoplastia para su mejoría definitiva. Se analizan 10 casos intervenidos de escoliosis idiopática con 75,5º de media y giba costal de 22,1º en los que se practicó resección de costillas apicales sin estabilización en el mismo acto quirúrgico; la corrección de la curva fue a 34,6º (55%) y de la giba a 8,1º (64%); no hubo complicaciones importantes y el postoperatorio fue normal. El seguimiento medio fue 21,9 meses apreciándose solamente en 1 caso un leve deterioro de la giba, aunque en todos los casos las costillas se rehicieron. En conclusión, la costoplastia rompe el anillo vértebro-bicosto-esternal, por lo que es efectiva para la mejoría de la giba costal sin añadir morbilidad a la corrección de la escoliosis (AU)

The rib hump is a protrusion of the apicals ribs of the convex side of the toracic scoliosis and it is due to the torsional deformity that appears in scoliosis. It originates a great cosmetic deformity that although improves with the correction of the scoliosis, it appears again by the costal elasticity. For this reason, in cases of important deformity it is necessary to associate a costoplasty for its definitive improvement. 10 cases of Idiopatic Scoliosis with 75.5º of average and rib hump of 22.1º were analysed. A resection of apicals ribs without stabilization in the same surgical act were done; the correction of the curve was 34.6º (55%) and of the hump 8.1º (64%); there were no important complications and the postoperative evolution was normal. The average follow up was 21'9 months, only in 1 case a slight deterioration of the hump was detected, although in all the cases the ribs recovered. In conclusion, costoplasty breaks the vertebro-bicosto-esternal ring. For that reason it is effective for the improvement of the costal hump without adding morbidity to the correction of the scoliosis (AU)

Subacute osteomyelitis in children.

Subacute osteomyelitis has a very anodyne symptomatology and is, therefore, difficult to diagnose. We studied 21 cases treated between 1984 and 1998 with subacute osteomyelitis of variable location and a mean diagnostic delay of 158.5 days. Of these, 10 cases could not be placed in the current classification. Diagnosis was radiologic in all cases, although in a few patients confirmation by isotopic bone scan and magnetic resonance imaging was required. Treatment was surgical in the first 11 cases to become, currently, predominantly conservative. The causal microorganism was only isolated in nine cases. Complete healing without sequelae was achieved in all but one case, which was of very tardy diagnosis and developed coxarthrosis.