Ender rod fixation of femoral shaft fractures in children.

Ender rod fixation for femoral shaft fractures in children was evaluated in a prospective study at two Level 1 trauma centers. Fifty-seven fractures in 52 patients were evaluated. Criteria for inclusion in the study included age younger than 14 years, femoral shaft fractures occurring in the middle 3/5, canal size greater than 7 mm, and parental consent. Hip and knee motion, gait, leg length discrepancy, and rotational asymmetry were evaluated by clinical examination. Standard radiographs were used to measure any residual angulation. A subset of patients whose injuries occurred more than 12 months previously was evaluated using scanograms. Followup averaged 20 months. There were no delayed unions and all fractures healed within 12 weeks. Clinically significant leg length discrepancy, malunion, or loss of motion did not occur. Functional results were excellent and complications were minor. Ender rod fixation of femur fractures in children allows the advantages of surgical fixation with minimal risk of complications.

Sensitivity of objective parameters in the diagnosis of pediatric septic hips.

This study examines the sensitivity of temperature, leukocyte count, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the diagnosis of pediatric septic arthritis of the hip by retrospective case analysis of 26 children, aged 0 to 6 years, in hospitals of central Brooklyn. The average presenting temperature was 38.4 degrees C, with 65% of the patients having had a temperature higher than 38 degrees C. The average leukocyte count was 13,500 per mL, with 73% of patients having a leukocyte count greater than 9000 per ml. The average erythrocyte sedimentation rate (21 cases) was 51 mm per hour, with 95% of the patients presenting with an erythrocyte sedimentation rate greater than 20 mm per hour. Of these children with septic hips, only 5% had a normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate, although 35% had a normal temperature and 27% had a normal leukocyte count. Neonates (age younger than 1 month) were not febrile (average temperature, 36.7 degrees C) and did not have an elevated leukocyte count (average leukocyte count, 9300 per mL) but did have an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (average erythrocyte sedimentation rate, 45 mm per hour). Of these 3 values, erythrocyte sedimentation rate is the most sensitive indicator of septic arthritis of the hip in children 0 to 6 years of age.

Clubfeet and tarsal coalition.

Tarsal coalition was noted in 18 cases of rigid equinovarus deformity. Sixteen cases were encountered at surgery and two at morbid dissection. There were 14 patients in the series; six had associated pathologic conditions that might have caused their clubfeet to be deemed "teratologic," whereas eight did not and were considered to have congenital clubfeet. Four patients in the series had bilateral coalitions. Preoperative radiographs demonstrated the coalition in only one case. A presurgical magnetic resonance image (MRI) clearly showed the coalition in another case. Nonoperative treatment was unsuccessful. Two patients with tibial dysplasia had ankle disarticulations. The remaining 16 feet required extensive soft-tissue releases, internal fixation, and coalition excision. The vast majority of cases showed cartilaginous subtalar coalition at the medial facet. The patients were followed for an average of 6 years, and two recurrences were noted. Remaining feet were painless and plantargrade, but were rather stiff. This anomaly may be more common than previously described. It is usually not suspected preoperatively and may likewise be difficult to recognize at surgery. A preoperative MRI scan may also be helpful.

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis in black children: incidence of chondrolysis.

The risk of chondrolysis and avascular necrosis (AVN) in black children treated for slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is controversial. A retrospective study was conducted of 29 black patients (44 hips) treated for SCFE at Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, to evaluate our own experience. All patients were treated with in situ pinning. The overall rates of chondrolysis and AVN were 6.8 and 4.5%, respectively. Fifty-two percent of patients had bilateral SCFE. Obesity was extremely common and correlated significantly with bilateral disease. Obesity did not correlate directly with a higher incidence of chondrolysis or AVN. Adherence to technical details described should reduce complications further.

Hip adductor transfer compared with adductor tenotomy in cerebral palsy.

In a ten-year study in patients with cerebral palsy, fifty patients had ninety-eight adductor transfers and fifty-two patients had 102 adductor tenotomies with or without obturator neurectomy. The groups were similar with regard to severity of their disease, age, and associated concomitant surgery. Results were evaluated in three ways: functional change, change in passive motion of the hip, and change in stability of the hip. Our data support the view that although the adductor transfer operation takes longer and is associated with a higher incidence of postoperative drainage, the over-all improvement is greater and is maintained better than that after adductor tenotomy with or without neurectomy. The transferred muscle provides greater pelvic stability, decreases hip-flexion contractures, and reduces instability of the hip.

A method of repair of late quadriceps rupture.

Delayed treatment of a quadriceps rupture is an infrequent but difficult situation. The fibrous degeneration and muscle retraction and subsequent hiatus present a challenging technical problem. A 54-year-old laborer with a 7-week quadriceps rupture was treated by a method that seems not to have been previously reported. At surgery there was a 9-cm gap that could not be approximated by either a Bunnell suture, or Codvilla lengthening of Scuderi inverted triangle. Repair was successfully accomplished by transposing the inner one-third of the patellar tendon. The tendon was split longitudinally and separated from the medial and lateral aspects in a distal to proximal direction with an osteoperiosteal flap. This was proximally sutured across the gap in the quadriceps mechanism. Eighteen months postoperatively there was no extension lag with knee range of motion of 0 degrees-125 degrees and good power.