Clinical Utility of Electroretinograms for Evaluating Vigabatrin Toxicity in Children.

PURPOSE: To determine changes in the clinical treatment of pediatric patients taking vigabatrin for seizure control in response to results of electroretinogram (ERG) performed for retinal toxicity screening. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who received ERGs at Children's Hospital of Colorado from 2009 to 2012. Age, indication for ERG, ERG data, and clinical management of vigabatrin were extracted from the records. ERGs were interpreted according to LKC Technologies normative values. A physician trained in ERG analysis interpreted each ERG. RESULTS: One hundred seventy ERGs were performed during the study period, and 147 ERGs were available for analysis. Every patient received general anesthesia for the procedure. Thirty-three ERGs were performed in 29 patients specifically as screening for retinal toxicity due to vigabatrin use, and 30 were available for analysis. Within this cohort, only 2 ERGs were normal (6.6%), and 28 were abnormal (93.3%). In patients who received abnormal results, 1 patient discontinued vigabatrin in response to the screening. CONCLUSIONS: In this study cohort, clinical management generally did not change in response to an abnormal screening result. Given the need for general anesthesia in the pediatric population receiving ERG testing, and minimal change in clinical decision-making in the face of abnormal results, ERG screening for retinal toxicity due to vigabatrin in the pediatric cohort should be reconsidered. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2021;58(3):174-179.].

Adverse Events and Their Risk Factors Following Intra-articular Corticosteroid Injections of the Ankle or Subtalar Joint.

BACKGROUND: Little data exists regarding the incidence of adverse events and their associated risk factors following intra-articular corticosteroid injection of the ankle and subtalar joint. The aim of this study was to determine the complication rate associated with such injections and to identify any predictive risk factors. METHODS: Adult patients who had received an intra-articular ankle or subtalar joint injection between January 2000 and April 2016 at one of 3 regional hospitals (2 level 1 trauma centers and 1 community hospital) were included. Patients with prior intra-articular injection of corticosteroid into the ankle or subtalar joint were excluded. Explanatory variables were sex, age, race, body mass index, diabetes status, tobacco use, presence of fluoroscopic guidance, location of intra-articular injection, and administering physician's years of experience. RESULTS: Of the 1708 patients included in the final cohort, 99 patients (5.8%) had a total of 104 adverse events within 90 days postinjection. The most prevalent types of adverse events were postinjection flare in 78 patients (4.6% of total cohort, 75% of adverse events) followed by skin reaction in 10 patients (0.6% of total cohort, 9% of adverse events). No infections were noted. Multivariable logistic regression analysis found that intra-articular injection in the subtalar ( P = .004) was independently associated with development of an adverse event. Fluoroscopic guidance was not found to be protective of an adverse event compared to nonguided injections ( P = .476). CONCLUSION: The adverse event rate following intra-articular ankle or subtalar joint corticosteroid injection was 5.8%, with postinjection flare being the most common complication. Infections following injection were not reported. Injection into the subtalar joint was independently associated with the development of an adverse event after intra-articular corticosteroid injection, and this was not mitigated by the use of fluoroscopic guidance. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative study.