Pediatric Lower Limb Lengthening Using the PRECICE Nail: Our Experience With 50 Cases.

BACKGROUND: Limb lengthening using intramedullary externally controlled motorized devices is becoming increasingly popular. There is limited literature regarding their use in the pediatric and adolescent population. This study reviews outcomes on 50 consecutive cases of intramedullary lower limb lengthening surgery in this population. METHODS: A retrospective review of all pediatric and adolescent patients treated in our institution by intramedullary lengthening for lower limb length discrepancy using the PRECICE and STRYDE intramedullary lengthening nails between 2013 and 2019. All patients were operated by a single surgeon. Data were prospectively recorded. We report on nail accuracy and reliability, consolidation index, time to full weight-bearing from completion of lengthening, joint range of movement, ASAMI bone and functional scores, presence of problems, obstacles and complications, and patient reported outcome measures (PROMS). RESULTS: Fifty cases (43 femoral and 7 tibial nails) were performed in 42 patients (20 males, 48% and 22 females, 52%). Six patients had bilateral lengthening and 2 patients had sequential lengthening. There were 28 antegrade femoral, 13 retrograde femoral and 5 tibia PRECICE nails, 2 tibial and 2 femoral PRECICE STRYDE nails. Mean age at surgery was 15 years old (12 to 17). Mean preoperative length discrepancy was 49 mm (20 to 90). Mean achieved lengthening was 46.5 mm (20 to 80). Mean percentage lengthening was 12.6% (5% to 25%). Nail accuracy was 96% and reliability 90%. Average distraction rate was 0.92 mm/d for femur and 0.64 mm/d for tibias. Consolidation index was 28 d/cm (18 to 43) and 39 d/cm (20 to 47), respectively. Time from completion of lengthening to independent full weight-bearing as observed in clinic was 45 days (21 to 70) and 34.2 days (23 to 50), respectively. ASAMI bone and functional scores were favorable and PROMS demonstrated high patient satisfaction levels. No significant complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated excellent clinical results and high patient satisfaction with intramedullary lengthening in a pediatric/adolescent population. We highly recommend thorough preoperative preparation, patient education, and a multidisciplinary approach. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Analysis of 280 Magnetically Controlled Growing Rod Lengthenings Comparing External Remote Control Readouts and Radiographic Measurements: Impact of Patient and Deformity Factors.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the accuracy of the external remote control (ERC) digital readout to the radiographic measurement of magnetically controlled growing rod (MCGR) actuators undergoing lengthenings/expansions and to analyze the impact of patient and spinal deformity factors on the accuracy of the ERC digital readout. METHODS: Single-surgeon database at 2 tertiary-care pediatric hospitals identified early-onset scoliosis patients with MCGR constructs. There were 14 males and 16 females with a minimum of 2 lengthenings included in the analysis. ERC readouts at each lengthening were recorded. RESULTS: Sixty-six MCGR actuators were assessed in 30 patients which underwent 280 lengthenings (mean of 5.7 lengthenings). At individual lengthening sessions the ERC and radiographic measurements were correlated (r = 0.69, P<0.001). The summed radiographic measurements averaged 15% less than the summed ERC readouts (SD = 19%). The difference between the sum of radiographic measurements and ERCs was positively correlated with subsequent lengthenings (r = 0.94, P = 0.015). The accuracy of the ERC did not improve with increased grouped sessions (r = -0.54, P = 0.388) with no difference between the group with 2 and the group with ≥5 lengthenings (P = 0.670). In patients with dual rods, the difference was correlated between rods (r = 0.66, P<0.001) and the distraction of each rod was not significantly different from the other (P = 0.124). Patient weight correlated with the difference between the radiographs and ERC readouts (r = 0.27, P = 0.032). In patients with multiple grouped lengthenings, increased weight was positively correlated with an increase in measurement difference (mean r = 0.972). CONCLUSIONS: Summed radiographic measurements during lengthening sessions averaged 15% less than the summed ERC readouts. The accuracy of radiographic measurements did not increase when sessions were grouped together (2 vs. ≥5). There was no difference in the ERC accuracy over lengthening sessions early versus late. Patient weight, but not body mass index, was positively correlated with the discrepancy between the ERC and radiographic measures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Long-term outcomes of limb salvage treatment with custom-made extendible endoprosthesis for bone sarcoma around the knee in children.

BACKGROUND: Limb salvage for bone sarcoma around the knee in skeletally immature children is challenging because of interference on two critical growth plates in the lower limb. This retrospective study aims to evaluate long-term outcomes and influence on growth of the lower limb of the cemented extendible endoprostheses. METHODS: Forty-five children with bone sarcoma around the knee, who underwent custom-made extendible endoprosthesis replacements, were included in this study. The average follow-up was 10.1 years. Survival, prosthetic-related complications and revision, functional outcomes, and influence on growth by prosthesis implantation were recorded. RESULTS: The 5-year disease-free survival and overall survival are 54.9% and 72.7%, and the 5-year prosthesis survival rate is 59.4%. The prosthesis was extended 4.2 cm in average. Limb length discrepancies of 20 patients were within 2 cm, and growth inhibition of proximal tibial epiphysis by passive implant insertion was observed. Aseptic loosening in 7 patients was the most significant complication. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score at last visit was 83.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The use of custom-made extendible endoprosthesis provided good functional results for children with bone tumor around the knee. Further improvement of the prosthesis design and operation technique will help to decrease complication and gain better limb function.

Health-related quality of life in early-onset-scoliosis patients treated with growth-friendly implants is influenced by etiology, complication rate and ambulatory ability.

BACKGROUND: Progressive Early-Onset Scoliosis (EOS) in children may lead to surgical interventions with growth-friendly implants, which require repeated lengthening procedures in order to allow adequate growth. Quality of life was studied using the validated German version of the EOS-Questionnaire (EOSQ-24-G) in surgically treated EOS children with different lengthening modalities. METHODS: EOSQ-24-G and the KINDLR questionnaire were given to families with EOS children who had been treated by either vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib implants and repetitive lengthening surgeries every 6 months or children who had received a magnetically expansion controlled implant, which was externally lengthened every 3 months. Results were compared according to differences between the two tests, and with possible influencing factors such as surgical method, severity of scoliosis, relative improvement of curvature, etiology, weight, age, travelling distance, complications, ambulatory ability and others. RESULTS: 56 children with an average curve angle of 69° corrected to 33° (52%; average age 5.6 yrs) answered the EOSQ-24-G and the KINDLR after an average follow-up of 3.9 years. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was not affected by the initial scoliosis correction, the number of surgeries or the implant type. However, there was a negative correlation with non-ambulatory status, complications during treatment and for children with a neuromuscular scoliosis. CONCLUSION: Using the validated EOSQ-24-G, no statistically significant differences were found between the group of children receiving repetitive surgeries and children with external lengthening procedures without surgery. However, results were influenced by the etiology, complication rate or ambulatory ability. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Therapeutic Level IV.

What is the Utility Of a Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Service in an Academic Department of Orthopaedic Surgery?

BACKGROUND: Limb lengthening and reconstruction surgery is a relatively new subspecialty of orthopaedic surgery in the United States. Despite increased awareness and practice of the specialty, it is rarely vested as a separate clinical service in an academic department of orthopaedic surgery. We have had experience growing such a dedicated service within an academic department of orthopaedic surgery over the past 9 years. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We explored (1) the use of a limb deformity service (LDS) in an academic department of orthopaedic surgery by examining data on referral patterns, our clinical volume, and academic productivity; and (2) the surgical breadth of cases comprising the patients of the LDS in an academic department of orthopaedic surgery by examining data on caseload by anatomic sites, category, and surgical techniques/tools. METHODS: We (SRR, ATF, EWB) retrospectively examined data on numbers of surgical cases and outpatient visits from the limb lengthening and complex reconstruction service at the Hospital for Special Surgery from 2005 to 2013 to evaluate growth. We studied 672 consecutive surgical cases performed by our service for a sample period of 1 year, assessing referral patterns within and outside our medical center, anatomic region, surgical category, and surgical technique/tool. Academic productivity was measured by review of our service's publications. RESULTS: During the time period studied (2005-2013), outpatient and surgical volume significantly increased by 120% (1530 to 3372) and 105% (346 to 708), respectively, on our LDS. Surgical volume growth was similar to the overall growth of the department of orthopaedic surgery. Referrals were primarily from orthopaedic surgeons (56%) and self/Internet research (25%). Physician referrals were predominantly from our own medical center (83%). Referrals from within our institution came from a variety of clinical services. Forty-nine peer-reviewed articles and 23 book chapters were published by staff members of our service. Anatomic surgical sites, surgical categories, and technique/tools used on our LDS were diverse, yet procedures were specialized to the discipline of limb deformity. CONCLUSIONS: There is a substantial role for an LDS within an academic department of orthopaedic surgery. With establishment of a dedicated service comes focus and resources that establish an environment for growth in volume, intramural and extramural referral, and purposeful research and education. The majority of referrals were from orthopaedic surgeons from our own medical center, suggesting needfulness. The LDS provides patients access to specialized surgery. The number of intramural referrals suggests that the specialty service helps retain patients within our academic orthopaedic department. Future research will try to determine if such a dedicated service leads to improved outcomes, efficiency, and value. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective study.

Hemimelia paraxial peronea. Tratamiento mediante elongación ósea con distractores Orthofix. (Comunicación preliminar) / Peroneal paraxial hemimelia. Distraction bone lengthening by Orthofix external fixator. Preliminary report

Se analizan 9 pacientes portadores de hemimelias de diversos grados algunas con ausencia total de peroné y de los dos últimos rayos del pie y otras con hipoplasia del peroné, sin lesión de los rayos del pie. Se hace análisis clínico y radiológico de la presencia o no de las deformidades previas para establecer medidas prequirúrgicas como son deformidad del talón en valgo con angulación anterior de la tibia; contractura en flexión de la rodilla y equino del tobillo. En base a la edad cronológica y edad ósea se prevé el crecimiento a futuro de las extremidades para identificar si requiere elongaciones subsecuentes. Se identifican zonas de riesgo para la colocación de los clavos así como para el sitio de la osteotomía y en caso de la angulación de la tibia se realiza corrección de ésta durante la colocación del distractor. Se comparan observaciones obtenidas en nuestra clínica de alargamiento óseo de nuestro Servicio de Ortopedia, con las observaciones de otros autores de reportes internacionales

[Bone lengthening in children]. / Alargamientos óseos en niños.

Since June 1987, were realized 45 limb lengthening (40 lower and 5 upper) in 34 children with between 3-15 years old. A dynamic axial fixator (DAF) system with telescoping capabilities, permits a slow distraction through a osteotomy and callotasis in 36 bones, and chondrodiatasis in 5. Twenty-six unilateral lengthening were realized and 5 alineation-lengthening, 20 congenital and 11 acquired causes. 14 bilateral lengthening were done in 5 patients (4 achondroplastic and one Turner's syndrome). The average increase in length was 5.5 cm. for limb and ranged from 4.3 to 8.0 cm. The healing index was 32.1 days for each centimeter of length gained in the femurs and 5.2 cm. with 28.2 days/cm. in the tibias. The complications were superficial pin tract infection (73%), that were not generally treated with antibiotic, 2 knee valve, 2 knee subluxation and one patella subluxation with knee flexion contracture.

Patrones radiológicos pronósticos del callo de elongación / Radiological patterns that forecast the bone elongation

Realizamos un estudio retrospectivo sobre 127 elongaciones óseas efectuadas en nuestro Depto de Diagnóstico por Imágenes y Ortopedia y Traumatología. El objetivo del trabajo fue poder establecer diferentes patrones radiológicos del foco de elongación, entre los 40 y 60 días de la misma y valorar su repercusión sobre la calidad final del hueso neoformado. La etiología más frecuente fue la acondroplasia, seguida en orden por el síndrome de Turner, postraumático, raquitismo hipofosfatérmico, displasias óseas, secuelas de polio, sepsis de cadera y la enfermedad de Ollier. Los patrones radiológicos se dividieron en dos grupos, metafisarios y diafisarios,según fuese el sitio de realizada la osteotomía percutánea. Dentro de los metafisarios encontramos cuatro patrones radiológicos: fusiforme, en bosque de abedules, excéntrico e hipotrófico. En los diafisarios observamos siete patrones: en bosque de abedules, fusiforme, fusiforme discontinuo, lacunar, en reloj de arena e hipotrófico. Concluimos que en aquellos casos en los cuales encontramos patrones radiológicos en bosque de abedules, fusiforme, fusiforme discontinuo o lacunar, se observó un mejor índice de elongación y una mejor calidad de hueso neoformado. El patrón excéntrico o en reloj de arena necesitó un tratamiento más prolongado (mayor índice de elongación). Ante un patrón hipotrófico se debió efectuar ejercicio del callo de elongación o el aporte de injerto óseo

Patrones radiológicos pronósticos del callo de elongación / Radiological patterns that forecast the bone elongation

Realizamos un estudio retrospectivo sobre 127 elongaciones óseas efectuadas en nuestro Depto de Diagnóstico por Imágenes y Ortopedia y Traumatología. El objetivo del trabajo fue poder establecer diferentes patrones radiológicos del foco de elongación, entre los 40 y 60 días de la misma y valorar su repercusión sobre la calidad final del hueso neoformado. La etiología más frecuente fue la acondroplasia, seguida en orden por el síndrome de Turner, postraumático, raquitismo hipofosfatérmico, displasias óseas, secuelas de polio, sepsis de cadera y la enfermedad de Ollier. Los patrones radiológicos se dividieron en dos grupos, metafisarios y diafisarios,según fuese el sitio de realizada la osteotomía percutánea. Dentro de los metafisarios encontramos cuatro patrones radiológicos: fusiforme, en bosque de abedules, excéntrico e hipotrófico. En los diafisarios observamos siete patrones: en bosque de abedules, fusiforme, fusiforme discontinuo, lacunar, en reloj de arena e hipotrófico. Concluimos que en aquellos casos en los cuales encontramos patrones radiológicos en bosque de abedules, fusiforme, fusiforme discontinuo o lacunar, se observó un mejor índice de elongación y una mejor calidad de hueso neoformado. El patrón excéntrico o en reloj de arena necesitó un tratamiento más prolongado (mayor índice de elongación). Ante un patrón hipotrófico se debió efectuar ejercicio del callo de elongación o el aporte de injerto óseo