Background: The purpose of this study was to describe the natural history of Kienböck disease among patients who elected to proceed with nonoperative treatment. Methods: The authors performed a retrospective study of all patients treated nonoperatively for Kienböck disease within their institution from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2014. Inclusion criteria included follow-up greater than 1 year, serial posteroanterior and lateral wrist radiographs, and clinical examination. Posteroanterior/lateral radiographs were independently reviewed at initial presentation and at final follow-up, including Lichtman stage, carpal index, Stahl index, ulnar variance, and intercarpal angles. Results: Twenty-five patients with 25 wrists were included (mean age, 50.2 years), with an average length of clinical follow-up of 3.9 years and a mean length of radiographic follow-up of 5.2 years. There was no significant difference in range of motion; however, patient-reported pain was significantly decreased, and modified Mayo wrist scores and grip strength were increased. Lichtman stage, scapholunate angle, and radioscaphoid angle were increased; and carpal index, posteroanterior lunate ratio, and Stahl index were decreased across the study period. The mean progression in Lichtman stage was 0.5 stage/year with a range of 0 to 1.6 stages/year throughout the study period. There was no significant difference in Lichtman stage progression based on stage at presentation. A history of smoking was associated with increased radiographic disease progression. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that among patients with Kienböck disease managed nonoperatively, the majority of patients significantly improve over time with respect to pain, grip strength, and Mayo wrist score, despite radiographic progression of disease. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, IV.
Adventitial cysts of the radial artery are joint connected
Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency with which postoperative radiographs resulted in a change in management following closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of displaced pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures. We hypothesize that only the initial postoperative radiograph will lead to changes in management of operative supracondylar humerus fractures. Methods: A retrospective review was performed at 2 level I pediatric trauma centers. Inclusion criteria were patients below 18 years of age who sustained supracondylar humerus fractures (Gartland type II, III, IV) who were operatively treated from 2008 to 2013 with adequate radiographic follow-up. Patients with flexion type, intra-articular, transphyseal, and open fractures were excluded from the study. Routine radiographs were taken at initial follow-up (1 wk postoperatively) and at pin removal (3 to 4 wk postoperatively). Results: The final analysis included 572 patients. Initial postoperative radiographs changed treatment in 9 patients (1.6%), including revision surgeries, 2 pin adjustments, and 2 early pin removals. At the time of pin removal, 20 (3.5%) patients required further immobilization. There were no changes to the initial plan for continued nonoperative treatment at final follow-up (6 to 8 wk postoperatively). Conclusions: In this large retrospective series of patients treated with closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of displaced supracondylar humerus fractures, radiographs at 3 weeks do not reveal a need to return to the operating room or other significant pathology. These findings suggest that radiographs should be obtained within 7 to 10 days postoperatively for type III fractures and may only need to be repeated if the clinical situation warrants it, such as severe fracture pattern, persistent pain, or clinical deformity. Level of Evidence: Level IV—case series.
Background: Giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone is a benign, though locally aggressive tumor, classically described as an eccentric lytic lesion, often with cortical expansion and destruction. It typically involves the metaphysis or epiphysis of long bones in skeletally mature patients, with a slight female predominance. The incidence in the small bones of the hand has been reported to be 2% to 5%. Methods: Treatment options have evolved in recent years, and currently include intralesional curettage with or without adjuvant therapy, wide resection, and occasionally amputation. Results: In this report, we present a long-term follow-up (10 years) of a patient with GCT involving a metacarpal, who was initially reconstructed with a metacarpal head allograft, which was eventually revised to a metacarpophalangeal (MCP) total joint arthroplasty. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the only report of pyrocarbon being used for tumor reconstruction and the only report of late MCP allograft salvage.
First-Time Patellofemoral Dislocation: Risk Factors for Recurrent Instability
Background Shoulder arthroscopy is not common in the pediatric and adolescent population, but the frequency may be on the rise. The purpose of the study was to determine the incidence of acute complications of arthroscopic shoulder surgery in children and adolescents. Methods A retrospective, cross-sectional review was performed identifying patients aged 18 years or less who underwent an arthroscopic shoulder procedure from 1997 to 2009 at Institution 1 and 2007 to 2010 at Institution 2. Exclusion criteria included open procedures and missing records. Demographic and surgical data were collected, including intra-operative and post-operative complications during the first 6 months. The complications were divided into minor (no secondary treatment) and major (secondary treatment rendered). Results Two hundred children, mean age 15.9 years, met criteria and 73 % were boys. All procedures were performed under general anesthesia, but 51 % included inter-scalene regional anesthesia. There were 16 (8.0 %) total complications recorded. Major complications occurred in five (2.5 %) patients, including two tendinitis/bursitis requiring injections, one broken pain pump catheter requiring an accessory incision to retrieve, one pain control readmission, and one laceration of the cephalic vein requiring ligation. Minor complications occurred in 11 (5.5 %) patients, including allergic reactions, transient dysesthesias, headaches, bronchitis, syncope, transient hypotension, and uvula swelling. Conclusion Although we found no seriously deleterious outcomes, it is important to recognize that an additional service was rendered for 2.5 % of children undergoing shoulder arthroscopy. The events that did occur may be preventable and this study should serve as a baseline to improve quality and safety of shoulder arthroscopy in the pediatric population.
Functional outcomes and quality of life following surgical treatment of aneurysmal bone cysts of the pelvis in children
Background Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are a benign aggressive tumor that occurs rarely in the pelvis in the pediatric population. Pelvic ABCs may involve the triradiate cartilage and/or the acetabulum, which increases the technical difficulty of surgical treatment and has potential implications on the growth and development of the hip joint. This study examines the clinical presentation, rate of surgical complications, and recurrence rate, as well as, long-term clinical and functional outcomes of children with pelvic ABCs treated at a single institution by a single treatment modality. Methods Between 1988 and 2008, 142 children with histologically confirmed ABCs were treated at our institution. Seventeen (12 %) tumors were located in the pelvis. A total of 13 pelvic ABCs (5 ilium-periacetabular, 4 pubic, 3 ilium-iliac wing, and 1 ischium) were included in this study. There were eight male and five female patients with a mean age of 12.9 years (range 4.1–17.5 years) at the time of surgery. The Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS), the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society 1993 (MSTS’93) score, and the Short Form Health Survey Sf-36 were obtained at a minimum 5-year follow-up in all patients (mean follow-up 11.5 years, range 5.5–19.8 years). The mean age at follow-up was 24.3 years (range 14.6–32.6 years). Results All patients were treated surgically with intralesional curettage extended with a high-speed burr and bone grafting. Eight patients received adjunctive therapy with phenol. Five patients had preoperative selective arterial embolization. Of the 13 patients, 1 had a local recurrence diagnosed at 6 months after surgery. The only complication in the cohort was a superficial wound infection. At the latest follow-up, all patients were free of disease. The mean TESS score was 95 and the mean MSTS’93 score was 93 %. The mean self-rated general health score, according to the SF-36 was 87 % of total points possible. Conclusions Extended curettage and bone grafting of pelvic ABCs in the pediatric population can yield high clinical and functional scores at an average of 11 years follow-up with a low rate of complications and recurrence. Level of evidence IV, case series.
Predictors of Recurrent Instability After Acute Patellofemoral Dislocation in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients
Background: Patellofemoral instability is common in the pediatric and adolescent population, yet prognosis after the first dislocation has been difficult to determine. Purpose: To describe the demographics of pediatric and adolescent patients with a first-time patellofemoral dislocation and to determine predictors of recurrent instability. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A search of the Mayo Medical Index database between 1998 to 2010 was performed, and 2039 patients were identified. Inclusion criteria were (1) age 18 years or younger, (2) no history of patellofemoral subluxation/dislocation of the affected knee, (3) radiographs within 4 weeks of the initial instability episode, and (4) a dislocated patella requiring reduction or convincing history/findings suggestive of acute patellar dislocation (effusion/hemarthrosis, tenderness along medial parapatellar structures, and apprehension with lateral patellar translation). Radiographs were evaluated for trochlear dysplasia (Dejour classification) and patella alta (Caton-Deschamps and Insall-Salvati indices). Skeletal maturity was graded based on the distal femoral and proximal tibial physes (open, closing, or closed). Results: A total of 222 knees (120 male [54.1%] and 102 female [45.9%]) in 210 patients with an average age of 14.9 years (range, 9-18 years), met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-four patients (10.8%) underwent early surgery. All others were initially treated nonoperatively. Of the 198 patients in this group, 76 (38.4%) had recurrent instability, and 39 (51.3%) of these required surgical treatment. Recurrent instability was associated with trochlear dysplasia ( P < .01). Patients with both immature physes and trochlear dysplasia had a recurrence rate of 69% (33/48), with a hazard ratio of 3.3. Age, sex, body mass index, and patella alta were not statistically associated with recurrent instability. Conclusion: Nonoperative treatment for first-time patellofemoral dislocation resulted in a 62% success rate. However, skeletally immature patients with trochlear dysplasia had only a 31% success rate with nonoperative management. Nearly half of patients with recurrent instability required surgical intervention to gain stability.