Congenital dislocation of the hip, with late diagnosis after 1year of age: Update and management

SummaryWhen congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH) is diagnosed only after walking age, management is greatly complicated. In view of the increasing number of such cases treated by members of the French Society of Paediatric Orthopaedics (SOFOP) in recent years, a 3-part study was conducted within the Society to shed light on the reasons for late diagnosis, to give an update on treatment strategies currently implemented in France, and to report long-term outcomes

Flatfoot in children and adolescents. Analysis of imaging findings and therapeutic implications

SummaryIntroductionPes planovalgus (PPV) is a complex three-dimensional deformity of which routine radiographs provide only a two-dimensional analysis.HypothesisAngles and other radiographic parameters of the foot in children and adolescents, when studied on both the dorsoplantar and the lateral view, can be used to establish a radiographic classification system for PPV that provides useful therapeutic guidance in clinical practice.Materials and methodsA retrospective single-centre study was conducted on 65 feet in 35 patients aged 7 to 18 years and having adequate ossification. All patients had a clinical diagnosis of idiopathic or neurologic PPV and available weight-bearing dorsoplantar and strict lateral radiographs. We excluded pes planus due to tarsal coalition, congenital bone deformities, or overcorrection of talipes equinovarus (n=25). All possible axes were drawn and angles measured after an evaluation of interindividual agreement.ResultsWe identified four patterns of PPV: subtalar pes planus (n=16) with marked subtalar valgus and longitudinal sag predominating at the talonavicular joint, midtarsal pes planus (n=12) without subtalar valgus but with marked midtarsal abduction and sag predominating at the cuneonavicular joint, mixed pes planus (n=28) with subtalar valgus, midtarsal abduction, and sag at both the talonavicular and cuneonavicular joints, and pes planocavus (n=9) with sag of the medial arch and cavus deformity of the lateral arch.ConclusionThis original classification system provides therapeutic guidance by helping to match the surgical procedure to the nature and location of the deformities.Level of evidenceLevel IV

Congenital dislocation of the hip: Optimal screening strategies in 2014

AbstractA prospective multi-centre nationwide study of patients with congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH) diagnosed after 3 months of age was conducted with support from the French Society for Paediatric Orthopaedics (Société Française d’Orthopédie Pédiatrique [SoFOP]), French Organisation for Outpatient Paediatrics (Association Française de Pédiatrie Ambulatoire [AFPA]), and French-Speaking Society for Paediatric and Pre-Natal Imaging (Société Francophone d’Imagerie Pédiatrique et Prénatale [SFIPP]). The results showed inadequacies in clinical screening for CDH that were patent when assessed quantitatively and probably also present qualitatively. These findings indicate a need for a communication and educational campaign aimed at highlighting good clinical practice guidelines in the field of CDH screening. The usefulness of routine ultrasound screening has not been established. The findings from this study have been used by the authors and French National Health Authority (Haute Autorité de Santé [HAS]) to develop recommendations about CDH screening. There is an urgent need for a prospective randomised multi-centre nationwide study, which should involve primary-care physicians

Lower-limb lengths and angles in children older than six years: Reliability and reference values by EOS® stereoradiography

Lower-limb alignment in children is classically assessed clinically or based on conventional radiography, which is associated with projection bias. Low-dose biplanar radiography was described recently as an alternative to conventional imaging. The primary objective of this study was to assess the reliability of length and angle values inferred from 3D reconstructions in children seen in everyday practice. The secondary objective was to obtain reference values for goniometry parameters in children. The paediatric reliability study was done in 18 volunteers who were divided into three groups based on whether they were typically developing (TD) children, had skeletal development abnormalities, or had cerebral palsy. The reference data were obtained in 129 TD children. Each study participant underwent biplanar radiography with 3D reconstruction performed by experts and radiology technicians. Goniometry parameters were computed automatically. Reproducibility was assessed based on the intra-class coefficient (ICC) and the ISO 5725 standard (standard deviation of reproducibility, SDR). For length parameters, the ICCs ranged from 0.94 to 1.00 and the SDR from 2.1 to 3.5 mm. For angle parameters, the ICC and SDR ranges were 0.60–0.95 and 0.9°–4.6°, respectively. No significant differences were found across experts or radiology technicians. Age-specific reference data are reported. These findings confirm the reliability of low-dose biplanar radiography for assessing lower-limb parameters in children seen in clinical practice. In addition, the study provides reference data for commonly measured parameters

Prevention of ankle valgus after vascularized fibular grafts in children.

Ankle valgus after the use of vascularized fibular grafts is a specific complication of the donor site ankle in the growing child. Incidence of this deformity and prevention strategy are documented poorly. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the rate of such deformities and to analyze efficiency of two prevention methods. Charts of 20 children surgically treated for sarcomas of long bones with a mean followup of 4.1 years were studied retrospectively. Ankle valgus was considered if the tibiotalar angle on radiographs with the patient standing was 5 degrees or greater in valgus than that of the opposite ankle, and deformity was considered severe if it required surgical treatment. Prevention was done in some patients with a tibiofibular syndesmotic screw or with reconstruction of the fibula using a tibial autograft. Valgus occurred in nine patients (45%) and was severe in five (25%). Valgus prevention with a syndesmotic screw was efficient and lacking in complications, whereas patients with fibula reconstruction had a high incidence of deformity and relevant complications. The authors recommend using a tibiofibular screw in all patients whose growth plates are open in the lower limbs at the time of surgery

Brachial plexus birth palsy shoulder deformity treatment using subscapularis release combined to tendons transfer

SummaryIntroductionOne possible sequela of obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OP) is impaired external rotation (ER) of the shoulder which, in addition to its functional consequences, can generate a posterior humeral head subluxation or dislocation. The goal of the present study was to assess medium-term clinical and radiological results of release of the subscapularis muscle with transfer of the latissimus dorsi and teres major muscles.Patients and methodsFrom 1985 to 1995, a continuous series of 32 OP patients underwent subscapularis muscle release, associated in 24 cases to muscle transfer. Mean age was 2.5 years (range, 1–9.2 years). Shoulder function was assessed by measurement of passive ER and graded according to the modified Mallet classification at 1, 5 and 10 years’ follow-up or before revision. The evolution of the glenohumeral deformity was assessed on CT images of glenoid retroversion and the humeral head subluxation (% of humeral head covered), before and 5 years after surgery.ResultsMean postoperative follow-up was 9.5±5.6 years. Treatment brought significant improvement in passive ER (mean preoperative and 1-year follow-up values: −10° and 52°, respectively). This explained the good modified Mallet score at 1 year: mean=18.4/25. Subsequent significant progressive degradation was noted: 10 years postoperatively, mean ER amplitude and modified Mallet score were respectively 13° and 15.8. The CT study showed correction of the glenoid retroversion (mean preoperative and 5-year follow-up values: 29° and 18°, respectively), and of the humeral head subluxation (mean preoperative and 5-year follow-up values: 25 and 39%, respectively). Surgical revision was indicated six times (five patients): two latissimus dorsi and teres major transfers (not performed initially) and four derotational humeral osteotomies. Three-quarters of the patients who did not initially have muscle transfer had to be reoperated or else showed ER insufficiency at last follow-up.Discussion and conclusionSurgical treatment produces objective functional gain, even if this diminishes over time. Moreover, it prevents or corrects posterior subluxation of the shoulder. It is indicated when passive ER amplitude is negative. It seems advisable to associate release to muscle transfer.Level of evidenceLevel IV Retrospective study

Anterior and lateral overcoverage after triple pelvic osteotomy in childhood for developmental dislocation of the hip with acetabular dysplasia: Frequency, features, and medium-term clinical impact

International audienceBackground: Triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO) is a treatment option in children and adolescents with residual acetabular dysplasia after developmental dislocation of the hip (DDH). However, TPO to redirect the acetabulum is often blamed for anterior and lateral overcoverage of the femoral head. The main objectives of this study were to assess the potential clinical impact, frequency, and radiological features of acetabular overcorrection. Evidence of post-operative remodelling and associations linking younger age at surgery and/or dysplasia severity to the existence and magnitude of overcorrection were sought.Hypothesis: Acetabular overcorrection has little or no clinical impact.Patients and methods: TPO was performed on 41 hips in 31 patients at a mean age of 6.3 years (range, 3.0-15.2 years). Mean follow-up was 13.8 years (range, 5.4-28.7 years) and mean age at last re-evaluation was 22.1 years (range, 13-39 years). Clinical outcomes were assessed based on the Harris Hip Score (HHS) and Postel-Merle d'Aubigné (PMA) score. Radiographs were used to look for a cross-over sign (CO+) and to measure the vertical-centre edge (VCE) and vertical-centre anterior (VCA) angles and the acetabular index (AI). Overcorrection was defined as AI≤0° and/or VCE≥35° and/or VCA≥40° and/or CO+.Results: The HHS and PMA score values were good or excellent for 39 (94%) hips. One or more parameters indicated overcorrection of 33 (80.5%) hips. No significant differences were found between the overcorrected hips and the hips with normal parameters.Discussion: TPO effectively corrects residual acetabular dysplasia. Overcorrection is common in all three planes but has little clinical impact in young adults. The high frequency of overcorrection mandates a careful pre- and intra-operative evaluation of acetabular version