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Unstable slipped capital femoral epiphysis can have disastrous complications including osteonecrosis and chondrolysis. It has been shown that 20% to 80% of patients may develop a contralateral slip ≤18 months after diagnosis. The purpose of this article is to report and characterize patients who developed bilateral unstable slips. After Institutional Review Board approval, the patients included were only those with bilateral unstable slipped capital femoral epiphyses. A minimum 2-year follow-up was required. Seven patients, all female, were included in the study, with an average age of 11.4 years at the time of their first slips. The interval between slips averaged 127 days (range, 0-245 days). All but 1 patient presented with a severe slip. The second slip was also severe in 3 patients and less severe in 4 patients. The triradiate cartilage was open in 3 patients. Two patients required corrective osteotomies. Chondrolysis developed in 2 patients with no osteonecrosis reported. The incidence of bilateral unstable slips ranged from 4% to 20% of all unstable slipped capital femoral epiphyses based on our findings. Skeletal immaturity was not a risk factor. The surgeon must be vigilant for the possibility of bilateral slips. The family must be instructed on precautions patients must take while recuperating from unstable slipped capital femoral epiphyses. Contralateral fixation of the unaffected side may be warranted in patients with initial severe unstable slipped capital femoral epiphyses to prevent this condition.

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BACKGROUND: Reduction of unstable slipped capital epiphysis has a bad reputation, especially in severe slips. Treatment frequently causes avascular necrosis (AVN). This study analyzes the role of capsulotomy with evacuation of intraarticular fluid and gentle reduction done as an emergency procedure followed by fixation with unthreaded Kirschner wires (K-wires). METHODS: We treated 64 consecutive cases of unstable slips (37 boys and 27 girls) following the same protocol. Instability was recognized in those children who had experienced a fall or a stumble, followed by acute hip pain, with radiological evidence of capital femoral separation and ultrasonographic evidence of joint effusion. The protocol consisted of capsulotomy, evacuation of intraarticular effusion or hematoma, controlled gentle reduction, and fixation of the reduced physis by smooth K-wires. Surgery was done as an emergency procedure if possible within 24 hours after the onset of acute symptoms. RESULTS: There were 20 mild slips with slip angles less than 31 degrees, 24 moderate with slip angles between 31 and 50 degrees, 20 slips were severe with slip angles between 51 and 90 degrees. In 61 cases, reduction was successful without being followed by AVN. Three patients, 2 girls and 1 boy, developed partial AVN (4.7%). Two avascular necroses occurred in moderate slips, one in a severe slip, and none in the mild slips. The outcome of 60 patients (34 boys and 26 girls) with unstable slips could be evaluated clinically and radiographically with a mean follow-up of 4.9 years (range, 18 months-104 months). The Iowa hip score in these 60 cases reached an average of 94.5 points out of 100. CONCLUSIONS: Open reduction and evacuation of intraarticular hemarthrosis or effusion detected by ultrasound and smooth K-wire fixation done as an emergency is a safe and reliable treatment option for unstable slips with a low AVN rate. The severity of the slip does not influence the rate of AVN and the outcome measured by the Iowa hip score.

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From 1975 to 2004 a total of 38 children handicapped by congenital multiple arthrogryposis were cared for. The congenital joint contractures demand a major effort in terms of surgical reconstruction. In the case of distal arthrogryposis the chances that patients will be able to walk without help are good, while those with amyoplasia are likely to be dependent on mobility aids throughout their lives. The ultimate goal of treatment for patients is to develop into self-confident adults who can cope with life despite their handicaps. The hip in arthrogryposis shows variable forms of pathology, ranging from the almost normal hip to hip contractures with dislocation. Its treatment has some limited advantages, but hardly improves mobility. The knee contractures are actively treated to allow patients to sit, stand and walk better. The club foot and the rocker-bottom foot need sophisticated conservative and operative treatments. If conservative manipulation of bilateral extension contractures of the elbow fails operative treatment is carried out on the dominant side. For shoulder, hand and finger contractures conservative manipulation brings about little improvement, and surgical approaches help hardly at all.

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PURPOSE: Various pin configurations are possible to stabilize a supracondylar fracture. While cross pinning gives the best stabilty the disadvantage is the risk of iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury. We combine a cross pin fixation with a lateral approach. The aim of the study was to prove our method retrospectively to show the advantage of lateral cross-pinning achieving stabilty and avoiding ulnar nerve injury. METHOD: Between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2002, 84 supracondylar fractures were treated with invasive surgical procedure. The intention was a primary closed reduction. Following closed reduction under general anaesthesia, two K-wires were introduced from the lateral side, one ascending and the other descending. If it was not possible to perform a closed reduction, an open reduction was performed by medial-lateral crossed K-wire fixation. After either an open or closed reduction, the pins were buried under the skin. The results were evaluated using Flynn's score. The mean time of follow-up was 18.9 months. RESULTS: Seventy-seven percent of the patients were treated with a closed reduction, while 23% needed an open reduction. A clinical follow-up examination was done at an average of 18.9 months following the trauma. Of those treated with a closed reduction alone, 93% had an excellent or good functional result. Of those requiring an open reduction, 88% had excellent or good result. None of our patients exhibited secondary dislocation or iatrogenic ulnar palsies. CONCLUSION: Closed reduction and lateral crossed pin fixation with ascending and descending K-wires buried under the skin is an effective method to treat type II and III supracondylar fractures in children. The method gives stability and avoids iatrogenic ulnar nerve injuries.