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INTRODUCTION: With the increased use of seat belts in motor vehicles, the frequency of morbidity and mortality associated with motor vehicle accidents may have decreased but there is an associated rise in injuries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of intra-abdominal injury in children who sustained Chance-type fractures in a motor vehicle accident. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of pediatric patients admitted for injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents between 1984 and 2001. Patients that sustained lumbar Chance fractures and an abdominal injury were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 25 patients with lumbar Chance fractures were seen at our institution; twelve had associated abdominal injuries. The mean age at the time of injury was 10.9 years and the most recent follow-up was a mean of 4.8 years after injury. All patients were involved in high-speed motor vehicle collisions. Eleven patients were restrained using a 2-point restraint and only one was restrained using a 3-point restraint. CONCLUSIONS: The abdominal injury patients had a significantly higher Chance fracture index than those patients who also suffered Chance fractures but no associated abdominal injuries. Success in the management of intra-abdominal injuries is dependent on the awareness that such an injury exists.

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A 10-year-old girl sustained a ureteropelvic junction disruption and distal ureter injury associated with the Chance fracture following a traffic accident. She was sitting on the rear seat of a car wearing a lap belt. Extensive small bowel mesenteric trauma was noted. Radiography revealed a left haemothorax with mediastinal shift and an unstable flexion-distraction vertebral fracture at L2 (Chance fracture). Subsequent intravenous pyelography demonstrated proximal extravasation from the right kidney without continuity to the upper and mid ureter, indicating a ureteropelvic junction avulsion or necrosis. Definitive surgery was delayed until day 33 because of urosepsis. Due to extensive small bowel resection, ischaemia of the ureter, and the history of urosepsis, a right subcapsular nephrectomy (rather than ureteral reconstruction) was considered the safest option for minimising further complications. It is important that trauma specialists recognise additional injuries after major trauma. Early use of a multidisciplinary approach is recommended to reduce morbidity and mortality.

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Characteristic skeletal lesions are a cardinal feature of the autosomal dominant condition, neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1). The most frequently involved skeletal sites are the sphenoid wing, vertebrae, and tibia. Osseous lesions may range in severity in NF1 but are often progressive. They may lead to serious clinical consequences and be resistant to treatment. The skeletal lesions of NF1 are usually considered to be 'dysplasias', i.e. primary defects of bone, although there is no direct evidence supporting this interpretation. Moreover, it is difficult to understand why a generalized dysplasia of bone would produce focal lesions that show such a striking predisposition to only a few bones. We review the clinical and pathological features of NF1 skeletal lesions and propose that they result from an abnormal response of NF1 halpoinsufficient bone to abnormal mechanical forces rather than from a primary osseous dysplasia.

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A recent publication by the Canadian Early and Mid-Trimester Amniocentesis Trial Group reported an increase in orthopaedic foot deformities in infants whose mothers underwent an amniocentesis from 11 to 12 + 6 gestational weeks versus a group sampled between 15 to 16 + 6 gestational weeks. Because the sampling of the former group was at the time of maximum foot growth and maximum acquisition of amniotic fluid, the authors hypothesize that the foot deformities are secondary to decreased fetal movement during a key phase in foot and ankle development.

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There are few clear guidelines on the proper use of tourniquets in pediatric surgery, in particular on how to set the tourniquet pressure, how to select the most appropriate cuff, and whether to use some type of soft padding beneath the cuff for limb protection. The authors could find only one published study specifically addressing pediatric cuff pressures, and no studies showing what types of cuff and/or padding create the smoothest skin surface under the cuff. Of 46 pediatric orthopaedic surgeons surveyed, 44 use a tourniquet 4.6 times per week on average and 2 have discontinued their use as a result of complications. To set cuff pressure, 13 of 44 use a standard value, 14 of 44 base pressure on age, extremity, and size, and 17 of 44 base cuff pressure on blood pressure. Thirty-four of 44 use skin protection under the cuff, but damage to the skin is common, accounting for 21 of the 67 reported complications. Nerve (15/67) and muscle (8/67) complications, related to both pressure and tourniquet time, were also reported. Using a molding and digital measurement technique, the authors compared the maximum wrinkle heights and the sums of all wrinkle heights in the skin surface under four different cuff/padding configurations. In a total of 44 trials on the upper arms and thighs of two healthy child volunteers, one type of pediatric cuff with a matching limb-protection sleeve designed and recommended by the manufacturer (Delfi) produced significantly fewer, less severe pinches and wrinkles in the skin surface than a second type of tourniquet cuff (Zimmer) with or without two layers of commonly available cast padding, and a third type (Kidde) with padding. With the second type of cuff, using cast padding reduced skin wrinkling compared to applying the same cuff on unprotected skin. In view of the survey, clinical literature, and results of this study, a guideline for use of pediatric tourniquets is proposed.

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STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study using intraoperative stereophotogrammetry to analyze helical motion of the spine during the correction of scoliosis. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether derotation systems rotate the scoliotic helix. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Scoliosis is a complex three-dimensional deformity that is difficult to visualize on standard radiographs. The use of stereophotogrammetry has allowed study of the deformity in three dimensions during surgical correction. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with right thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were studied using a stereophotogrammetry technique during surgical correction. Changes in vertebral unique rotations and spinal plane of maximum deformity were measured during three sequential stages of the surgery. RESULTS: The mean preoperative and postoperative Cobb angles were 58 degrees and 19 degrees, respectively. Most rotation occurred at the top and bottom vertebrae in the curve, averaging 10 degrees each but in opposite directions. The apical vertebra rotated the least in the structural curve, with an average rotation of 5 degrees. Much of the rotation occurred during the derotation maneuver with additional rotation occurring during the final distraction. The plane of maximum deformity changed from a mean of 50 degrees before instrumentation to 19 degrees at the end of the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple rotations of the scoliotic curve occur, and it can be shown when maximum rotations occur during surgery. Posterior derotational systems unwind or rotate the scoliotic helix and reposition the resultant sine wave toward the sagittal plane as described by the change in the plane of maximum deformity.

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STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study using intraoperative stereophotogrammetry to analyze change during the correction of scoliosis. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relation between the number of hooks used during segmental instrumentation and the amount of correction achieved. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: An intraoperative stereophotogrammetric technique was developed at our center. Vertebral translations and rotations can be measured at several stages during scoliosis surgery. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with right thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were studied using our stereophotogrammetry technique during surgical correction. Correlations were determined between apical vertebral movements and the hook ratio (number of vertebrae/number of hooks used). RESULTS: Mean curve Cobb angle correction was 66%. Correction occurred in all three planes but primarily along the x and y axes. Scoliotic deformity was corrected by translation of the vertebra along the y axis and rotation about the x; physiologic kyphosis was restored by translation along the x axis and rotation about the y. The plane of maximum deformity as compared with the sagittal plane of the patient corrected from 57 degrees to 25 degrees as an indication of detorsion of the scoliotic deformity. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing the number of hooks per vertebral segment significantly enhances the correction of the coronal scoliotic deformity and enhances the z axis derotation, but does not significantly change the reestablishment of the kyphosis, nor does it result in significant elongation of the spine.

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Thirteen (3.2%) of 410 patients seen in British Columbia's Children's Hospital in Vancouver from January 1984 to September 1992 with supracondylar fractures did so with an absence of a radial pulse in an otherwise well perfused hand. A combination of segmental pressure monitoring, color-flow duplex scanning, and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) appears to be a valid, noninvasive, and safe technique in evaluating patency of the brachial artery and collateral circulation across the elbow. Based on this study, early revascularization of a pulseless otherwise well-perfused hand in children with type 3 supracondylar fractures, although technically feasible and safe, has a high rate of asymptomatic reocclusion and residual stenoses of the brachial artery. Therefore a period of close observation with frequent neurovascular checks should be completed before more invasive correction of this problem is contemplated.

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The outcome of a pediatric forearm fracture is related to the angulation of that fracture at the time of union. We discuss the factors affecting the position of the fracture at union. Three hundred forty-six children with 369 reductions of forearm fractures were reviewed retrospectively. Quality of reduction at the time of operation and loss of reduction during the period of cast immobilization were assessed using axis deviation. Loss of reduction had a greater influence on the final position of the fracture at union than did the position of the fracture at initial reduction. To ensure a satisfactory outcome, all pediatric forearm fractures should be monitored with radiologic review and remanipulation if their axis deviation is > 5 in younger patients or > 3 in patients with fractures close to or after growth-plate closure. Right forearm fractures in boys were identified as a subgroup at greater risk for redisplacement.

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STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study of 147 consecutive patients undergoing spinal surgery who were analyzed for response to an effect of an offered autologous blood program. OBJECTIVES: Analysis of the impact of the autologous program within a comprehensive blood conservation philosophy toward the reduction in the use of homologous blood. METHODS: Each patient was prescreened by the autologous program for inclusions and ability. Physical parameters were recorded as were predonation and postdonation hemoglobin levels. The volume of each donation and the number of autologous and homologous units transfused and total operating blood loss were recorded as were complications during donation and transfusion. RESULTS: One hundred sixteen of the original one hundred forty-seven patients participated in the program and donated between 150 and 1900 ml of blood during the preoperative period. Of these, 35 patients weighed 45 kg or less. Diagnoses included 97 cases of idiopathic scoliosis and the remainder had spinal deformities of other causes. Of the entire group, 13 patients (11%) received homologous blood transfusion, 7 of these patients had diagnoses other than idiopathic scoliosis. CONCLUSIONS: In this study of 116 patients, 89% of the spinal surgeries were successfully completed using only autologous blood. This compared favorably with a historical control group in which 60% of the patients required homologous blood transfusion. It is concluded that the use of autologous blood donation combined with other blood conservation techniques has significantly lessened the need for homologous transfusion.

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We describe 2 HLA-B27 positive children with seronegative enthesopathy and arthropathy (SEA) syndrome who developed spontaneous (nontraumatic) atlantoaxial subluxation early in their disease course. Neither child had evidence of spinal cord compression but both had progressive atlantoaxial subluxation in spite of conservative treatment. Both underwent elective posterior cervical (C1-C2) fusion.

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Factors affecting outcome after pediatric forearm fracture include fracture angulation and fracture position. A new index, axis deviation, combines these factors. Two review studies were performed to determine if axis deviation correlated with outcome. In the first study, 35 subjects were reviewed 2.7 years after fracture without radiographs. In the second study, 152 fractures were reviewed a mean of 4 years after fracture, with 124 patients consenting to undergo radiographs. In both studies, the new index, axis deviation, correlated better with restricted forearm movement than either degree of angulation or fracture position. Midshaft and distal remodeling occurred and could be predicted in terms of axis deviation. We propose that an axis deviation of < 5 at the time of union be the reduction criteria of pediatric forearm-shaft fracture regardless of fracture position.

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Effort to determine the efficacy of neonatal hip examination began in 1967. During the subsequent 23 years, there have been three analyses of the study's data: (1) a retrospective review reported in 1981, (2) a prospective examination in 1989, and (3) an economic evaluation in 1990. The retrospective review concluded that a neonatal hip screening program effectively screens for acetabular dysplasia, and early treatment seems to alter the outcome of congenital dislocation of the hip. The prospective examination, involving 62 newborns diagnosed as having dislocated or dislocatable hips, established that such cases can be effectively treated from birth with flexion/abduction splints monitored by routine clinical and follow-up examinations. An economic evaluation of the data demonstrated an economic benefit of more than $15,000 Cdn per 1000 infants screened. This study, through these three analyses, presents a compelling argument in favor of a routine, standardized neonatal hip examination.

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We investigated the epidemiology and clinical features of invasive S. pyogenes infection in a pediatric population over a 7-year period (1984-90) by retrospective review. An increasing frequency in invasive infections had occurred (0-11.81/10,000 admissions). A large proportion (48%) of these were orthopedic infections. An epidemic strain was typed as M1T1. This increase appears to have occurred in the context of an overall increase in S. pyogenes infections ("scarlet fever" 1.47-11.22/10,000 outpatients; "strep throat" 4.41-46.54/10,000 outpatients).

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The increased complexity of Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation has, as an unexpected side effect, a potential increase in blood loss. A prospective randomized study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that application of a fibrin sealant to exposed cancellous bone can significantly reduce blood loss during Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation for idiopathic scoliosis. A significant difference was demonstrated in total body loss, loss per level fused, and loss per kilogram of body weight when comparing the sealant group with random controls. A significant difference was demonstrated in loss per level fused when comparing the sealant control with a historical control group. Thirty-three patients were randomly assigned to the fibrin sealant or nonsealant groups; another 10 patients operated on before planning the study were included as historical controls. The sealant was used to control bleeding at the bone graft donor site and in the spine after decortication. All patients underwent Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation for idiopathic scoliosis. There were no significant differences between groups with respect to degree of curvature, number of levels fused, age or weight of patient, or operating time. Total blood loss in the sealant group averaged 672 ml compared with 894 ml in the sealant control group. No patient in the sealant group required homologous blood. Given the increasing awareness of the complications of blood transfusion, the authors conclude that fibrin sealant is a useful adjunct to spinal surgical technique.

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This study of 64 Down syndrome children at British Columbia's Children's Hospital established that ligamentous laxity of the upper cervical spine may exist at more than one location. Instability at the atlantooccipital level is common and must be considered along with the previously documented atlantoaxial instability. Treatment should depend on room available for the spinal cord instead of absolute values of displacement.

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A study was undertaken to determine the cost benefit of neonatal screening for dislocatable and subluxable hips. As a follow-up to retrospective and prospective studies that established the safety and efficacy of early treatment to the newborn, this study discusses the direct and significant economic benefit of a neonatal hip screening program to the participating institutions. British Columbia's Grace and Children's Hospitals experienced an economic benefit of $15,143.71 (Canadian) per 1,000 infants screened.

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Reports of corrective procedures for cubitus varus (gunstock deformity) have emphasized the frequency of loss of position and significant complication. Modifications that have been made to the standard supracondylar osteotomy protocol include correction of the angular deformity only, without correction of rotation; an incomplete wedge osteotomy leaving the medial cortex intact by hinging the osteotomy shut on the intact cortex; and immobilization of the elbow in full extension with the forearm supinated. In a review of 16 patients following this protocol, 11 patients had excellent results, three had good results, and two had unsatisfactory results.

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