A Rat Tibial Growth Plate Injury Model to Characterize Repair Mechanisms and Evaluate Growth Plate Regeneration Strategies

A third of all pediatric fractures involve the growth plate and can result in impaired bone growth. The growth plate (or physis) is cartilage tissue found ...

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

This study sought to examine the reliability and validity of three generic instruments for measuring the health of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to compare them with a disease-specific measure, the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM). The Pediatric Evaluation and Disability Inventory (PEDI), the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI), and the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) were completed by the primary caregivers of 115 young children with spastic CP. The GMFM was administered to the children. The mean age of the sample was 5 years 8 months (range 3:1 to 10:4) and consisted of more males (58%) than females. The PEDI scales demonstrated higher internal consistency than the PODCI and CHQ scales. In comparison with the GMFM, the PODCI transfer and mobility scale (relative validity, 62%) and the PEDI mobility scale (relative validity, 53%) detected the most significant health differences between children with hemiplegia, diplegia, and quadriplegia. The PEDI social function scale detected the largest differences in cognitive function between children with an IQ of less than 70 compared with those with an IQ of 70 or greater. The reliability and validity of these different instruments varied significantly in this patient population.

Comparing reliability and validity of pediatric instruments for measuring health and well-being of children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Idiopathic scoliosis in the adolescent period is a complex genetic disorder of high prevalence and extreme variability. Epidemiological approaches have confirmed the genetic basis of this disorder and have suggested multiple modes of heritability. The current challenge is to identify the genetic determinants of this condition to distinguish individuals who are at risk for severe progression. This review summarizes the literature establishing the genetic basis of this disorder. Studies focused on the identification of genes responsible for the scoliotic phenotype are reviewed, with an emphasis on recent works that have utilized contemporary strategies to isolate genes related to complex diseases. To date, molecular studies have isolated critical regions on chromosomes and X of potential importance to the etiology of scoliosis. An analysis of these works will aid in an understanding of seemingly conflicting results, and will help us determine the focus of future work.

Genetics of familial idiopathic scoliosis.

We report six children with pigmented villonodular synovitis. They ranged in age from seven to fifteen years. In four patients, the knee was involved. One patient had involvement of the ankle, and one had diffuse involvement along a metacarpal. In five cases, the diagnosis was not suspected clinically or radiographically, and the delay in making the correct diagnosis was as long as two years. Clinical diagnosis in these five patients was usually bacterial synovitis or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. We feel that the diagnoses of pigmented villonodular synovitis should be considered in any child with chronic joint effusion.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis in children: a report of six cases and review of the literature.

Neuromuscular (NM) spinal deformities necessitating surgical intervention present a difficult challenge to the medical community. Underlying comorbidities lead to extended hospital stays, significant complications, and social challenges in the extensive perioperative period. In response to this problem, a therapeutic algorithm, the Care Pathway for Spinal Surgery (CAPSS) has been developed at our institution to address this complex medical issue.

Evaluation of high-risk patients undergoing spinal surgery: a matched case series.

Idiopathic scoliosis is one of the most common complex genetic disorders of the musculoskeletal system. The clinical parameters relating to onset, curve progression, and severity in relation to clinical prognosis and current treatment modalities have been defined, but do not address the cause of this disorder. In an effort to define causative genetic elements, multiple studies have delineated potential genetic loci that are statistically related to idiopathic scoliosis in a variety of populations. The question remains how future genetic testing and genomic profiling may be of aid in the therapeutic algorithms related to this disorder.

Idiopathic scoliosis: cracking the genetic code and what does it mean?

There are more than 12 million children with special healthcare needs (CSHCNs) in the United States, many of whom require specialised health-care to treat chronic physical and developmental conditions. This study is a qualitative investigation of programme, surgical and at-home recovery experiences among CSHCNs and their family carers who participated in a spine surgical care programme at a paediatric hospital in the Western United States. The programme is designed to manage increased surgical risk and the transition of care from hospital to home for children with severe scoliosis undergoing spinal fusion surgery. We conducted 30 semi-structured in-depth interviews with 14 surgical team members and 16 family carers of children who had programme evaluations and spinal surgeries in 2006. Data were collected in 2008 and 2009 in hospital or at home locations to gather programme participation feedback from families and inform the adequacy of programme support to families during at-home recovery. Data were analysed by reflexive team and content analysis methodologies. Results showed the programme was effective at improving preoperative surgical evaluation and helping families to anticipate some aspects of the surgical experience and hospital discharge. However, the impact of spinal fusion surgery and the subsequent transition to home-based care was profoundly emotional for patients and their carers. Our data indicate that programme providers underestimated the extent of emotional trauma experienced by patients and families, particularly during the at-home recovery process. The data also suggest meaningful differences in providers' and carers' expectations for surgery. Carers' disappointment with their recovery experiences and the perceived lack of post-discharge support impacted their interpretations of and perspectives on their surgical experience. Implications of this research for surgical care programmes include the need for assessment and provision of support for physical, social, and emotional burdens experienced by patients and carers at pre-surgical, surgical and at-home recovery phases.

Paediatric spinal fusion surgery and the transition to home-based care: provider expectations and carer experiences.

The management of sternoclavicular injuries in skeletally immature patients has not been well described. The purpose of this study was to describe the authors' experience treating this rare and potentially life-threatening injury. All skeletally immature patients who underwent treatment for a medial clavicular physeal fracture or sternoclavicular dislocation between 2003 and 2011 were identified using ICD-9 diagnostic codes. Sternoclavicular injuries with posterior displacement were isolated from this cohort for a thorough chart review. Patients were contacted to complete brief phone surveys and shoulder-specific outcome instruments. A total of 12 boys (mean age, 14.8±2.74 years), followed for an average of 10.3 months (range, 0-54 months), were identified. The incidence of significant associated symptoms was 8.3% (1 of 12). Eight patients were initially treated with closed reduction, 2 (25%) successfully and 6 (75%) requiring subsequent open reduction. Four of the 12 patients underwent an immediate open reduction. Braided composite sutures were used to treat all injuries that underwent open reduction (10 of 12). Complete data were obtained from 6 patients, all of whose injuries had been treated with open reduction. All 6 had returned to their full activity level, and all self-reported perfect Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) and Simple Shoulder Test scores (0 and 12, respectively). Among skeletally immature patients, medial clavicular physeal fractures and sternoclavicular dislocations can be effectively managed with closed or open reduction. When closed reduction is unsuccessful or is contraindicated, open reduction with braided composite sutures is associated with excellent results.

Posterior sternoclavicular joint injuries in skeletally immature patients.

Displaced proximal humeral physeal fractures (PHPF) are rare injuries. Because of the lack of comparative studies, treatment has historically been based on surgeon preference. The purpose of this study was to compare treatment outcomes among skeletally immature patients who underwent operative versus nonoperative treatment for Neer-Horwitz (NH) III or IV PHPF.

Operative versus nonoperative treatment of displaced proximal humeral physeal fractures: a matched cohort.

Intra-articular (IARH) and extra-articular (EARH) radial head fractures in skeletally immature patients are rare injuries that have not been well studied. The objective of this study was to investigate the rate of complications associated with IARH fractures relative to EARH fractures in pediatric patients treated at a tertiary referral children's hospital.

Intra-articular Radial Head Fractures In the Skeletally Immature Patient: Complications and Management.

The goal of this study was to identify supracondylar fracture patterns that were predictive of adverse events and poor outcomes. The study consisted of a retrospective review of patients admitted for surgical treatment of a supracondylar humerus fracture between June 2008 and August 2010. Preoperative radiographs were assessed based on appearance (simple vs oblique vs comminuted), coronal plane displacement (angulated, posterior, posteromedial vs posterolateral), and rotation (rotation vs no rotation). Logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between fracture pattern and clinical outcome parameters in 373 patients who were followed for 4 weeks or more postoperatively. Outcome parameters included postoperative complications (infection, delayed healing, pin migration, revision surgery), need for physical or occupational therapy, need for postoperative intravenous narcotics, and preoperative nerve injury. Rotation and coronal displacement patterns of the fracture segments were significantly associated with postoperative complications, postoperative need for physical or occupational therapy as a result of residual stiffness, and nerve injury (P<.05). Compared with posteriorly displaced fractures, posterolaterally displaced fractures were associated with significantly greater odds of complications (P=.045), need for physical or occupational therapy (P<.001), and nerve injury (P<.001). Additionally, fractures with rotation were associated with significantly greater odds of complications (P<.001), need for physical or occupational therapy (P<.001), and nerve injury (P<.001) compared with fractures without rotation. Rotation and coronal plane displacement were predictive of complications, need for physical or occupational therapy, and nerve injury, and thus should be considered as potential prognostic variables when evaluating the initial injury pattern.

Nancy Hadley-Miller

Department of Orthopedics

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

A Rat Tibial Growth Plate Injury Model to Characterize Repair Mechanisms and Evaluate Growth Plate Regeneration Strategies

Nancy Hadley-Miller

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Department of Orthopedics

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

A Rat Tibial Growth Plate Injury Model to Characterize Repair Mechanisms and Evaluate Growth Plate Regeneration Strategies

Department of Orthopedics