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Category: Hindfoot; Ankle Introduction/Purpose: Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) peak in incidence during childhood, yet there exists a paucity of research on treatment among skeletally immature populations due to their high potential for spontaneous recovery without interventions. Unfortunately for patients who do require treatment, existing guidelines are based on adult studies, which likely differ in prognoses and outcomes due to varying capacity for regeneration. This paper compares outcomes across conservative and various surgical interventions for pediatric OLTs, with the synthesized evidence forming the basis of a treatment algorithm. Methods: An electronic literature search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, and MEDLINE databases for primary studies published prior to January 2022. Pediatric status in OLTs was defined as age < 18 at diagnosis, since many studies did not assess skeletal maturity. The main outcomes were clinical and radiological success rates, defined as achievement of good or fair outcomes according to measures used by individual studies. Articles were categorized by treatment method, and outcome rates were obtained via simple pooling. Results: 35 studies involving 714 lesions were included. Studies were categorized into five overarching treatment methods – (1) conservative treatment, (2) bone marrow stimulation, (3) retrograde drilling, (4) fixation, and (5) osteochondral transplantation. These interventions had pooled clinical success rates of (1) 45%, (2) 85%, (2) 90%, (4) 82%, and (5) 74%, respectively. The pooled radiological success rates were (1) 58%, (2) 85%, (3) 55%, (4) 89%, and (5) 81%. Escalation from conservative to surgical treatment occurred at a rate of 62% among studies in which this was reported. Articles were heterogeneous in measurement tools and pre- treatment characteristics; average baseline lesion size was (1) 129.8, (2) 131.0, (3) 87.8, (4) 137.8, and (5) 237.5mm^2 across the five treatment methods, and initial Berndt-Harty staging was likewise disparate. Conclusion: Conservative treatments yielded lower clinical and radiological success rates than surgical interventions, but warrant an initial trial in stable lesions due to their cost-effective and non-invasive nature. Surgery should be indicated for unstable lesions, or failed conservative treatment. Drilling and bone marrow stimulation are effective in lower grade lesions, while fixation should be considered for loosened fragments, and transplantation for large, non-salvageable lesions. Future research utilizing more robust methodology and reporting outcomes according to baseline lesion characteristics will consolidate these guidelines.

Background COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact on medical education. Due to concerns of the virus spreading through gatherings of health professionals, in-person conferences and rounds were largely cancelled. The purpose of this study is the evaluate the implementation of an online educational curriculum by a major Canadian orthopaedic surgery residency program in response to COVID-19. Methods A survey was distributed to residents of a major Canadian orthopaedic surgery residency program from July 10 th to October 24 th , 2020. The survey aimed to assess residents’ response to this change and to examine the effect that the transition has had on their participation, engagement, and overall educational experience. Results Altogether, 25 of 28 (89%) residents responded. Respondents generally felt the quality of education was superior (72%), their level of engagement improved (64%), and they were able to acquire more knowledge (68%) with the virtual format. Furthermore, 88% felt there was a greater diversity of topics, and 96% felt there was an increased variety of presenters. Overall, 76% of respondents felt that virtual seminars better met their personal learning objectives. Advantages reported were increased accessibility, greater convenience, and a wider breadth of teaching faculty. Disadvantages included that the virtual sessions felt less personal and lacked dynamic feedback to the presenter. Conclusions Results of this survey reveal generally positive attitudes of orthopaedic surgery residents about the transition to virtual learning in the setting of an ongoing pandemic. This early evaluation and feedback provides valuable guidance on how to grow this novel curriculum and bring the frontier of virtual teaching to orthopaedic education long-term.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) often necessitates spinal fusion surgery in pediatric patients, posing significant challenges in postoperative pain management. Standard care involves the administration of intravenous opioids perioperatively, often requiring high doses to achieve adequate analgesia following an operation. This increases the risk of adverse events, may delay recovery and prolong hospital stay, and increases the likelihood of future abuse and dependence. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we assess the safety and effectiveness of intrathecal morphine (ITM) in pediatric patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion. Ovid Embase and MEDLINE were searched in October 2023 for articles that directly compared ITM use with standard pain management approaches for pediatric patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion. Our primary outcome was postoperative pain scores. Secondary outcomes included opioid usage details, adverse events, and blood loss. Of the 384 unique studies identified, nine studies (one randomized control trial, one prospective review, and seven retrospective reviews) met the inclusion criteria. The total number of patients within the ITM and control groups were 1384 and 676, respectively. Meta-analysis revealed significantly lower pain scores in the ITM group (standardized mean difference (SMD): -1.30 (-2.29, -0.31); p = 0.01). Similarly, ITM patients had significantly lower opioid usage, both intraoperatively (mean difference (MD): -0.71 mg/kg (-0.99, -0.44); p < 0.00001) as well as postoperatively (SMD: -2.10 (-3.48, -0.73); p = 0.003), and significantly lower blood loss (MD: -0.88 L (-1.34, -0.43); p = 0.0001). The occurrence of adverse events was similar across both groups. Our analysis of the available data demonstrates that a low to moderate dose of ITM is a safe and effective adjunct to improve standard postoperative care without increasing the risk of respiratory depression. When compared to control, ITM patients had superior analgesia while using fewer opioids had significantly reduced intraoperative blood loss when ITM was administered before spinal fusion, and had a similar complication profile. While further studies are warranted to establish optimal dosing, these findings underscore the potential of ITM as a valuable addition to multimodal pain management.

Category: Bunion Introduction/Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous hemiepiphysiodesis for JHV by investigating the available literature on the procedure. Methods: The literature search was conducted by using the following bibliographic electronic databases: EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PubMed.gov. Study screening at all stages was completed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) criteria. The Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) scale was used to evaluate the quality of included studies. Data on patient characteristics, radiological and clinical outcomes, and notable complications were also collected. Results: Of the 91 studies identified by our search strategy, 4 met the inclusion criteria. The identified studies included 62 patients and 109 feet. The mean hallux valgus angle (HVA) improved preoperative to postoperative at a range of Δ3.45 to Δ5.5. The mean intermetastartal angle (IMA) improved preoperative to postoperative at a range of Δ2.2 to Δ4.0. The mean HVA progression per month improved from preoperative to postoperative at a range of Δ0.07 degrees/month to Δ0.17 degrees/month. The mean IMA progression per month improved from preoperative to postoperative at a range of Δ0.046 degrees/month to Δ0.067 degrees/month. Of the studies that reported a mean American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score or a mean Hallux Metatarsophalangeal Interphalangeal Scale (HMIS), there was an improvement at a range of Δ16.5 to Δ36. Conclusion: Percutaneous Hemiepiphysiodesis can serve as an effective procedure for treating Juvenile Hallux Valgus.

Category: Ankle; Bunion; Lesser Toes; Midfoot/Forefoot; Trauma Introduction/Purpose: The primary objective of this systematic review was to comprehensively assess the quality of reporting of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) relating to pediatric orthopaedic foot and ankle conditions. Additionally, this current study looked at factors related to the quality of the RCTs and trends in the quality of reporting over time Methods: This systemic review was performed according to an agreed predefined protocol and conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement standards. PubMed, Ovid (MEDLINE) and Embase were searched for all RCTs on foot and/or ankle surgery from the database inception until March 31, 2020. The quality of reporting was evaluated using the Detsky quality index and the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) checklist for reporting trials of nonpharmacologic treatments. A multivariate regression analysis was used to assess predictors of quality reporting. Results: The online search yielded 3,697 articles, 22 of which met the inclusion criteria and were assessed for quality of reporting. The earliest identified RCT was published in 1991. Close to 70% of all RCTs have been produced over the past 10 years (since 2010), and over 90% have been published in the past 20 years (since 2000). There has been a significant increase in the number of RCTs published over time (p=0.042). The mean (SD) Detsky score across all included studies was 69.2% (13.8%). Nine (41%) of the studies were considered 'high-quality' with a standardized Detsky score greater than or equal to 75%. The strongest predictor of quality reporting was the inclusion of a CONSORT flow diagram (β-coefficient: 18.4, p=0.0013). Conclusion: Despite an increase in the quantity of pediatric F&A RCTs over time, the quality has not significantly improved. The use of a CONSORT flow diagram is a strong predictor of high-quality reporting. We encourage investigators to devote more efforts in conducting high-quality RCTs in pediatric orthopaedic foot and ankle, as these are scarce in the literature.

Category: Midfoot/Forefoot Introduction/Purpose: Pes planovalgus is the most common foot deformity in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Many of these patients become functionally limited and require surgical intervention. The objectives of this study are to apply previously validated radiographic parameters to radiographs of children with CP who have undergone surgical intervention for pes planovalgus deformity and to assess if these radiographic parameters show improvements post-operatively. Furthermore, this study aims to determine which of these parameters can most accurately be used to quantify correction post-surgery. Methods: A retrospective review was performed to identify patients aged five to 17 with a diagnosis of CP who underwent lateral calcaneal lengthening osteotomy for pes planovalgus between 2006 and 2015 at London Health Sciences Center. The previously validated radiographic measurements were applied to pre-operative and post-operative radiographs. A normality test was performed to observe whether participants were normally distributed with regard to the severity of their deformity. Paired T-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to compare changes in radiographic measurements from before and after surgery. Results: Seventeen patients met the inclusion criteria. The average age of selected patients was 13.06 years (range 9.42-16.75 years). This included 11 males and six females, all with spastic CP (12 diplegic, five hemiplegic). Of these patients, 11 underwent bilateral surgery and six underwent unilateral surgery (28 feet). These patients were followed post-operatively for a mean of 7.97 months (range 1.5-20 months). In comparing the radiographs from before and after surgery, statistically significant changes were seen in five out of the seven measurements. Talonavicular coverage angle was found to have the most significant change post-correction. Conclusion: The previously validated radiographic parameters used to assess foot and ankle deformity can be applied to the surgically treated pes planovalgus foot in patients with CP. It was found that five out of the seven measurements used to assess foot deformity changed significantly with surgical intervention. Talonavicular coverage angle was found to be the most accurate measure for post-surgical correction. This is the first study to apply these parameters to CP patients with surgically treated flatfoot deformity. Lateral calcaneal lengthening osteotomy significantly improves these radiographic measures.

The purpose of this study was to determine if short-term outcomes differed for pediatric patients with suspected musculoskeletal infection with or without a preoperative MRI. This was a multicenter, retrospective review of patients aged 0–16 years who presented with atraumatic extremity pain, underwent irrigation and debridement (I&D), and received at least one preoperative or postoperative MRI over a 10-year period. Primary outcomes were time to OR, total I&Ds, readmission rate, time from OR to discharge, and total number of MRIs. Secondary outcomes entailed the rate at which concurrent osteomyelitis was identified in patients with septic arthritis and the extent of the resulting surgical debridement. Of the 104 patients, 72.1% had a preoperative MRI. Patients with a preoperative MRI were significantly less likely to have surgery on the day of admission. No difference was found between groups regarding total I&Ds, readmission rate, time from OR to discharge, and total number of MRIs. Of the 57 patients diagnosed with septic arthritis, those with a preoperative MRI were significantly more likely to have concurrent osteomyelitis identified and to undergo bony debridement in addition to arthrotomy of the joint. In conclusion, patient outcomes are not adversely affected by obtaining a preoperative MRI despite the delay in time to OR. Although preoperative MRI can be beneficial in ruling out other pathologies and identifying the extent of concurrent osteomyelitis, the decision to obtain a preoperative MRI and timing of surgery should be left to the discretion of the treating surgeon.

Background This pilot study explores whether large adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) curves (≥ 45°) lead to decreased frequency and quality of sport participation, lower health-related quality of life (HRQL), and more pronounced shortness of breath (SOB) as compared to smaller curvatures (< 45°). Methods Patients were divided into two groups based on their spinal curvature: Cobb angle < 45° ( n = 31) and ≥ 45° ( n = 21). We assessed feasibility outcomes including agreement to be approached, participation, recruitment rates and missing data. All participants completed five questionnaires to assess the frequency and quality of sport participation, HRQL and SOB outcomes. Estimates of effects 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. Results This study enrolled 52 surgically untreated AIS patients between the ages of 10 and 18 (44 females, 8 males, mean age = 14.60). All feasibility threshold criteria were successfully met (100% agreement to be approached, 100% participation with n ≥ 12 in each group, and 94.2% of patients without missing data). AIS patients with large curvatures (≥ 45°) trended towards decreased frequency and quality of sport participation, more pronounced SOB and worse HRQL outcomes, as compared to patients with smaller curve sizes. Conclusion The study findings show that a study addressing sport participation in the setting of AIS is feasible. The size of curvature in AIS may have an impact on sport participation, HRQL and SOB, but larger studies are required.

Observational studies have suggested that accelerated surgery is associated with improved outcomes in patients with a hip fracture. The HIP ATTACK trial assessed whether accelerated surgery could reduce mortality and major complications. HIP ATTACK was an international, randomised, controlled trial done at 69 hospitals in 17 countries. Patients with a hip fracture that required surgery and were aged 45 years or older were eligible. Research personnel randomly assigned patients (1:1) through a central computerised randomisation system using randomly varying block sizes to either accelerated surgery (goal of surgery within 6 h of diagnosis) or standard care. The coprimary outcomes were mortality and a composite of major complications (ie, mortality and non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke, venous thromboembolism, sepsis, pneumonia, life-threatening bleeding, and major bleeding) at 90 days after randomisation. Patients, health-care providers, and study staff were aware of treatment assignment, but outcome adjudicators were masked to treatment allocation. Patients were analysed according to the intention-to-treat principle. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02027896). Between March 14, 2014, and May 24, 2019, 27 701 patients were screened, of whom 7780 were eligible. 2970 of these were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive accelerated surgery (n=1487) or standard care (n=1483). The median time from hip fracture diagnosis to surgery was 6 h (IQR 4–9) in the accelerated-surgery group and 24 h (10–42) in the standard-care group (p<0·0001). 140 (9%) patients assigned to accelerated surgery and 154 (10%) assigned to standard care died, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0·91 (95% CI 0·72 to 1·14) and absolute risk reduction (ARR) of 1% (−1 to 3; p=0·40). Major complications occurred in 321 (22%) patients assigned to accelerated surgery and 331 (22%) assigned to standard care, with an HR of 0·97 (0·83 to 1·13) and an ARR of 1% (−2 to 4; p=0·71). Among patients with a hip fracture, accelerated surgery did not significantly lower the risk of mortality or a composite of major complications compared with standard care. Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Ischiospinal Dysostosis (ISD) is a complex and very rare medical entity. It is associated with kyphoscoliosis, dysplasia or aplasia of the ischial rami, segmental anomalies of the bony vertebrae, and peculiar facial morphologies. In this case report, we present a child with Ischiospinal Dysostosis and Pierre-Robin Syndrome. This case report is unique as we followed the patient for 13 years in which he had multiple spinal procedures to treat his kyphoscoliosis. In this paper, we elucidated the number of case reports with documented follow-up regarding spinal cord injury or other complications of ISD and its management.