Is percutaneous heel cord tenotomy a necessary component in the Ponseti treatment of idiopathic clubfoot deformity?

This study aimed to compare outcomes of idiopathic clubfeet (IC) treated with a percutaneous heel cord tenotomy (PHCT) at the conclusion of Ponseti casting with those that were not. A retrospective review of patients enrolled in a single institution prospective clubfoot registry over 19 years was performed. Patients under the age of 3 months with untreated IC managed via the Ponseti method that had a minimum of 2 years follow-up were included.

Squatting in adolescents with unilateral and bilateral hip dysplasia.

Background: Adolescent hip dysplasia is a condition that often affects hip mechanics, leading to loss of function, pain, and early onset osteoarthritis. Objective literature investigating functional activities remains sparse within this population. A traditional body weight deep squat has translation to everyday tasks, is a clinical screening tool, and is also a common pre/rehabilitation exercise.

Regulation of Colonic Inflammation and Macrophage Homeostasis of IFN-γ-Primed Canine AMSCs in Experimental Colitis in Mice.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown potential in treating immune-mediated diseases due to their immunomodulatory properties, which can be enhanced by priming with inflammatory cytokines like interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). This study evaluates the therapeutic effects of IFN-γ-primed canine adipose tissue-derived MSCs (AMSCs) in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Canine AMSCs were primed with 50 ng/mL recombinant canine IFN-γ for 48 h, and the effects were compared to those seen in naïve (unprimed) AMSCs.

Improving Identification of At-Risk Behaviors in Adolescents With Rheumatic Disease.

Objective: Many adolescent patients view their rheumatologist as their primary physician, and therefore it is important to screen youth for sexual activity and substance use as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. We implemented an electronic social history questionnaire (SHQ) and alert system to identify at-risk behaviors in adolescents with rheumatic disease.

Methods: The SHQ was administered to adolescents 14 years and older with a goal to survey patients' sexual activity and alcohol, tobacco, and drug use.

Mitigating Risk of Acute Kidney Injury Among Children With Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Osteomyelitis.

Objective: Children with acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (AHO) from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are treated with vancomycin despite the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). This study evaluates the rate of AKI and resource utilization for children with or without AKI when vancomycin is used in this setting.

Methods: Children with MRSA AHO treated with vancomycin were retrospectively studied.

Histological and Molecular Biological Changes in Canine Skin Following Acute Radiation Therapy-Induced Skin Injury.

Radiation therapy is a crucial cancer treatment, but it can damage healthy tissues, leading to side effects like skin injuries and molecular alterations. This study aimed to elucidate histological and molecular changes in canine skin post-radiation therapy (post-RT) over nine weeks, focusing on inflammation, stem cell activity, angiogenesis, keratinocyte regeneration, and apoptosis. Four male beagles received a cumulative radiation dose of 48 Gy, followed by clinical observations, histological examinations, and an RT-qPCR analysis of skin biopsies.

Accelerated Severity of Illness Score Enhances Prediction of Complicated Acute Hematogenous Osteomyelitis in Children.

Background: Severity of illness determination for children with acute hematogenous osteomyelitis should be accomplished during the earliest stages of evaluation to guide treatment and establish prognosis. This study objectively defines an outcome of complicated osteomyelitis and explores an illness severity-based model with an improved ability to predict this outcome as soon and accurately as possible, comparing it to existing models.

Methods: Children with Staphylococcus aureus acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (n = 438) were retrospectively studied to identify adverse events and predictors of severity.

Adherence to Wide-Abduction Brace Treatment is Associated With Improved Hip Abduction and Radiographic Outcomes in Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease.

Introduction: The wide-abduction A-frame brace contains the femoral head to improve its remodeling in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD). There is no study of the effect of brace adherence on hip outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine if patient adherence to A-frame brace treatment is associated with improved hip abduction range of motion and radiographic outcomes in children with LCPD.

Health-related quality of life and clinical outcomes for magnetically controlled growing rod patients after treatment termination.

Purpose: To determine the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and clinical outcomes of children with early onset scoliosis (EOS) treated with magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR) followed to definitive fusion (DF).

Methods: A retrospective review of EOS patients treated with MCGR and followed to DF was performed. Outcomes included HRQoL scores, radiographic, clinical, and unplanned returns to the operating room (UPROR) data collected at pre-MCGR implantation, immediately post-MCGR implantation, pre-DF, and post-DF.

Does brace treatment following closed reduction of developmental dysplasia of the hip improve acetabular coverage?

Aims: Abduction bracing is commonly used to treat developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) following closed reduction and spica casting, with little evidence to support or refute this practice. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of abduction bracing after closed reduction in improving acetabular index (AI) and reducing secondary surgery for residual hip dysplasia.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients treated with closed reduction for DDH at a single tertiary referral centre.

The Modified Fels and Abbreviated Modified Fels Knee Skeletal-Maturity Systems in the Prediction of Leg-Length Discrepancy.

Background: The Modified Fels (mFels) and Abbreviated Modified Fels (abFels) knee systems have been recently developed as options for grading skeletal maturity without the need for a separate hand radiograph. We sought to determine the interobserver reliability of these systems and to compare their prediction accuracy with that of the Greulich and Pyle (G-P) atlas in a cohort managed with epiphysiodesis for leg-length discrepancy (LLD).

Methods: Three reviewers scored 20 knee radiographs using the mFels system, which includes 5 qualitative and 2 quantitative measures as well as a quantitative output.

Back pain and disability according to early onset scoliosis etiology in children younger than 10 years.

Purpose: To determine caregiver-reported back pain prevalence, disability, pain interference, and associations with curve magnitude in early onset scoliosis (EOS) using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information Systems (PROMIS) measures.

Methods: A single-center, retrospective review was performed in children below 10 years of age according to EOS etiology. Caregiver-reported back pain prevalence, ODI, PROMIS Pain Interference, Mobility, and Anxiety measures, and curve magnitude were recorded as part of routine clinic appointments.

Ipsilateral Healthy-segment Response to Leg Length Discrepancy.

Background: Few studies address frequency or magnitude of healthy lower-extremity segment response to ipsilateral companion segment shortening. We sought to document and quantify this occurrence in a variety of pediatric etiologies.

Methods: We reviewed the medical record and radiographs of patients undergoing epiphysiodesis to manage leg length discrepancy.

Abduction Bracing Following Anterior Open Reduction for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip Does Not Improve Residual Dysplasia or Reduce Secondary Surgery.

Background: Abduction bracing is commonly used following open reduction and spica casting of developmental dysplasia of the hip. However, there is little evidence to support or refute this practice that carries associated cost and burden for families. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of abduction bracing after open reduction in improving the acetabular dysplasia and reducing the rate of secondary surgery for residual dysplasia.

Radiographic and clinical outcomes after definitive spine fusion for skeletally immature patients with idiopathic scoliosis.

Purpose: To assess the intermediate-term radiographic and clinical outcomes of skeletally immature idiopathic scoliosis (IS) patients that underwent definitive fusion (DF).

Methods: A retrospective review of patients with IS who were Risser 0 with open tri-radiate cartilages at the time of DF with minimum 5-year follow-up. Outcomes included Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-30 scores, major Cobb angle, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), and unplanned returns to the operating room (UPROR).

Repeat surgical interventions following "definitive" instrumentation and fusion for idiopathic scoliosis: a 30-year update.

Purpose: Although spinal fusion (SF) is considered "definitive" treatment in juvenile/adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (JIS/AIS), complications requiring reoperation continue to occur. The purpose of this study was to characterize the evolving rates of reoperation following SF in JIS/AIS.

Methods: Single-center retrospective review of patients who underwent SF for JIS/AIS as their index surgical treatment between 2013 and 2019.

Early brace treatment for idiopathic scoliosis may change the paradigm to improve curves.

Purpose: This study evaluated whether early brace treatment of curves < 25° decreased the prevalence of curve progression and surgery.

Methods: In a retrospective review, patients with idiopathic scoliosis Risser stages 0 to 2 braced at < 25° were followed until brace discontinuation, skeletal maturity, or surgery. Patients with predominantly primary thoracolumbar/lumbar curves were prescribed nighttime braces (NTB) and thoracic curves were prescribed fulltime braces (FTB).

Faster Rate of Correction with Distal Femoral Transphyseal Screws Versus Plates in Hemiepiphysiodesis for Coronal-Plane Knee Deformity: Age- and Sex-Matched Cohorts of Skeletally Immature Patients.

Background: Hemiepiphysiodesis (guided-growth) procedures have become the primary method of treatment for coronal-plane knee deformities in skeletally immature patients. Two leading techniques involve the use of a transphyseal screw or a growth modulation plate. However, clinical references for the estimation of correction are lacking, and no consensus has been reached regarding the superiority of one technique over the other.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate Treatment Improves Cryopreservation Efficiency in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

The actin cytoskeleton plays a crucial role not only in maintaining cell shape and viability but also in homing/engraftment properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a valuable source of cell therapy. Therefore, during the cryopreservation process of MSCs, protecting the actin cytoskeleton from the freezing/thawing stress is critical in maintaining their functionality and therapeutic potential. In this study, the safety and cryoprotective potential of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), which has a stabilizing effect on actin cytoskeleton, on dental pulp-derived MSCs (DP-MSCs) was investigated.