Publications by authors named "Colyn J Watkins"

Case: A 13-year-old healthy, nearly skeletally mature, female patient presented to an outpatient clinic after sustaining a bimalleolar ankle fracture-dislocation, which was subsequently treated with open reduction and internal fixation and casting. Postoperatively, the patient had significant limitations to ankle range of motion. Imaging revealed posterior tibiotalar impingement.

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Background: Anterior distal femoral hemiepiphysiodesis (ADFH) using 2 percutaneous screws is an effective technique for the treatment of fixed knee flexion deformities in children with neuromuscular disorders. The role of sagittal screw position on the outcome of the procedure is unknown.

Methods: This is a retrospective case series of patients who underwent ADFH at a single pediatric hospital from 2013 to 2020.

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Background: Pressure injuries are serious yet often preventable alterations in skin integrity prevalent in orthopaedics, especially in pediatric patients with neuromuscular complex chronic conditions (NCCC). The aims of this study were to (1) estimate incidence of pressure injury in children with NCCC after orthopaedic surgery; (2) determine risk factors for pressure injury development; and (3) describe severity and location of pressure injuries.

Methods: Children and adolescents (<22 y old) with NCCC who underwent orthopaedic surgery at a single tertiary-care children's hospital between 2016 and 2020 were retrospectively identified.

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Background: Epidural analgesia is commonly used for pain control after reconstructive hip surgery, but its use is controversial in the presence of an intrathecal baclofen pump (ITB). The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the rate of serious anesthetic and postoperative complications as well as the efficacy of epidural analgesia compared with lumbar plexus blocks (LPBs) for pain management after neuromuscular hip reconstruction in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and ITB.

Methods: Pediatric patients with CP and ITB undergoing hip reconstructive surgery from 2010 to 2019 were retrospectively identified.

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Background: Adult literature has demonstrated chlorhexidine (CH) superiority at preventing surgical-site infections when compared with povidone-iodine (P-I). The purpose of this study is to compare the rate of postoperative infections after preoperative skin cleansing with either CH or P-I in pediatric orthopaedic surgery in an effort to identify superiority.

Methods: We retrospectively identified all patients (18 y and below) that underwent orthopaedic surgery at our institution in 2015, when P-I was the preoperative skin antisepsis of choice, and in 2018, when a change in protocol resulted in more frequent use of CH.

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Purpose: Supracondylar humerus fractures are among the most common injuries in the paediatric population, accounting for 16% of all paediatric fractures and roughly 60% to 70% of all paediatric elbow fractures. Typical treatment for displaced and unstable supracondylar humerus fractures is surgical intervention, often with percutaneous Kirschner-wire (K-wire) fixation. Timing of surgery is dependent on the patient's neurovascular status on presentation, with surgical emergencies being performed at all hours of day and night.

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Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is characterized by posterior and inferior displacement of the capital femoral epiphysis in relationship to the metaphysis. Although universally accepted as a treatment modality for SCFE, in-situ pinning may be technically challenging in obese adolescents with large body habitus. Adequate screw position is important to achieve stabilization of the epiphysis and to allow closure of the growth plate.

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Purpose: Paediatric radial neck fractures are challenging to treat. Multiple strategies exist for reduction and fixation; there is no clear consensus on the best surgical technique to achieve reduction. The percutaneous leverage technique is a method for reduction of radial neck fractures that has previously been described by Wallace, though there is a lack of published literature on this technique.

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Background: Children with neuromuscular complex chronic conditions (NMCCC) frequently undergo hip reconstruction surgery requiring blood transfusion. The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of tranexamic acid (TXA) to reduce blood loss and transfusion requirement in NMCCC children undergoing hip reconstruction surgery.

Methods: Children with NMCCC undergoing hip reconstruction surgery between 2013 and 2018 were identified.

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 A lack of conclusive evidence on the treatment of acute median neuropathy (AMN) in patients with distal radius fractures has led to inconsistent surgical guidelines and recommendations regarding AMN in distal radius fractures. There is a wide variation in surgical decision-making. We aimed to evaluate international differences between surgical considerations and practices related to carpal tunnel release (CTR) in the setting of distal radius fractures.

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Background: Hip displacement in children with cerebral palsy is common and related to a child's gross motor function. Progressive lateral hip displacement can result in severe pain, impaired function and quality of life. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature to identify the natural history of untreated spastic hip displacement in children with cerebral palsy.

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Background: There has been little investigation into the epidemiology of Cozen's phenomenon, genu valgum as a complication of proximal tibial metaphysis fractures. In this study, we present a large case series of proximal tibia fractures in children to describe the prevalence, epidemiology, and characteristics associated with Cozen's phenomenon following proximal tibial fracture in children.

Methods: We searched the orthopedic database at our institution for all patients aged 1 to 8 years old with proximal tibia fractures presenting for initial fracture management between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2017.

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Background: Accurate identification of surface anatomy is critical to identify the location of the A1 pulley. The intercrease line (ICL) describes a transverse line between the radial edge of the proximal palmar crease and the ulnar edge of the distal palmar crease. We hypothesize that this easily identifiable surface landmark approximates the location of the A1 pulley.

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Background: Postoperative pain is an unavoidable consequence of open abdominal surgery. Although cryotherapy, the application of ice to a surgical wound site, has been shown to be effective in reducing postoperative pain in orthopaedic, gynecologic, and hernia operations, it has not been assessed in patients who undergo major open abdominal operations. We hypothesized that patients who receive cryotherapy would report lower pain scores as a primary outcomes measure.

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Trauma centers face novel challenges in resource allocation in an era of cost consciousness and work-hour restrictions. Studies have shown that time of day and day of week affect trauma admission volume; however, these studies were performed in cold climates. Data from 2000 to 2010 at a Level I trauma center were reviewed.

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