The treatment of neonatal hip dysplasia with splints in the United Kingdom: time for consensus?

Purpose: To understand the variation in the management of hip dysplasia identified from the United Kingdom neonatal selective screening programme.

Methods: Having been designed and tested by the research committee of the British Society for Children's Orthopaedic Surgery (BSCOS), a nationwide online survey was conducted of BSCOS members to ascertain their treatment strategies for neonatal hip dysplasia.

Results: There were 111 responses (60% of members), which illustrated wide variation in care.

Universal versus selective ultrasound screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip: a single-centre retrospective cohort study.

A total of 28 068 infants were studied to investigate whether universal ultrasound screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip results in fewer delayed presentations than selective screening, and whether the screening protocol affects subsequent treatment. The rate of delayed presentation was not lower with selective screening compared with universal screening but all cases of delayed presentation in this cohort were administrative errors. There were no sonographic errors (false-negatives).

Staged weaning versus immediate cessation of Pavlik harness treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip.

Outcomes of nonoperative treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip were compared between two centres. Eighty children in Centre A underwent staged weaning of the Pavlik harness once three consecutive weekly ultrasounds showed Graf Grade I hips, whereas in 48 children in Centre B, the harness was removed immediately. No statistically significant difference was found in the rate of reintervention (repeat harness treatment, closed or open reduction), avascular necrosis or acetabular index between the two methods, although there was a nonsignificant trend towards higher reintervention rate and lower avascular necrosis rate with immediate harness removal.

Assessment of cup orientation in hip resurfacing: a comparison of TraumaCad and computed tomography.

Purpose: The orientation of the acetabular component in metal-on-metal hip resurfacing arthroplasty affects wear rate and hence failure. This study aimed to establish if interpretation of pelvic radiographs with TraumaCad software can provide a reliable alternative to CT in measuring the acetabular inclination and version.

Methods: TraumaCad was used to measure the acetabular orientation on AP pelvis radiographs of 14 painful hip resurfacings.

Functional outcome following intramedullary nailing or plate and screw fixation of paediatric diaphyseal forearm fractures: a systematic review.

Purpose: Unstable paediatric diaphyseal both-bone forearm fractures requiring fixation have traditionally been treated with rigid internal fixation with plate and screws. Intramedullary stabilisation has grown in popularity over the last 25 years but may be associated with rotational deformity and subsequent loss of pronosupination. This systematic review aims to establish which treatment method provides better functional outcome.

Functional outcome following direct repair or intervertebral fusion for adolescent spondylolysis: a systematic review.

A systematic review of the literature was performed to establish whether direct repair of the pars defect or intervertebral fusion achieves better Oswestry Disability Index scores in adolescent spondylolysis or low-grade spondylolisthesis. Nine studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria, reporting a minimum total of 80 direct repairs and 108 fusions because of presumed replication of data between studies. Little statistically or clinically significant difference could be established between the two interventions.

The diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography in gluteal tendon tears--a systematic review.

Gluteal tendon tears are one of the many pathologies causing pain around the greater trochanter that are often labelled as trochanteric bursitis. We systematically reviewed the peer-reviewed literature to establish the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography in the diagnosis of gluteal tendon tears in patients with persistent lateral hip pain or Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS). 7 studies met the inclusion criteria, comparing either imaging modality with a reference standard of surgical findings.

The factors associated with prolonged inpatient stay after surgical fixation of acute ankle fractures.

In order to identify specific factors associated with prolonged inpatient stay following surgical correction of acute ankle fracture, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent acute ankle fracture repair, comparing length of hospital stay to the reason for delay of surgery (logistical versus clinical), type of fracture, and age. Our findings showed that delay in surgical repair beyond 24 hours following presentation to the emergency department was associated with a statistically significant overall longer length of stay, in comparison to patients who underwent surgery within the first 24 hours (P = .022).