Clinical Care Guideline for Improving Pediatric Acute Musculoskeletal Infection Outcomes.

Background: Acute pediatric musculoskeletal infections are common, leading to significant use of resources and antimicrobial exposure. In order to decrease variability and improve the quality of care, Children's Hospital Colorado implemented a clinical care guideline (CCG) for these infections. The purpose of this study is to evaluate clinical and resource outcomes PRE and POST this CCG.

MRI as a reliable and accurate method for assessment of posterior hip dislocation in children and adolescents without the risk of radiation exposure.

Background: Posterior hip dislocation in children and adolescents may involve the non-ossified posterior acetabular wall. Plain radiographs and computed tomography (CT) have been shown to underestimate injury to the unossified acetabulum as well as associated soft-tissue structures.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe findings on radiographs, CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after posterior hip dislocation in a series of adolescents and to report the intraoperative findings, which are considered the gold standard.

CT outperforms radiographs at a comparable radiation dose in the assessment for spondylolysis.

Background: Lumbar spondylolysis, a unilateral or bilateral fracture at pars interarticularis, is a common cause of low back pain in children. The initial imaging study in the diagnosis of lumbar spondylolysis has historically been lumbar spine radiographs; however, radiographs can be equivocal or false-negative. Definitive diagnosis can be achieved with computed tomography (CT), but its use has been limited due to the dose of ionizing radiation to the patient.

Incidence of meniscal injury and chondral pathology in anterior tibial spine fractures of children.

Background: Pediatric avulsion fractures of the anterior tibial spine are injuries similar to anterior cruciate ligament injuries in adults. Sparse data exists on the association between anterior tibial spine fractures (ATSFs) and injury to the meniscus or cartilage of the knee joint in children. This research presents a retrospective review of clinical records, imaging, and operative reports to characterize the incidence of concomitant injury in cases of ATSFs in children.