Reversed Palmaris Longus MuscleA Normal Anatomic Variant: A Case Report.

The palmaris longus muscle is one of the most variable muscles in the human body. It has many anatomic variants, one of which is the reversed palmaris longus. In this specific variant, the tendinous origin and muscular insertion sites are reversed in the forearm.

What's New in Congenital Scoliosis?

Background: Congenital scoliosis is a failure of vertebral formation, segmentation, or a combination of the 2 arising from abnormal vertebral development during weeks 4 to 6 of gestation. The associated spinal deformity can be of varying severity and result in a stable or progressive deformity based on the type and location of the anomalous vertebra(e). Bracing for congenital scoliosis is rarely indicated, while recent reports have demonstrated the utility of serial derotational casting for longer curves with multiple anomalous vertebrae as an effective "time buying strategy" to delay the need for surgery.

Labral support shelf arthroplasty for containment in early stages of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease.

Background: Containment of the hip has become a popular strategy for treatment of severe Legg-Calve-Perthes disease; however, the best method remains unclear. This study describes a minimal-incision variation of the labral support shelf arthroplasty, which uses arthroscopic visualization and an allograft buttress on the shelf support. The outcome in a group of hips undergoing this minimal-incision variation is compared by the Stulberg classification with a group treated by the traditional anterolateral open operative approach.

Labral support shelf arthroplasty for the early stages of severe Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.

The best treatment for Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease remains unknown, and various methods of treatment have been shown to yield conflicting results. Treatment with a labral support shelf arthroplasty is ideal when an increased arc of the acetabulum is needed to contain an enlarged femoral head, when extension of the lateral border of the acetabulum is needed to prevent hinge subluxation, and when a larger surface area is needed for remodeling. Twenty patients with unilateral Catterall classes III and IV and lateral pillar groups B and C disease in the necrotic or fragmentation stage were treated with a shelf arthroplasty.

Neurologic injury in the surgical treatment of idiopathic scoliosis: guidelines for assessment and management.

Iatrogenic spinal cord injury resulting from surgical treatment of spinal deformity is a relatively uncommon but devastating complication. Publications on the prevalence of spinal cord injury following surgery are numerous, but no definitive review with clinically pertinent treatment guidelines exists. Methods to reduce the risk of neurologic complications with scoliosis surgery include adequate patient evaluation and preoperative planning, intraoperative preparation, intraoperative neuromonitoring, and postoperative management.

Computed tomography evaluation of rotation correction in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a comparison of an all pedicle screw construct versus a hook-rod system.

Study Design: Retrospective review with historical cohort.

Objective: Our study measures axial rotation of the apical vertebral bodies of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treated with an all pedicle screw (APS) construct versus a hook-rod (HR) construct using computed tomography (CT).

Summary Of Background Data: Ecker et al (Spine 1988;13:1141-4) observed a 22% derotation of the apical vertebrate of the thoracic spine and 33% of the apical vertebra of the lumbar spine when using an HR system (CD instrumentation).

Difficult thoracic pedicle screw placement in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Study Design: Retrospective radiographic and clinical consecutive case series.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify patients treated with posterior spinal fusion and pedicle screw instrumentation for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) in whom it was not possible to place a planned pedicle screw, and describe the possible difficulties in screw placement.

Summary Of Background Data: Despite the knowledge of anatomic characteristics of upper thoracic spine pedicles and considerable experience in thoracic pedicle screw placement, inserting pedicle screws in some patients with AIS may be difficult.

Fractures of the distal humeral metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction in children.

Background: To our knowledge, there is no report in the English-language literature of metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction fractures of the distal humerus in children. The purpose of this study was to review our experience with this uncommon fracture.

Methods: Between 1998 and 2004, 422 displaced supracondylar humerus fractures underwent operative reduction and fixation at our institution.

Magnetic resonance imaging of renal abnormalities in patients with congenital osseous anomalies of the spine.

Background: Patients with congenital osseous anomalies of the spine are known to have a high prevalence of abnormalities in the renal system and of the spinal cord. Today, the screening tools of choice to detect these abnormalities include ultrasonography of the kidneys and collecting system and magnetic resonance imaging of the spine. A single screening tool that can identify both renal and intraspinal anomalies would be ideal.

Fusionless treatment of scoliosis.

The recent investigations of convex anterior vertebral body stapling have offered promising early results with use of improved implants and techniques. The use of a shape memory alloy staple tailored to the size of the vertebral body, the application of several staples per level, the instrumentation of the Cobb levels of all curves, and the employment of minimally invasive thoracoscopic approaches all offer substantial improvements over previous fusionless techniques. Patient selection may also play a role in the current success of these fusionless treatments, with perhaps the ideal candidates for this intervention possessing smaller and more flexible curves.

The proximal femoral growth plate in Perthes disease.

We hypothesized the extent of involvement of the proximal femoral growth plate in Perthes disease determined the final radiographic outcome after containment by shelf acetabuloplasty. We retrospectively evaluated the extent of growth plate involvement using a modified version of the method described by Yasuda and Tamura. In our modification, we used only the epiphyseal border for measurements, which was clearly visible as a thin white line, unlike Yasuda and Tamura who used the metaphyseal and epiphyseal borders.

A reappraisal of the Ortolani examination in children with developmental dysplasia of the hip.

The Ortolani maneuver is currently accepted as an accurate test to detect developmental dislocation of the hip. However, the clinical sign does not always correlate with the findings seen on ultrasound. The ultrasound-documented position of the femoral head was correlated with the result of the clinical Ortolani examination to better understand the value and validity of the Ortolani test.

Prevalence of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in patients who have bilateral cavovarus feet.

It is not uncommon to see a patient with bilateral cavovarus feet in the outpatient setting. A large percentage of these patients are subsequently diagnosed with an associated condition, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. The purpose of the present report was to determine the prevalence of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in children who have bilateral cavovarus feet.

Congenital and developmental deformities of the spine in children with myelomeningocele.

The treatment of spinal deformities in children with myelomeningocele poses a formidable task. Multiple medical comorbidities, such as insensate skin and chronic urinary tract infection, make care of the spine difficult. A thorough understanding of the natural history of these deformities is mandatory for appropriate treatment to be rendered.

Lateral growth disturbance of the proximal femur in premature infants who had neonatal sepsis.

This is a retrospective review of four patients in whom a pattern of growth disturbance of the proximal femur with the bony bridge developed. They were born prematurely with low birth weight at birth and they had a suspicious sepsis, but they did not have any signs of localized infection. All presented with a progressive gait disturbance and a leg-length discrepancy.

Fractures of the distal tibial metaphysis in children: patterns of injury and results of treatment.

Background: Fractures of the tibia are common in children. Fractures of the distal tibial metaphysis have been only described in fracture texts without reference to a peer-reviewed study. The purpose of the present study was to review this fracture pattern and report the results of treatment.

Operative treatment for type II avascular necrosis in developmental dysplasia of the hip.

Lateral growth disturbance of the proximal femur may occur after treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip, although usually it is not recognized until the child is older. This resultant dysplasia is also known as Kalamchi and MacEwen Type II avascular necrosis. The valgus configuration of the proximal femur and associated acetabular dysplasia may need operative reconstruction.

The feasibility, safety, and utility of vertebral wedge osteotomies for the fusionless treatment of paralytic scoliosis.

Study Design: Before-after intervention study of a fusionless surgical technique to correct scoliosis secondary to spinal cord injury or myelodysplasia in children and adolescents.

Objectives: To determine the feasibility, safety, and utility of a fusionless treatment option for paralytic scoliosis. Once determined, these data could then be applied to develop the application of this operation for patients with other types of scoliosis, such as idiopathic.

Fourth brachymetatarsia treated with distraction osteogenesis.

Background: This study investigated metatarsal lengthening by distraction osteogenesis for fourth brachymetatarsia in 22 metatarsals (16 patients).

Methods: From May 1997 to May 2000, lengthening was performed with a monoexternal fixator, and distraction was started at a rate of 0.5 mm per day after a latency period of approximately 7-10 days.

Treatment of the collapsed femoral head by containment in Legg-Calve-Perthes disease.

One hundred ninety-seven patients with unilateral Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (LCPD) were followed-up to skeletal maturity. According to the lateral pillar classification, 142 hips were classified as group B and 55 hips as group C. Radiographs were evaluated for percent of collapse of the femoral head, Waldenstrom stage of disease at diagnosis, Mose sphericity, hinge abduction, lateral acetabular shape, and limb-length discrepancy.

Bilateral Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease: presentation and outcome.

Most patients who develop Legg-Calve-Perthes disease have unilateral involvement. For those children who do develop bilateral involvement, the disease and its outcome have not been characterized. This study reviewed the records and radiographs of 83 patients (20 girls and 63 boys) with bilateral Legg-Calve-Perthes disease.

Surgical treatment of scoliosis in Marfan syndrome: guidelines for a successful outcome.

Twenty-three patients with Marfan syndrome who had a posterior spinal arthrodesis, with or without instrumentation, autogenous iliac crest bone graft, and postoperative immobilization were retrospectively reviewed to formulate guidelines for the treatment of scoliosis. Patients in group 1 (7 patients) had both the primary and secondary curves arthrodesed, whereas patients in group 2 (16 patients) underwent selective arthrodesis of the entire primary and a partial arthrodesis of the secondary curves. Thirteen patients had triple curves, nine had double curves, and one patient had a single curve.

Complications of joint arthroplasty in patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis.

The mortality and morbidity after hip and knee arthroplasty were reviewed retrospectively during a 3-year period in 14 patients who had chronic renal failure and who were receiving hemodialysis. The patients had a primary total hip or knee replacement, or a revision arthroplasty or resection arthroplasty. Four of the patients (29%) died in the hospital during the postoperative period.