Risk of Acute Compartment Syndrome in Pediatric Patients With Tibial Tubercle Avulsion Fractures: A Retrospective Review.

Objective: Tibial tubercle avulsion fractures (TTAFs) represent 0.4% to 2.7% of pediatric physeal injuries.

Postoperative Opioid Prescribing Practices and Patient Opioid Utilization in Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Patients.

Introduction: Amid a national opioid epidemic, it is essential to review the necessity of opioid prescriptions. Research in adults has demonstrated patients often do not use their entire postoperative opioid prescription. Limited data suggest that the trend is similar in children.

Patient comprehension of hip arthroscopy: an investigation of health literacy.

Several studies have demonstrated that patients have significant impairments in understanding their injury and appropriate course of management in orthopedic surgery. The purpose of this investigation is to determine if patients are able to obtain a fundamental understanding of the requisite care associated with hip arthroscopy. Any patient who elected to have hip arthroscopy was prospectively recruited to participate in the study.

Patient Comprehension of Carpal Tunnel Surgery: An Investigation of Health Literacy.

Health literacy is the ability of a patient to understand their medical condition. The purpose of this investigation is to determine whether patients are able to obtain an elementary understanding of the fundamental principles of carpal tunnel release and the postoperative instructions after going through the process of informed consent and being provided an additional standardized postoperative instruction document. Our hypothesis is that patients will lack an understanding of these principles and, therefore, will be at risk for being noncompliant in their postoperative care.

Three-Dimensional Carpal Kinematics after Carpal Tunnel Release.

Background: Carpal tunnel release (CTR) has been shown to change carpal arch morphology. However, the effect of CTR on the three-dimensional kinematics of the carpal bones has not been demonstrated.

Purpose: This study examined whether release of the transverse carpal ligament (TCL) would alter the three-dimensional kinematics of the carpus, specifically the bony attachments of the TCL.

Orthopaedic Management of Spasticity.

Spasticity is a common manifestation of many neurological conditions including multiple sclerosis, stroke, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injuries. Management of spasticity seeks to reduce its burden on patients and to limit secondary complications. Non-operative interventions including stretching/splinting, postural management, physical therapy/strengthening, anti-spasticity medications, and botulinum toxin injections may help patients with spasticity.

Femoroacetabular impingement: a review of current concepts.

Femoroacetabular impingement is becoming an increasingly more common diagnosis in the orthopaedic community for hip pain in the younger population. Variations in the femoral head and acetabulum can lead to a sequelae of changes to the cartilage that can lead to osteoarthritis. Diagnosis is made through a combination of patient history, physical examination, and diagnostic imaging.

The Effect of C-Arm Position on Radiation Exposure During Fixation of Pediatric Supracondylar Fractures of the Humerus.

Background: Closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of a pediatric supracondylar fracture of the humerus requires operating directly next to the C-arm to hold reduction and perform fixation under direct imaging. This study was designed to compare radiation exposure from two C-arm configurations: with the image intensifier serving as the operating surface, and with a radiolucent hand table serving as the operating surface and the image intensifier positioned above the table.

Methods: We used a cadaveric specimen in this study to determine radiation exposure to the operative elbow and to the surgeon at the waist and neck levels during simulated closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of a pediatric supracondylar fracture of the humerus.

Operative treatment of type II supracondylar humerus fractures: does time to surgery affect complications?

Background: Because of the changing referral patterns, operative pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures are increasingly being treated at tertiary referral centers. To expedite patient flow, type II fractures are sometimes pinned in a delayed manner. We sought to determine if delay in surgical treatment of modified Gartland type II supracondylar humerus fractures would affect the rate of complications following closed reduction and percutaneous pinning.

Management of the pediatric pulseless supracondylar humeral fracture: is vascular exploration necessary?

Background: Radically different conclusions exist in the pediatric orthopaedic and vascular literature regarding the management of patients with a pink hand but no palpable radial pulse in association with a supracondylar humeral fracture.

Methods: One thousand two hundred and ninety-seven consecutive, operatively treated supracondylar humeral fractures in patients presenting to a level-I pediatric trauma center from January 2003 through December 2007 were studied retrospectively. Clinical records were reviewed to determine vascular and neurological examination findings, Gartland classification, timing of surgery, and postoperative complications.

Precocious appearance of the capital femoral ossific nucleus in Larsen syndrome.

Background: Larsen syndrome is associated with multiple complications, including spinal deformities and recalcitrant joint dislocations. We noted capital femoral ossific nuclei on ultrasonographic images that were made for two infants with Larsen syndrome who were less than two weeks of age. We sought to confirm that this finding is common in patients with Larsen syndrome and unusual in patients with normal hips or idiopathic developmental dysplasia of the hip.

Anabolic steroid use in adolescents: identification of those at risk and strategies for prevention.

Success in sports is often defined by winning, which drives athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) to gain an advantage over opponents. Over the past 20 years, use of PEDs by Olympic and professional athletes has led to public discussion regarding potential negative health effects and ethical implications of their use. Unfortunately, PEDs are not isolated to professional athletes, as PED use in adolescents has increased dramatically.

Klebsiella pneumoniae-associated vertebral osteomyelitis after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

We report a case of a patient who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy and subsequently developed Klebsiella pneumoniae-associated vertebral osteomyelitis after 2 months. Development of vertebral osteomyelitis after laparoscopic cholecystectomy has never been reported previously. Diagnosis was made via magnetic resonance imaging.

Brace management in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Unlabelled: Skeletally immature patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis are at risk for curve progression. Although numerous nonoperative methods have been attempted, including physical therapy, exercise, massage, manipulation, and electrical stimulation, only bracing is effective in preventing curve progression and the subsequent need for surgery. Brace treatment is initiated as either full-time (TLSO, Boston) or nighttime (Charleston, Providence) wear, although patient compliance with either mode of bracing has been a documented problem.

Idiopathic chondrolysis treated with etanercept.

Idiopathic chondrolysis of the hip in children has been well documented in the literature. The insidious nature of the symptoms and lack of early radiographic findings and diagnostic testing often delay diagnosis. Children often report a stiff, painful hip and have an associated limp in the absence of trauma or constitutional symptoms.

Spinal deformity and athletics.

Exercise and athletic competition for the young individual has become increasingly more important in society. Scoliosis and Scheurmann kyphosis are spinal deformities prevalent in up to 2% to 3% and 7% of the population respectively, requiring nonoperative and occasionally operative treatment. Curve progression and patient physiologic age dictate treatment regimens.

Foot and ankle fellowship training: a national survey of past, present, and prospective fellows.

Background: Surgical specialties have become increasingly subspecialized. An expanding demand for foot and ankle care administered by trained specialists has driven the need for foot and ankle-trained orthopaedic surgeons. This survey was designed to elucidate the reasons why residents choose a career in foot and ankle surgery.

Increased lengthening rate decreases expression of fibroblast growth factor 2, platelet-derived growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and CD31 in a rat model of distraction osteogenesis.

Background: The rate of lengthening has a profound impact on bone regeneration during distraction osteogenesis. Rapid distraction can delay or completely inhibit union, whereas distracting too slowly may lead to premature consolidation. However, the mechanisms responsible for retardation of healing due to rapid distraction have not been elucidated.

Biomechanical and anatomical consequences of carpal tunnel release.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is an exceedingly common orthopaedic problem in the United States. When conservative management is unsuccessful, most surgeons proceed to surgical treatment. Though the carpal tunnel release procedure is usually curative, many patients experience postoperative complications, such as scar sensitivity, pillar pain, recurrent symptoms, and grip weakness, regardless of whether the release was done through an open, mini-open, or endoscopic approach.