Complications of high tibial osteotomy with external fixation in adolescent Blount's disease.

Reported complication rates for tibial osteotomies have been widely variable and no study has focused on a single deformity etiology, surgical technique, or stabilization method. A review of 38 high tibial osteotomies with external fixation in adolescent Blount's disease patients was performed at two institutions. Results showed an overall complication rate of 153% and an elevated (97%) prevalence of morbid obesity in the patients in this series.

An analysis of the functional health of obese children and adolescents utilizing the PODC instrument.

Childhood and adolescent obesity is increasing in prevalence and is known to have long-term medical and musculoskeletal consequences. The baseline Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) was administered to 50 obese patients (>95th percentile BMI for age) or their parent (for those <11 years) presenting to a pediatric orthopaedic clinic to assess overall function. There were no differences between sexes (31 boys, 19 girls) or age group (>11 years, n = 36; <11 years, n = 14) in any demographic or PODCI category.

Comparison of Pavlik harness application and immediate spica casting for femur fractures in infants.

This retrospective study compares Pavlik harness application versus spica casting for the treatment of children under 1 year of age with a femoral shaft fracture. The clinical and radiographic outcomes of 24 patients treated in a Pavlik harness were compared with 16 patients treated in a spica cast. The average age and weight of the two groups were significantly different, but there were no differences in radiographic outcomes between the Pavlik and spica cast groups.

Lower extremity compartment syndrome in infants associated with child abuse: a report of two cases.

Compartment syndrome associated with child abuse is unreported in the literature. We describe two cases secondary to lower extremity fractures resulting from child abuse. The diagnosis and management of compartment syndrome are reviewed.