Legg-Calvé-Perthes: interobserver and intraobserver reliability of the modified Herring lateral pillar classification.

Background: The purpose of our study was to independently assess the reliability of the modified Herring lateral pillar classification.

Methods: Thirty-five standardized true anteroposterior radiographs of children in the fragmentation phase were independently assessed by 6 senior observers on 2 separate occasions (6 wk apart). The κ analysis was used to assess the interobserver and intraobserver agreement.

Can orthopaedic clinicians learn to read skeletal bone age? An inter- and intra observer study between specialties.

Objective: Determination of skeletal age is essential for predicting eventual leg length discrepancies and predicting the accurate timing for surgical intervention in order to correct any discrepancy. To our knowledge, there has not been an interdisciplinary comparison of the degree of agreement in determining skeletal bone age.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated 30 left hand/wrist radiographs (children aged 16 months to 10 years 6 months) on two separate occasions between musculoskeletal paediatric radiologists, paediatric orthopaedic surgeons and a senior radiographer after appropriate training.

Initial diagnostic approach of the irritable hip in childhood: is ultrasound really useful?

The acutely painful hip is a common complaint in childhood and has numerous significant causes. This prospective study explored the use of ultrasound as an adjunct to medical history and clinical examination in children with an irritable hip attending a department of orthopaedic emergencies over the course of 8 months. One hundred thirty four children met the inclusion criteria.

Flexible intramedullary nailing in paediatric femoral shaft fractures.

This retrospective study aims to evaluate the efficacy of flexible intramedullary (IM) nails as a fixation device of paediatric femoral shaft fractures. A total of 36 children with 37 closed fractures were treated by this method. The patients ranged in age from 7.

Elastic stable intramedullary nailing for displaced proximal humeral fractures in older children.

Purpose: To demonstrate the effectiveness of intramedullary fixation of severely displaced proximal humeral physeal fractures in skeletally immature children using the elastic stable intramedullary nail (ESIN).

Methods: Retrospective recruitment of 14 patients aged 10-15-years old with severely displaced proximal humeral physeal fractures between 1999 and 2004 in a single regional specialist paediatric orthopaedic hospital. The fractures were graded using the Neer classification; severe displacement constituted Neer II-IV or displacement >1 cm and angulation >45 degrees .

Uncemented total hip arthroplasty in the elderly.

Between January 1991 and December 1994, 132 uncemented total hip arthroplasties (THA) were performed on 125 patients over 65 years of age; of which 102 arthroplasties, performed in 90 patients, were followed for at least 4 years. One revision was necessary following fracture of an acetabular component secondary to trauma. The post-operative Harris hip score (HHS) ranged from 87 to 99.