Safety and efficacy of waterproof casting for early onset scoliosis.

Purpose: The efficacy of traditional Mehta casting in the treatment of early onset scoliosis (EOS) is well-established. However, waterproof casting has not been previously described. Inherent advantages of waterproof casting include clearance for bathing/swimming, avoiding cast holidays, and improved family satisfaction.

Waterproof Hip Spica Casts for Pediatric Femur Fractures.

Background: Hip spica casting is the treatment of choice for femur fractures in children ages 6 months to 5 years. Traditional spica (TS) casting utilizes cotton padding that precludes patient bathing. Waterproof (WP) casting has inherent advantages, including clearance for bathing and improved family satisfaction.

Do Preoperative Supine Radiographs Predict Postoperative Residual Lumbar Curvatures in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis? A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Study Design: Retrospective comparative study.

Objectives: This study compares supine vs bending flexibility radiographs and evaluates their ability to predict residual postoperative lumbar curvature after selective thoracic fusion for Lenke 1 and 2 curves across different lumbar modifiers (A, B, and C) in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Methods: This was a retrospective review of AIS Lenke 1 and 2 patients who underwent posterior fusion.

The Sagittal Plane in Spinal Fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Sagittal balance is widely recognized as the primary determinant of optimal outcomes in adult spinal deformity. In adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), coronal correction risks being obtained at the expense of sagittal malalignment after posterior spinal fusion. Apical lordosis, often underestimated on two-dimensional imaging, is the primary deforming factor in AIS.

Comparison of Outcomes by Reconstructive Strategy in Patients with Prostheses for Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency.

Background: The present study compares prosthetic treatment options for proximal femoral focal deficiency in terms of gait analysis, oxygen consumption, and patient-reported outcomes.

Methods: Twenty-three patients who had been managed with a prosthesis for unilateral proximal femoral focal deficiency underwent gait analysis; this group included 7 patients who had received an equinus prosthesis, 6 who had received a rotationplasty prosthesis, and 10 who had undergone Syme amputation and had received an above-the-knee prosthesis. Cadence parameters, kinematic and kinetic data, and oxygen consumption were measured, and the Gait Deviation Index (GDI) was calculated.

Ponte osteotomies in a matched series of large AIS curves increase surgical risk without improving outcomes.

Purpose: The routine use of Ponte osteotomies in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) surgery is controversial with conflicting data for coronal plane correction and little analysis in the sagittal plane. The objective of this study was to analyze the efficacy of Ponte osteotomies in large curve AIS.

Methods: A single institution, prospectively-collected series of consecutive AIS patients who had Ponte osteotomies (P cohort) was directly matched to patients with no Pontes (NP cohort) by age, gender, Lenke classification, surgeon, coronal, and sagittal Cobb angles.

Willingness to enroll in a surgical randomized controlled trial: patient and parent preferences regarding implant density for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis fusion.

Study Design: Prospective survey of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients/parents with surgical magnitude curves.

Objective: We hypothesized that patients and families considering fusion surgery would be willing to enroll in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the effect of number of implants on curve correction. Surgical RCTs are infrequently performed, particularly in a pediatric population.

Two AIS spine surgeries on the same day by the same surgeon: is performance and outcome the same for the second patient?

Study Design: Retrospective case-controlled study.

Objectives: To analyze the overall performance and outcome of two-a-day surgery days for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). As a method to improve efficiency and operating room utilization, some surgeons are now performing two surgeries for AIS in a single day.

Scoliosis Progression After the Nuss Procedure for Pectus Excavatum: A Case Report.

Introduction: Pectus excavatum and scoliosis are associated conditions with a high rate of coincidence. However, there are no reports to guide surgeons on the management of adolescents with moderate scoliosis and pectus excavatum, because there are conflicting conclusions in the literature regarding how the Nuss procedure with substernal bar affects scoliosis.

Cases: In 2017, we encountered two patients with moderate scoliosis treated with a spinal orthosis.

Distal Junctional Failure Following Pediatric Spinal Fusion.

Background: Adjacent segment pathology is a known complication after spinal fusion, but little has been reported on junctional failure. A series of adolescent patients presented with acute distal junctional failure (DJF). We sought to determine any common features of these patients to develop a prevention strategy.

Delayed Dural Leak Following Posterior Spinal Fusion for Idiopathic Scoliosis Using All Posterior Pedicle Screw Technique.

Background: In pediatric patients, pedicle screws are malpositioned 5% to 15% of the time. Complications associated with malpositioned screws are infrequently reported in the literature. We present a series of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients who presented in a delayed manner with positional headache and chronic dural leak adjacent to the pedicle screw tract.

Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty Using the Cement-in-Cement Technique.

The cement-in-cement technique is useful in the setting of revision total hip arthroplasty (THA), especially to gain acetabular exposure, change a damaged or loose femoral component, or change the version, offset, or length of a fixed femoral component. The goal of this retrospective study was to assess the clinical and radiographic characteristics of revision THA using the cement-in- cement technique. Between 1971 and 2013, a total of 63 revision THAs used an Omnifit (Osteonics, Mahwah, New Jersey) or Exeter (Howmedica, Mahwah, New Jersey) stem and the cement-in-cement technique at the senior author's institution.

Which Malpositioned Pedicle Screws Should Be Revised?

Background: Up to 10% of free-hand pedicle screws are malpositioned, and 1 in 300 patients may undergo return to surgery for revision of malpositioned screws. The indications for revision of asymptomatic malpositioned screws have not been carefully examined in the literature. We sought to evaluate the threshold among spinal deformity surgeons for revision of malpositioned screws.

Surgical Site Infections After Pediatric Spine Surgery.

Surgical site infection (SSI) after spinal deformity surgery is a complication in the pediatric population resulting in high morbidity and cost. Despite modern surgical techniques and preventative strategies, the incidence remains substantial, especially in the neuromuscular population. This review focuses on recent advancements in identification of risk factors, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for acute and delayed pediatric spine infections.