No Delay in Age of Crawling, Standing or Walking with Pavlik Harness Treatment: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Pavlik harness treatment is the standard of care for developmental dysplasia of the hip in infants younger than 6 months. The effect of Pavlik harness treatment on the achievement of motor milestones has not previously been reported.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 35 patients were prospectively enrolled to participate and received questionnaires with sequential clinical visits monitoring treatment of their developmental dysplasia of the hip.

Temporary Flexible Rods for Correction of Severe Pediatric Spinal Deformity.

Surgical correction of large, rigid scoliotic and kyphotic curves carries an increased risk of perioperative complications, such as neurological injury and excessive blood loss, compared with correction of less severe curves. Titanium temporary flexible rods (TFRs), designed for pediatric long bone fracture fixation, may be helpful as adjuncts to achieve gradual, stepwise intraoperative correction of severe pediatric spinal deformities. A retrospective review was conducted of spinal fusion cases for pediatric scoliosis or kyphosis at our institution that used TFRs as a correction technique from 2007 to 2019.

Curve Characteristics and Surgical Outcomes in Scoliosis Associated With Childhood Sternotomy or Thoracotomy.

Background: The purpose of this study is to describe curve characteristics and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing spinal fusion (SF) to treat thoracogenic scoliosis related to sternotomy and/or thoracotomy as a growing child.

Methods: A retrospective review of electronic medical records of all patients with Post-Chest Incision scoliosis treated with SF was performed at 2 tertiary care pediatric institutions over a 19-year period. Curve characteristics, inpatient, and outpatient postoperative outcomes are reported.

Better Patient Care Through Physician Extenders and Advanced Practice Providers.

Physician extenders and advanced practice providers (APPs) are now common in most adult and pediatric orthopaedic clinics and practices. Their utilization, with physician leadership, can improve patient care, patient satisfaction, and physician satisfaction and work/life balance in addition to having financial benefits. Physician extenders can include scribes, certified athletic trainers, and registered nurses, while APPs include nurse practitioners and physician assistants/associates.

Day of the Week of Surgery Affects Time to Discharge for Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Unnecessary delays in discharge are extraordinarily common in the current US health care system. These delays are even more protracted for patients undergoing orthopedic procedures. A traditional hospital staffing model is heavily weighted toward increased resources on weekdays and minimal coverage on the weekend.

Treatment in a Nonpediatric Hospital Is a Risk Factor for Open Reduction of Pediatric Supracondylar Humerus Fractures: A Population-Based Study.

Objectives: To describe the distribution of open versus closed treatment and its relationship with the location of care in pediatric specialty versus general hospitals.

Methods: Patient data were extracted from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Kid's Inpatient Database for the years 2000-2012. ICD9-CM diagnosis and procedure codes were used to identify open versus closed treatment of closed supracondylar humerus fractures in children younger than 12 years.

Trans-Metaphyseal Screws Placed in Children: An Argument for Monitoring and Potentially Removing the Implants.

Background: Surgeons frequently use trans-metaphyseal screws in children to achieve osteosynthesis after fractures or stability after reconstructive osteotomies. Screws that were initially inserted below the cortex of bone can become prominent and symptomatic due to the process of funnelization that narrows the wide metaphysis to the diameter of the thinner diaphysis.

Methods: Case series presentation of 11 children who presented with screw prominence after the cutback process range in age from 19 to 169 months.

Getting there--working toward minimizing blood loss in scoliosis surgery.

Ryan KM, O'Brien K, Reqan I, O'Byrne JM, Moore D, Kelly PM, et al. The prevalence of abnormal preoperative coagulation tests in pediatric patients undergoing spinal surgery for scoliosis. Spine J 2015;15:1217-22 (in this issue).

A "simple" option in the surgical treatment of congenital scoliosis.

Commentary on: Li X-F, Liu Z-D, Hu G-Y, et al. Posterior unilateral pedicle subtraction osteotomy of hemivertebra for correction of the adolescent congenital spinal deformity. Spine J 2011;11:111-118 (in this issue).

Management of spinal deformity in cerebral palsy.

An understanding of the three-dimensional components of spinal deformity in children with cerebral palsy is necessary to recommend treatments that will positively affect these patients' quality of life. Management of these deformities can be challenging and orthopedic surgeons should be familiar with the different treatments available for this patient population. This article discusses the incidence, causes, natural history, and treatment of patients with scoliosis.