Free-Breathing High-Resolution, Swap-Free, and Motion-Corrected Water/Fat Separation in Pediatric Abdominal MRI.

Objectives: The T1-weighted GRE (gradient recalled echo) sequence with the Dixon technique for water/fat separation is an essential component of abdominal MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), useful in detecting tumors and characterizing hemorrhage/fat content. Unfortunately, the current implementation of this sequence suffers from several problems: (1) low resolution to maintain high pixel bandwidth and minimize chemical shift; (2) image blurring due to respiratory motion; (3) water/fat swapping due to the natural ambiguity between fat and water peaks; and (4) off-resonance fat blurring due to the multipeak nature of the fat spectrum. The goal of this study was to evaluate the image quality of water/fat separation using a high-resolution 3-point Dixon golden angle radial acquisition with retrospective motion compensation and multipeak fat modeling in children undergoing abdominal MRI.

The Effectiveness of Serial Casting in the Treatment of Recurrent Equinovarus in Children With Arthrogryposis.

Background: Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) is characterized by joint contractures in 2 or more body areas, often resulting in clubfoot deformities that are typically stiffer than those seen in idiopathic clubfoot deformities. While surgery is routinely used to treat clubfoot in AMC, it has a high rate of recurrence and complications. Current literature suggests serial casting (SC) could be useful in treating clubfoot in AMC, though evidence of its effectiveness is limited.

Lower Limb Deformity Correction: Analysis and Preoperative Planning.

Lower limb deformities have a wide range of presentations and require significant preparation and planning from the surgeon to correct. It is important to provide a clear and systematic approach to preoperative planning for these cases and to detail three well-established correction techniques: external fixation, plate fixation, and intramedullary nail fixation. In using a simple mnemonic that lays out the systematic analysis of various axis lines and joint angles from proximal to distal in the lower extremity, deformities can be readily identified, and correction strategies can be effectively used to produce a successful deformity correction that restores colinear alignment to the lower limb.

Has the Threshold for Epiphysiodesis Versus Lengthening Changed in the Era of Magnetically Controlled Nails?

Introduction: Limb length discrepancy (LLD) is common in both the pediatric and adult population. Length inequalities can be due to a multitude of etiologies including congenital, developmental, and acquired causes. There has been little consensus on the morbidity of LLD and, as a result, the threshold necessary for treatment of LLD to prevent morbidity.

Prospective pediatric study comparing glomerular filtration rate estimates based on motion-robust dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and serum creatinine (eGFR) to Tc DTPA.

Background: Current methods to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) have shortcomings. Estimates based on serum creatinine are known to be inaccurate in the chronically ill and during acute changes in renal function. Gold standard methods such as inulin and Tc diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) require blood or urine sampling and thus can be difficult to perform in children.

Feed and wrap magnetic resonance urography provides anatomic and functional imaging in infants without anesthesia.

Objective: To describe a technique for performing magnetic resonance urogram (MRU) in infants without sedation or anesthesia.

Methods: Eighteen infants underwent MRU in the absence of sedating medications using a 'feed and wrap' technique (FW-MRU). Dynamic contrast enhanced images were obtained.

Developmental dysplasia of the hip and clubfoot treated by Pavlik and Ponseti methods.

Children having both typical developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and clubfoot are rare, and early treatments of both conditions are recommended. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the Ponseti method of clubfoot treatment on hips with DDH. After institutional review board approval, we identified children treated by the Ponseti and Pavlik methods between 2003 and 2016.

Orthopedic Manifestations of Bruck Syndrome: A Case Series with Intermediate to Long-term Follow-Up.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of contractures, fractures, and deformities in four patients with Bruck syndrome treated in our facility. Data were collected from medical records, radiographs, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans, genetic tests, and gait analysis. All had contractures at birth and genotypic findings including mutations in PLOD2 or FPKB10.