Journal of pediatric orthopedics
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Ultrasound screening for hip dysplasia in newborns.
We evaluated risk factors for neonatal hip instability (NHI) at birth using ultrasonography and assessed the reliability of our ultrasound method by means of an interobserver study. The hips of 4,459 newborns were examined by ultrasound from 1988 to 1990. The ultrasound evaluation was based mainly on measurement of femoral head coverage (FHC) by the bony acetabular roof. ⋯ The interobserver study included 200 hips. The 95% confidence limit for interobserver variation in FHC (+/- 2 SD) was +/- 8%. Because of this moderate interobserver variation, and because the incidence of late-detected hip dysplasia was low (0.2 per 1,000), we conclude that our method for ultrasound examination is sufficiently reliable for screening of hips in newborns.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The role of fibular osteotomy in rotational osteotomy of the distal tibia.
A randomized prospective study was undertaken to assess the role of fibular osteotomy in distal tibial derotational osteotomies. Thirty-five patients were randomized to "intact fibula" and "osteotomized fibula" groups. ⋯ In the osteotomized fibula group, there were two cases of loss of fixation, two pin-tract infections, one delayed union of tibia, one pressure sore in the cast, one distal tibial physeal arrest, and one recurrence. Although the difference in the complication rate between the two groups did not reach statistical significance, our results suggest that in distal tibial derotational osteotomies, fixed with cross pins, it might be advantageous to leave the fibula intact.
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From a chart review of 45 consecutive cases (mean age 8.9 years) of patients who had rotational osteotomies of the tibia alone (group 1, 27 cases) or of both the tibia and fibula (group 2, 18 cases) for torsional deformities of the leg, we compared the length of surgery and postoperative complications. We also describe the surgical technique for tibial osteotomy alone. ⋯ One case of chronic lateral compartment syndrome occurred in group 2. When indicated, tibial osteotomy alone is a simple, safe, fast, and stable surgical procedure for correcting excessive tibial torsion.
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The billing records of 58 children and adolescents with femoral shaft fractures treated during 1990 were analyzed. The treatment groups included early spica casting, skin traction, skeletal traction, home traction, and intramedullary rodding. ⋯ Both skin traction and home Neufeld traction were associated with significant savings over in-hospital skeletal traction and intramedullary rodding. With the continually rising cost of health care, it is the responsibility of the physician to know the charges for various treatment options.
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Thirty-four-hundred and seventy-two children were consecutively admitted for acute traumatic injuries over a 34 month period to the Children's National Medical Center. The study comprised 805 patients who sustained 953 fractures and dislocations. The male to female ratio was 2:1. ⋯ The average length of hospital stay was 8.6 days, and the average cost per hospital admission was $8,765. The mortality rate was 3%. Central musculoskeletal injuries (spine, clavicle/scapula, and pelvis) in our hospitalized patients were associated with the longest hospital stays and intensive care unit admissions, and lowest Trauma Scores, as well as the highest Injury Severity Scores, hospital charges, and mortality rates.