More than 20 years of experience with Dega transiliac osteotomy in the treatment of dislocated hip joints in children with cerebral palsy

Long-term outcomes of reconstructive treatment for painful dislocations in patients with cerebral palsy

Purpose

This report presents the long-term results of the hip joint reconstruction in patients with spastic hip disease through open reduction, proximal femur varus derotation osteotomy, and Dega transiliac osteotomy.

Methods

We analyzed retrospectively patients diagnosed with a spastic form of bilateral cerebral palsy with painful hip subluxation or dislocation. All patients underwent the same surgical procedure. The minimum follow-up time was 15 years. The study group comprised 15 patients (22 hips), classified with the Gross Motor Function Classification System as levels IV and V. The hip joint range of motion and anteroposterior X-ray examination at the final follow-up visit were compared with pre-operative data. The pain level was evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the femoral head shape was assessed using the Rutz classification. The patients' caregivers answered questions regarding pain during sitting, personal hygiene activities, and at rest. The caregivers' satisfaction with the treatment was also assessed with the Caregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities questionnaire.

Results

We observed a significant reduction of the hip joint pain and improvement in both radiological hip stability parameters and range of motion at the final follow-up visit. Based on the Rutz classification, one hip remained type B, while the other joints became type A. Reduced pain was reported in all three positions, with the most pronounced improvement during sitting and personal hygiene activities. Interestingly, patients with unilateral hip reconstruction were more prone to pain after reconstruction than those operated bilaterally.

Conclusion

Primary reconstruction of the painful hip joint neurogenic dislocation results in a stable joint reduction, pain decrease, and improved quality of life in patients with cerebral palsy.

Level of evidence

IV case series.

Blade plate versus locking plate fixation of proximal femoral varus osteotomy in children with cerebral palsy

The hip is commonly affected in children with cerebral palsy (CP), requiring proximal femoral varus derotational osteotomies. Novel locking plates afford a popular alternative to traditional blade plates. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of blade plate versus locking plate fixation in children with CP undergoing proximal femoral osteotomy. We conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent proximal femoral osteotomy over an 8-year period. Incidence of healing, failure of the procedure, and loss of varus correction were compared between the two groups (blade plate vs. locking plate). Independent samples t -tests and Chi-square analysis were employed to compare differences between continuous and categorical variables, respectively. A total of 268 hips [137 right (51.1%)] met inclusion criteria. Ninety-eight hips (36.6%) were fixed with blade plates [170 (63.4%) locking plates]. Although those in the blade plate cohort were more likely to achieve complete radiographic healing by 6 weeks postoperatively (41.09% vs. 18.84%; P < 0.050), there was no significant difference ( P > 0.050) between the two groups for healing at 3, 6, and 12 months ( P > 0.050). There was no significant difference between the two cohorts regarding the number of patients experiencing migration percentage at least 50% at 6 (3.06% vs. 3.53%) and 12 (3.06% vs. 5.88%) months ( P > 0.050) or in those undergoing revision surgery at 12 (5.33% vs. 1.18%) and 24 (2.04% vs. 1.76%) months ( P > 0.050). The findings of this retrospective study show similar outcomes between blade plate and proximal femoral locking plates in proximal femoral varus osteotomy in children with CP.

Blood loss in hip reconstructive surgery in children with cerebral palsy: when do I need to be prepared for blood transfusion?

The hip is the second most common joint involved in pediatric patients with cerebral palsy (CP). Hip reconstructive procedures are performed to improve function and comfort level. Blood loss can occur leading to blood transfusion in close to 1/3 of children with CP undergoing hip reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to report the rate and risk factors for blood transfusion after hip reconstruction in a large cohort of children with CP. We conducted a retrospective chart review of pediatric patients at our tertiary referral children's hospital who underwent reconstructive hip osteotomy over an 8-year period. Binary logistic regression was employed to compare and model differences in transfusion between age greater than 4 or 6 years and the number of osteotomies. A total of 180 patients met our inclusion criteria. Thirty-seven patients (20.6%) received blood transfusion. Incidence of transfusion increased as number of osteotomies increased from 1 to 4 (3.7%, 7.3%, 34.0%, 58.3%, respectively). We did not find a significant effect of age greater than 4 or 6 years on the rate of blood transfusion (P = 0.676 and P = 0.323, respectively). The number of osteotomies was a significant factor in the rate of blood transfusion in both models (P < 0.001). Number of osteotomies and not age was a significant risk factor in the rate of blood transfusion. This data can help the orthopedic surgeons in preoperative planning for the possibility of blood transfusion in these patients.