Management of post septic hip dislocations when the capital femoral epiphysis is present

Reliability of Radiologic Classifications of Sequelae of Septic Arthritis of the Hip in Children

OBJECTIVE

To the best of our knowledge, there is no study comparing the inter and intraobserver reliability of current classifications for postseptic hip sequelae in children. The current study aims to assess the interobserver and intraobserver reliability of four current classifications and identify hips that could not be classified in each classification system.

METHODS

The hip radiographs of 148 consecutive children with sequelae of sepsis of the hip from 2 centers were assessed after a minimum of 2 years of follow-up after sepsis. All hips (affected and normal sides) were classified according to the 4 original descriptions of the authors of the respective classifications. If a hip did not fall into any subtype of the classification, the rater was asked to mark it as nonclassifiable and state the reason for being unable to classify the hip in the respective classification. The intraclass correlation coefficient was computed to assess the reproducibility of each classification.

RESULTS

Interrater reliability and intrarater reliability were moderate (0.57 to 0.72) while including all hips. The reliability was poor (0.35 to 0.49) in all 4 classifications, with an evaluation of only affected 180 hips. A few sequelae of infection, including caput valgus (n = 7), acetabular dysplasia (4), joint space narrowing (2), and bony ankylosis (1), were not included in any of the 4 current existing classification systems.

CONCLUSION

The reliability of all current classifications of sequelae of septic arthritis of the hip is moderate. A proportion of sequelae do not find a place in all current classifications.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III.

Sequelae of Septic Arthritis of Hip in a Child Presenting with Acetabular Defect and Hip Dislocation: A Rare Case Report and Literature Review on Successful Treatment with Steel Osteotomy

Septic arthritis of the hip in late childhood leads to different sequelae. These cases are often missed and lead to various disabilities like hip subluxation, limb length discrepancy, and limping. The primary goal is always to reproduce a concentrically reduced stable hip. We are presenting a 13-year child with sequelae of septic arthritis of the hip with dislocation. The child had septic arthritis of the hip two years back. The patient had a superolateral acetabular defect and was treated with triple innominate steel osteotomy. The osteotomy increased the acetabular head coverage and gave a stable congruent hip to the child. Late childhood septic arthritis cases can produce acetabular defects without involving the femoral head leading to dislocation. Such cases can be effectively treated with triple innominate pelvic osteotomy, giving good head coverage with stable congruent hips.

Septic sequelae of hip in children: long-term clinicoradiological outcome study

The presented retrospective study is a report of 18 patients (23 hips) with infantile post sepsis hip sequelae. There were two groups of patients. The observation group comprised of 6 patients (8 hips). The intervention group included 12 patients (15 hips) of which 12 hips had been surgically intervened for the sequelae and 3 contralateral hips which were again serially observed. The sequelae hips were classified by Choi's radiological types. The clinical evaluation was done by modified Moon's criteria. The average patient age at follow-up was 9.3 years. There were 3 type I (13%), 10 type II (43%), 2 type III (8%), and 8 Choi type IV (35%) at presentation. The Choi radiological type showed propensity to change over time/following intervention. At follow-up, there 3 type I (13%), 17 type II (74%), and 3 type IV (13%) hips. At follow-up, there were seven excellent, seven good, and four fair results. The observation group had mostly type I or II and intervention group IIIB or IV Choi types. Findings common to both groups: same Choi radiological type fared different clinically, multiple joint involvement contributed to deterioration of function and late changes in acetabulum or proximal femur lead to deterioration of clinical function. The sequelae of septic hips likely to be kept under supervised observation were Choi type I or II. In select types, intervention changed the natural history of septic sequelae significantly.

Management of post septic sequelae of hips with dislocation in children

BACKGROUND

Limited literature guide management of post septic sequelae of hips with dislocation in children. We studied the functional and radiological outcome of open reduction of such sequelae in 11 children. Special emphasis was given to determine the influence of surgical correction and relocation of these hips.

METHODS

Preoperative acetabular index (AI) on both sides was compared to quantify acetabular dysplasia. Radiological parameters like AI, centre edge angle (CEA), Reimer's index, centre head distance discrepancy (CHDD) and neck shaft angle (NSA) were calculated and compared with the unintervened side at follow-up. Outcome was assessed radiologically by modified Severin classification and clinically by Moon's criterion.

RESULTS

Average age at open reduction was 20.6 months and further follow-up was 48.8 months. The mean pre-operative AI on intervened side (35 degrees) differed significantly from unintervened side (22.5 degrees). The follow-up AI on intervened side (26.5 degrees) improved significantly from the pre-operative values but residual dysplasia persisted. Mean values for other radiological parameters on intervened side at follow-up were CEA 16.1 degrees, Reimer's index 31.5%, CHDD 18.6% and NSA 119 degrees. Mean shortening of 2.3 cm was documented in ten patients at final follow-up. Triradiate cartilage fused in four out of 11 hips at follow-up. Radiological outcome according to modified Severin classification was good to fair in seven patients (types II and III) whereas poor in four patients (types IV and V). Functional outcome as per Moon's criterion was excellent to good in nine patients, fair and poor in one patient each.

CONCLUSIONS

Open reduction potentially alters the natural history of post septic sequelae of hips with dislocation and contributes to better hip mechanics and function.

Coxa vara in postseptic arthritis of the hip in children

The behavior and treatment of coxa vara and pseudarthrosis of the proximal femur secondary to sepsis is not well described. The aim of this study is to describe the pathoanatomy for coxa vara and pseudarthrosis in postseptic hips, evaluate progression of neck shaft angle (NSA), and discuss treatment. This is a retrospective case series of 20 patients (21 hips). There were 11 hips with predominant avascular necrosis of the capital femoral epiphysis without pseudarthrosis (type 1) and 10 with pseudarthrosis (type 2). The interobserver κ value was 0.79. There was a decrease in NSA from 110.3° to 99.3° during an average follow-up duration of 5.2 years (range: 2-14 years). The average change in NSA between the initial presentation and the final follow-up was 5.5° in type 1 and 17.1° in type 2. Nine patients underwent a surgical intervention. In cases where subtrochanteric valgus osteotomy was performed, the mean preoperative NSA was 94° and the mean NSA at the final follow-up was 128°; all operated pseudarthroses healed without bone grafting. Acetabuloplasty is not necessary in most cases.

Physeal separation and complete resorption of femoral head associated with chronic osteomyelitis of femoral diaphysis in a young child: rare case report

We report the case of a two and a half-year-old girl who presented with injury to the right thigh along with a discharging sinus in the midthigh region following a nonorthopaedic surgical procedure. Radiographs of the thigh indicated osteomyelitis of the femoral diaphysis with pathological fracture. During follow-up examination, shortening was observed in the affected limb, along with complete separation of the femoral epiphysis with partial resorption of the femoral head. A few cases of physeal separation of the femoral head following osteomyelitis of the femoral diaphysis have been reported in the published literature, but still it may go undiagnosed until late stages because of the lack of awareness among orthopaedicians about this entity. There was no history of any precipitating trauma to the hip. This case is of interest because of the difficulty in making differential diagnosis at the first evaluation; there was an orthopaedic misdiagnosis on the basis of the lack of complete preoperative imaging. Because of the devastating sequelae on immature skeleton including limb shortening, osteomyelitis, epiphyseal separation of proximal epiphysis and pathological fracture of shaft femur, the importance of early diagnosis, complete preoperative imaging and prompt treatment must be overemphasized.

Pathological dislocation of the hip due to coxotuberculosis in children: a 29-case report

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcome of various surgery methods in children suffering pathological dislocation of the hip joint due to coxotuberculosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From January 2006 to January 2011, 29 children with coxotuberculosis hip dislocation were treated with open reduction (4 children) and acetabular reconstruction (25 children). According to degree of dislocation and age, acetabular reconstructions included Salter osteotomy (nine children), Pemberton operation (six children), Dega operation (seven children), the hip shelf arthroplasty (two children), and Chiari operation (one child). During acetabular reconstruction, 16 children underwent upper femoral rotational shortening osteotomies simultaneously, 6 children underwent the femoral head and neck reconstruction simultaneously, and 3 children were underwent corrective osteotomy. After operation, children were immobilized with plaster external fixation for 1-3 months and treated with routine anti-infective therapy for 3 days. During follow-up study (12-18 months), the hip stability was examined via X-ray. The recovery was evaluated via acetabular index (AI) and Harris hip score.

RESULTS

Postoperative X-ray films of 29 children showed concentric reduction of all hips. Total 25 children healed I incision surgery, while 4 children with skin antrum of incision were further treated leading to 1-3 months delay of healing. Total 24 children were followed up for 2-5 years. X-ray examination revealed no redislocation after 2 years postoperative. The postoperative AI was normal (15°-20°) in 22 children and increased to 25°- 30° in 2 children. After 2 years postoperative, 8 children had normal function of hip joint, 13 children had mild limitation of flexion and rotation, and 3 children had fibrous ankylosis. The average of Harris hip score was 83 (ranged, 62-90).

CONCLUSION

In our study, pathological hip dislocations of children attributed to coxotuberculosis were treated via open reduction and acetabular reconstruction and the outcomes were both excellent. Individual characteristic should be taken into consideration during treatment, and proper surgery approach should be adopted according to pathological changes of the hip.

Bilateral pathological dislocation of the hip secondary to tuberculous arthritis following disseminated tuberculosis: a case report and review of the literature

Pathological dislocation of the hip has been reported as a complication in various hip disorders. Several pathomechanisms including capsular laxity, synovial hypertrophy, and acetabular and proximal femur destruction have been described. We report a case of bilateral pathological dislocation of the hip in a 6-year-old girl secondary to tuberculous arthritis following disseminated tuberculosis, which we managed operatively. At the 18-month follow-up, the child had a clinically stable left hip despite radiological subluxation. Bilateral pathological dislocation of the hip associated with tuberculous arthritis is a rare condition and has never been reported in the literature.