Orthotic management of the myelomeningocele spine

The appropriate use of spinal orthosis is an important adjunct in the rehabilitation of spinal deformity in children with myelomeningocele. The Newington developmental programme described here employs a series of orthotic devices, used at different stages of development, with the aim of achieving a developmental sequence as close as possible to the usual age for normal development.

Cavus foot deformity in children

A cavus deformity of the foot is easily recognizable, but appropriate neurologic assessment can help to determine the etiology. Cavovarus, the most frequent type of cavus foot, presents with an elevated medial longitudinal arch, first ray plantarflexion, and, if rigid, a fixed heel varus. Common causes include progressive motor sensory conditions, typically Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, and nonprogressive conditions such as cerebral palsy and poliomyelitis. A calcaneocavus foot may be seen in poliomyelitis, spinal dysraphism, and peripheral neuropathy. Initially, the cavus deformity is flexible, but if left untreated, it becomes a fixed bony deformity. Physical examination should include the cavovarus block test, which assesses flexibility of the hindfoot deformity and can direct surgical treatment. Standing radiographs of the feet and spine, magnetic resonance imaging, and electrodiagnostic studies may be useful. Management goals are to obtain a plantigrade, mobile, pain-free, stable, motor-balanced foot. Surgical options include soft-tissue and plantar fascia releases for a flexible deformity, osteotomy for a fixed deformity, and tendon transfers to restore muscle balance. Triple arthrodesis has poor long-term results in patients with progressive deformity and sensory impairment.

Arthrogryposis wrist deformities: results of infantile serial casting

Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita involving the upper extremity can be associated with significant contractures of major joints. Treatment options to maximize upper extremity motion and function include passive joint stretching, serial casting, or surgical intervention. This study reviewed all patients at Carrie Tingley Hospital with arthrogrypotic wrist flexion contractures treated with passive stretching, serial casting, and custom wrist orthotics to determine the effect on wrist position and function. Seventeen infant patients with distal and classic arthrogryposis used this regimen. Average follow-up was 6 years. The greatest gain in wrist motion occurred after the first casting session for both groups. Patients with distal arthrogryposis had the largest improvement in passive wrist motion, were more functionally independent at final follow-up, and had no recurrence of deformity. Patients with classic arthrogryposis had rigid wrist flexion contractures and a 75% incidence of deformity recurrence after casting. At final follow-up, these patients remained functionally dependent, requiring >50% assistance with activities of daily living, and had less improvement in wrist motion. The authors recommend early casting of infant wrist deformities for both forms of arthrogryposis. If the wrist deformity recurs, repeat serial casting is unlikely to improve wrist extension. Other treatment options may be considered in the older child.

The ethics of the introduction of gene therapy into orthopaedic practice

Gene therapy has the potential to transform musculoskeletal medicine. Orthopaedists have been ready to incorporate innovations in medicine and engineering into their surgical practice, frequently before having full information. There is no reason to doubt the rapid acceptance of gene therapy by the orthopaedic profession. Caution is needed in incorporating gene therapy into standard practice because of the lack of knowledge and risks that are greater than for previous innovations.

Evaluation and treatment of swallowing impairments

Swallowing disorders are common, especially in the elderly, and may cause dehydration, weight loss, aspiration pneumonia and airway obstruction. These disorders may affect the oral preparatory, oral propulsive, pharyngeal and/or esophageal phases of swallowing. Impaired swallowing, or dysphagia, may occur because of a wide variety of structural or functional conditions, including stroke, cancer, neurologic disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease. A thorough history and a careful physical examination are important in the diagnosis and treatment of swallowing disorders. The physical examination should include the neck, mouth, oropharynx and larynx, and a neurologic examination should also be performed. Supplemental studies are usually required. A videofluorographic swallowing study is particularly useful for identifying the pathophysiology of a swallowing disorder and for empirically testing therapeutic and compensatory techniques. Manometry and endoscopy may also be necessary. Disorders of oral and pharyngeal swallowing are usually amenable to rehabilitative measures, which may include dietary modification and training in specific swallowing techniques. Surgery is rarely indicated. In patients with severe disorders, it may be necessary to bypass the oral cavity and pharynx entirely and provide enteral or parenteral nutrition.

Computed tomographic analysis of pes cavus

Patterns of muscle degeneration in patients with peripheral neuropathies exhibiting pes cavus deformity were studied by computed tomography (CT). Twenty-six patients attending the muscle disease clinic at Newington Children's Hospital with hereditary sensory motor neuropathies (HSMN) I, II, or III had clinical and radiographic assessment in addition to CT scans of the feet and legs at designated levels. The pattern of muscle degeneration was analyzed with other variables, including age, sex, tibial torsion, cavus, heel varus, and claw toes. Multiple regression/correlation analysis clearly demonstrated earlier and more severe involvement of the intrinsic muscles of the foot as compared with the extrinsic muscles. The most consistent early degeneration occurred in the pedal lumbricals and interossei, which have the most distal innervation. The order of muscle degeneration is a centripetal pattern, with two types of degeneration occurring in the leg muscles: type P patients had earlier degeneration of the leg muscles innervated by the peroneal nerve, and type T patients showed earlier degeneration of those extrinsics innervated by the posterior tibial nerve.

Magnetic resonance image findings in congenital talipes equinovarus

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to image the feet of 10 infants with congenital talipes equinovarus. Images in an intermediate density and T2 sequence are most useful. In the transverse plane, the primary deformity appears to be localized to a medical deviation of the talar neck and head, with an accompanying internal rotation of the calcaneus relative to the talar body. The posterior calcaneus is laterally deviated by this rotation. In the sagittal plane, the deformity appears to lie in a parallelism in the subtalar relationship.

Studies of an L-rod sublaminar wire spinal fusion

The spine of a 25-year-old man with Duchenne muscular dystrophy was studied postmortem, 8 years after spine fusion with L-rods and sublaminar wires. The fusion was solid. Instrumentation appeared to have had no adverse effects on the spinal cord or meninges or in the epidural space. When wire removal from the spinal canal and fusion mass was studied, increased penetration of the wires into the spinal canal was noted.

Dystrophic spinal deformity in neurofibromatosis

A retrospective review was performed to investigate patterns of spinal deformity associated with neurofibromatosis and the incidence of pseudarthrosis and curve progression after spinal fusion. Twenty-three of the 32 patients (72%) with spinal deformity had dystrophic curve patterns. The incidence of pseudarthrosis was 38% for the dystrophic group undergoing isolated posterior fusion. Their average curve progression was 12.7 degrees and required an average of 1.7 procedures to achieve solid posterior fusion. Kyphoscoliotic curves should be treated with combined anterior/posterior fusion.

Long-term results of triple arthrodesis in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

We evaluated sixteen patients who had Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and had had a total of thirty triple arthrodeses. The average age at the time of operation was fifteen years, and the average length of follow-up was twenty-one years. Of the thirty feet, the result in two (7 per cent) was rated excellent; in five (17 per cent), good; in nine (30 per cent), fair; and in fourteen (47 per cent), poor. Each of the fourteen feet that had a poor result had severe impairment of function and needed an orthosis. Six limbs had an arthrodesis of the ankle for degenerative joint disease. Progressive muscle imbalance resulted in recurrent cavovarus deformity in seven feet that initially had had satisfactory alignment. Degenerative changes of the ankle and joints of the mid-part of the foot were noted radiographically in twenty-three feet. The large number of unsatisfactory long-term results in these patients who had had a triple arthrodesis for deformity of the foot secondary to progressive peripheral neuropathy differs from those in earlier reports on patients who had poliomyelitis, who retained normal sensation and had a permanent, stable muscle imbalance. We believe that triple arthrodesis should be considered only as a salvage procedure in patients who have progressive peripheral neuropathy and should be limited to those who have severe, rigid deformity.

Correction of idiopathic clubfoot: a comparison of results of early versus delayed posteromedial release

The clinical and radiographic results of posteromedial release performed on 30 patients (44 feet) were assessed. The patients were divided into three groups based on their average age at the time of operation (early, 4.4 months; middle, 9.1 months; and late, 16.1 months). All patients had similar preoperative deformity, surgical management, and postoperative treatment. The outcomes of all three groups were similar with the exception of hindfoot-to-forefoot alignment and hindfoot varus correction. The early group demonstrated better clinical and radiologic foot alignment and had the lowest incidence of radiologic tarsal deformities (7 vs. 28% in the middle group and 35% in the late group).

Scoliosis associated with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

The pathoanatomy and natural history of scoliosis associated with Duchenne muscular dystrophy were established by a review of 105 patients. Scoliosis developed in 95% of these patients after the loss of ambulation. The direction of the curve was determined by asymmetrical contracture of the iliotibial band. Functional classification using the radiographic sitting kyphotic index proved a reliable guide to the age at loss of ambulation and life expectancy, as well as the rate of progression and eventual severity of spinal deformities. Spinal orthoses failed to control curve progression in 94% of patients (30 of 32). Fourteen patients underwent spinal fusion with excellent long-term results.

Foot and ankle deformities in arthrogryposis multiplex congenita

When 51 patients with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita followed an average of 12 years were reviewed, talipes equinovarus was the most common foot and ankle deformity. The best results were obtained by talectomy. The majority of tendo Achillis lengthenings, posteromedial releases, and triple arthrodeses were unsuccessful and were associated with a high complication rate. Congenital convex pes valgus was the second most common deformity. Surgical treatment by open reduction generally resulted in unsuccessful outcomes. Ambulation was achieved in 46 patients. Residual foot deformity was the primary reason for persistent difficulties in walking.

Spinal muscular atrophy: the natural course of disease

The infantile form of spinal muscular atrophy (Werdnig-Hoffmann disease) is thought to be progressive and usually fatal by age three. The intermediate and juvenile forms (Kugelberg-Welander disease) have been reported to be static in many cases. A review of 48 patients, 50% of whom had been followed for more than 10 years, were placed into four groups according to the maximum motor function attained. Progression of muscle weakness was assessed using functional criteria, including inability to walk, inability to use a manual wheelchair and inability to raise the hands above the head. The results of this analysis suggest that all patients with spinal muscular atrophy have a progressive disease and that the course of the deterioration is predictable in each of the four groups. This information allows one to offer realistic counseling and a rational rehabilitation program.

Physiological bowing and tibia vara. The metaphyseal-diaphyseal angle in the measurement of bowleg deformities

The metaphyseal-diaphyseal angle is the angle created by the intersection of a line through the transverse plane of the proximal tibial metaphysis with a line perpendicular to the long axis of the tibial diaphysis. This angle represents the degree of deformity of the proximal end of the tibia in a patient with clinical bowleg deformity and permits early differentiation between infantile tibia vara and physiological bowleg, before the appearance of the radiographic changes of tibia vara. In twenty-nine of thirty affected extremities with an initial metaphyseal-diaphyseal angle of more than 11.0 degrees, radiographic changes of tibia vara later developed. However, only three of fifty-eight extremities with a metaphyseal-diapyseal angle of 11.0 degrees or less had any of the diagnostic changes. In addition, the ratio of the metaphyseal-diaphyseal angle (proximal tibial metaphyseal deformity) to the tibiofemoral angle (deformity of the entire extremity) showed that approximately 60 per cent of the deformity in tibia vara originates in the proximal metaphysis, whereas only 20 per cent of the deformity in physiological bowing originates there. The metaphyseal-diaphyseal angle allows accurate early diagnosis of bowleg deformity, as well as accurate assessment of its progression.

A comparative study of bilateral versus unilateral congenital dislocation of the hip

The presentations, treatment requirements, results, and complications of 50 patients with bilateral congenital hip dislocation were evaluated and compared with a similar group of unilateral dislocations. Diagnosis was significantly delayed in the bilateral dislocations. The only consistent sign on initial clinical examination of the bilateral group was the symmetrical restriction of hip abduction. Treatment requirements were similar for the unilateral and bilateral dislocations, and in fact, the unilateral dislocations were more likely to undergo reconstructive procedure after successful closed reduction. Overall results, when based on age at diagnosis, were similar for the two groups. In both groups, females required less treatment and were more likely to have a good result. The complication of avascular necrosis was seen more frequently in the unilateral dislocation, while the bilateral dislocation had a higher incidence of inadequate reconstructive operations.

Functional classification and orthopaedic management of spinal muscular atrophy

The majority of patients with chronic infantile and juvenile forms of spinal muscular atrophy survive to adult life. Forty-four patients have been reviewed at an average of 17 years after diagnosis. The subdivision of patients into four groups, based on the maximal physical function developed by the individual, correlates well with the onset and severity of secondary deformity of the limbs and spine. This information allows anticipation of the problems and plans for their treatment to be made from early childhood. After analysis of the orthotic and surgical treatment received by these patients, a specific programme of care is recommended for each of the functional groups.

Esophagitis complicating scoliosis management with the Boston thoracolumbosacral orthosis

The design of the Boston thoracolumbosacral orthosis for scoliosis treatment may increase intragastric pressure, possibly causing reflux esophagitis. Early recognition and aggressive medical treatment of reflux may avoid esophagitis and the need to either abandon or modify conservative scoliosis management.

The thoracic suspension orthosis

Five year's experience with the thoracic suspension orthosis at Newington Children's Hospital has shown it to be an effective and very useful adjunct in the management of neuromuscular spinal deformity. The orthosis converts the thorax into a weight-bearing structure, thereby reducing the vertical load on the spine and allowing the abdomen and pelvis to act as a corrective distraction force. Fifty-nine of the 64 patients reported here have successfully used the orthosis to control spinal deformity and improve their functional status. Analysis of these 59 patients and the 5 treatment failures has resulted in identification of the specific indications, prerequisites, techniques, precautions, and contraindications necessary for the achievement of stated treatment objectives, often with dramatic success.

"Body-brace" oesophagitis, a complication of kyphoscoliosis therapy

Oesophagitis developed in 4 patients, 3 of whom had scoliosis braces and 1 a body cast after surgery for kyphoscoliosis. Symptoms varied from chronic epigastric pain to gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Prophylaxis of oesophageal disease in children undergoing correction of scoliosis may prevent severe oesophagitis.

Denver: a metropolitan public school scoliosis survey

A successful method for screening pupils for scoliosis in a metropolitan public school system is outlined. The incidence of scoliosis increased to greater than 3% in the seventh-grade population. Approximately 15% of the patients with established diagnoses required active management.

THE PATHOLOGICAL ANATOMY OF CONVEX PES VALGUS

1. The pathological anatomy in a case of convex pes valgus in a patient with myelomeningocele is described.

2. A neuromuscular imbalance between the tibialis posterior and the evertors of the foot is suggested as the underlying cause of this type of foot deformity.