Costs of abduction treatment in developmental dysplasia of the hip. Analysis of 900 patients

BACKGROUND

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a disorder of hip development that leads to dysplasia, subluxation, or total hip dislocation. Early detection of DDH is important, and early initiation of abduction treatment is key to successful correction of the hip joint. However, mild forms of DDH, including hip instability without complete dislocation, have good spontaneous healing potential, and a watchful waiting strategy in mild DDH has been found to be safe. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the cost differences between different treatment strategies for DDH.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data were collected retrospectively from the medical records of all children diagnosed with diagnosis and treatment of DDH in Tampere University hospital between 1998 and 2018. In total, 948 patients were included in the study. Patients who underwent casting or operative treatment (n = 48) were excluded from the analysis. All Ortolani positive children were subjected to early abduction treatment. Children with Ortolani negative DDH were subjected to either watchful waiting or early abduction treatment, based on the clinicians' decision. The regression model estimates for the number of clinical visits with and without ultrasound examination were assessed together with cost reports from Tampere University Hospital for the calculation of savings per patient in spontaneous recovery.

RESULTS

Alpha angles at one month of age (p < 0.001) and treatment method (p < 0.001) affected the number of clinical visits and ultrasound examinations during the treatment follow-up. A low alpha angle predicted closer follow-up, and children with spontaneous recovery had lower numbers of clinical visits and ultrasound examinations than children in abduction treatment. Spontaneous recovery was found to result in approximately 375€/patient savings compared to successful abduction treatment.

CONCLUSION

With correct patient selection, a watchful waiting strategy is cost-effective in treating mild developmental dysplasia of the hip, considering the high percentage of spontaneous recovery.

Known risk factors of the developmental dysplasia of the hip predicting more severe clinical presentation and failure of Pavlik harness treatment

PURPOSE

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) varies from mild instability of the hip to subluxation or total dislocation of the joint. Well-known risk factors of DDH include pre-natal breech position, female sex, positive family history, hip side, primiparity and the mode of delivery. Aim of the present study was to further evaluate known risk-factors of DDH, find associations with more severe dysplasia (characterized with Ortolani positivity) and find risk factors of failure of the Pavlik harness treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

All children with the diagnosis of DDH treated in Tampere University hospital in the years 1998-2018 were retrospectively identified for the study and the data was collected from the medical records. Teratological dislocations (n = 3) were excluded from the analysis. Total of 945 patients were included.

RESULTS

Breech presentation was strongly associated with Ortolani positivity (p < 0.001). Breech presentation was not associated with ending up for spica casting and/or operative treatment (p = 0.291) despite the association with Ortolani positivity. Ortolani positivity (p = 0.002), positive family history (p = 0.013) and girl sex (p = 0.029) were associated with ending up for spica casting and/or operative treatment.

CONCLUSION

Breech presentation seems to increase the risk of Ortolani positive DDH. However, these infants are likely to recover with initially started Pavlik harness treatment, as it was not associated with elevated risk for undergoing more robust treatments. Positive family history and girl sex are associated with the most severe cases of developmental dysplasia of the hip, and it may predispose to the failure of the Pavlik harness treatment.

Clinical and sonographic improvement of developmental dysplasia of the hip: analysis of 948 patients

BACKGROUND

Developmental dysplasia of the hip is a common condition, which varies in severity. Abduction treatment is widely used to correct the development of the hips, but mild forms of DDH can also recover spontaneously. The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors affecting the rate of improvement of developmental dysplasia of the hip, and evaluate any risk factors slowing the process.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study population consisted of patients diagnosed with DDH in Tampere University hospital in the years 1998-2018. Data were retrospectively collected, and associations between clinical variables and rate of improvement were analyzed. Alpha angles were assessed monthly, and associations between risk factors and improvement of alpha angles were studied. A total of 948 patients were included in the analysis.

RESULTS

More severe first status of the hips was associated with faster improvement in dynamic ultrasound compared to milder DDH in univariate design in first 3 months of age; in the multivariable design, Ortolani positivity was conversely associated with lower alpha angles in 1-month follow-up. Immediate abduction treatment was associated with faster recovery rate compared to delayed abduction or watchful waiting. Female sex and positive family history were associated with slower rate of improvement and lower alpha angles. In multivariable design, female sex, positive family history and treatment strategy remained statistically significant as initiation time of the treatment explained the first found association of clinical hip status and the recovery rate after 2 months of age.

CONCLUSION

Female sex and positive family history might be independent risk factors for slower recovery in DDH before 6 months of age. These children might need special attention in their follow-up plans and abduction treatment.

Gelatine matrix with human thrombin decreases blood loss in adolescents undergoing posterior spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis: a multicentre, randomised clinical trial

AIMS

In a multicentre, randomised study of adolescents undergoing posterior spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis, we investigated the effect of adding gelatine matrix with human thrombin to the standard surgical methods of controlling blood loss.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients in the intervention group (n = 30) were randomised to receive a minimum of two and a maximum of four units of gelatine matrix with thrombin in addition to conventional surgical methods of achieving haemostasis. Only conventional surgical methods were used in the control group (n = 30). We measured the intra-operative and total blood loss (intra-operative blood loss plus post-operative drain output).

RESULTS

Each additional hour of operating time increased the intra-operative blood loss by 356.9 ml (p < 0.001) and the total blood loss by 430.5 ml (p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the intervention significantly decreased the intra-operative (-171 ml, p = 0.025) and total blood loss (-177 ml, p = 0.027). The decrease in haemoglobin concentration from the day before the operation to the second post-operative day was significantly smaller in the intervention group (-6 g/l, p = 0.013) than in the control group.

CONCLUSION

The addition of gelatine matrix with human thrombin to conventional methods of achieving haemostasis reduces both the intra-operative blood loss and the decrease in haemoglobin concentration post-operatively in adolescents undergoing posterior spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

A randomised clinical trial showed that gelatine matrix with human thrombin decreases intra-operative blood loss by 30% when added to traditional surgical haemostatic methods in adolescents undergoing posterior spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis.

Pitfalls of femoral titanium elastic nailing

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Despite several potential complications of elastic intramedullary nailing, it is currently the treatment of choice for femoral diaphyseal fractures in school-aged children. This study aimed to critically evaluate the complications of titanium elastic nailing in pediatric femoral shaft fractures.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This study evaluated patients with a diaphyseal femoral fracture treated with titanium elastic nailing (TEN) in Tampere University Hospital in Finland. The study group included 32 children with a mean age of 9 years during a 5-year period, from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2007. Data were collected from medical records and x-rays. Mean follow-up time was 42 months.

RESULTS

Of 32 patients, 9 (28%) reported a postoperative complication. Complications were associated with nail prominence in five (16%) patients and instability in four (12%) patients. In patients with nail prominence, the titanium elastic nailing-nail ends were unbent and 10-35 mm outside the cortex of the distal femur. The nail prominence caused pain and delayed knee mobilization until the nail was removed after a mean time of 4 months. In patients with fracture instability, the mean titanium elastic nailing-nail/medullary canal diameter ratio was 46% and periosteal callus formation was 5.4 mm at the first control. In those with stable fractures, the values were 66% and 9.2 mm, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on this study, two types of pitfalls in a small volume center were found. Titanium elastic nail ends were left unbent and too long. We recommend palpating the nail ends to exclude nail prominence and to verify free movement of the knee after nail cutting and bending. Fracture instability was caused by inserting titanium elastic nailing-nails that were too narrow. To avoid this complication, careful preoperative planning to select the proper-size titanium elastic nailing-nails and intraoperative testing of fracture stability under continuous fluoroscopy after the operation is advised.

Increased incidence of distal humeral fractures and surgical treatment in 0- to 18-year-old patients treated in Finland from 1987 to 2010

BACKGROUND

Studies of pediatric and adolescent fractures in general report a significant increase in the incidence of upper-extremity fractures as well as in their surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the trends of the incidence and treatment of distal humeral fractures in hospitalized 0- to 18-year-old patients in Finland.

METHOD

The study included the entire pediatric and adolescent (<19 years) population in Finland during the 24-year period from 1 January 1987 to 31 December 2010. Data on hospitalized patients were obtained from the nationwide National Hospital Discharge Registry where information is collected from all hospital categories (private, public, and other). Surgical treatment was categorized into three groups; (1) reposition with casting; (2) reposition or reduction and osteosynthesis; (3) reposition or reduction and external-fixation and other fixation methods. Patients were classified into three groups according to age: 0-6 years, 7-13 years, and 14-18 years. Annual incidences were calculated using the annual mid-year population census obtained from the Official Statistics of Finland.

RESULTS

During the 24-year study period, there were a total of 12,590 hospitalizations with a main or secondary diagnosis of distal humeral fracture. In children aged 0-12 years the overall incidence of hospitalization increased 30 % during the 24-year study period, from 4.5 per 10,000 person-years in 1987 to 5.8 per 10,000 person-years in 2010. There were a total of 5,548 operations. During the study period, surgical treatment by repositioning or reduction with osteosynthesis due to a distal humeral fracture increased by fivefold in patients aged <6 years and by twofold in patients aged 7-12 years of age. The incidences of fracture and treatment in children older than 13 years did not change.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of distal humeral fractures and the incidence of repositioning with osteosynthesis increased remarkably in prepubertal children during the 24-year study period in Finland.

Gastric mucosal cell densities in Helicobacter pylori-positive and -negative dyspeptic children and healthy controls

The densities (cells/mm2) of gastric inflammatory cells were determined. Fifty-four dyspeptic children, of whom 12 had proven Helicobacter pylori infection, were compared with 13 healthy children. The mean antral lymphocyte density for healthy children was 604 cells/mm2 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 414-793); for plasma cells, 411 (95% CI, 274-548); for neutrophils, 0; and for eosinophils, 4 (95% CI, -4-13). H. pylori-positive children had significantly higher mean densities of all cell types: lymphocytes, 1,738 (p < 0.001); plasma cells, 1,640 (p = 0.001); neutrophils, 371 (p = 0.023); and eosinophils, 263 (p < 0.01). Successful eradication of H. pylori resulted in reduced numbers of all cells. The gastric body cell densities paralleled those of the antrum. Of the dyspeptic children negative for H. pylori, 43% had antral gastritis, 43% had body gastritis, and 29% had pangastritis, as determined morphometrically. Gastritis in these patients was defined as mononuclear cell densities > 2,016 cells/mm2 in the antrum and > 1,994 cells/mm2 in the gastric body (mean + 2 SD for controls) or the presence of neutrophils. A poor correlation was observed between routine histologic description and morphometric evaluation of gastritis in H. pylori-negative dyspeptic children. Standardized morphometric cell-density determination of gastritis may be the method of choice in evaluating chronic superficial gastritis in children.