Twelve to Twenty-year Follow-up of Dega Acetabuloplasty in Patients With Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: Is it as Effective as Expected?

BACKGROUND

Although Dega acetabuloplasty is widely used for the treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip, there is a paucity of data on long-term outcomes. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the rate of residual acetabular dysplasia after Dega acetabuloplasty.

METHODS

Patients of a previously reported consecutive series of 35 patients (43 hips) operated by a single surgeon were recontacted for long-term follow-up. Of these, 25 patients (32 hips) consented, with a follow-up rate of 71% (74% of hips). The mean age at the time of surgery was 35 (18 to 65) months. The presence of residual dysplasia was noted according to the lateral center-edge angle of Wiberg, femoral head extrusion index, and Tönnis angle. The latest radiographic outcome was evaluated according to the Severin classification and patients were clinically evaluated according to the modified McKay criteria.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up duration of 16.5 (12 to 20) years yielded an average age of 19.2 (14 to 23) years at the time of analysis. According to lateral center-edge angle, femoral head extrusion index, and Tönnis angle, 5 (15.6%) hips were dysplastic and 2 (6.3%) hips were reoperated for resubluxation. Thus, a total of 7 hips (21.9%) were considered to have residual dysplasia. With the exception of 2 hips that underwent further osteotomies, no other hips were re-subluxated or redislocated. Overcoverage was noted in 6 (18.7%) hips. There were 26 Severin group I and II (81.3%), 4 Severin group III (12.5%), and 2 Severin group IV (6.2%) hips. According to modified McKay criteria, 20 (62.5%) hips were excellent, 7 (21.9%) hips were good, and 5 (15.6%) were fair. Severin classification and modified McKay criteria were correlated with dysplasia ( P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Seventy-eight percent of the hips treated by Dega acetabuloplasty for developmental dysplasia of the hip did not have acetabular dysplasia at a mean follow-up of 16 years. Even in well-treated asymptomatic hips, patients should be followed regularly, especially for residual dysplasia.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV.

Accuracy of the hexapod external fixator in treating tibial angular deformities with or without limb length discrepancy: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

Hexapod external fixator systems allow simultaneous deformity correction in multiple planes as well as limb lengthening. The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of a hexapod frame (smart correction frame) in different types of tibial deformities requiring correction with or without lengthening.

METHODS

A total of 54 tibial angular deformities and limb length discrepancies operated with a hexapod frame between January 2015 and January 2021 were classified into four groups: "Group A ( n  = 13): only lengthening," "Group B ( n  = 14): lengthening and uniplanar correction," "Group C ( n  = 16): only uniplanar correction," and "Group D ( n  = 11): biplanar correction." The accuracy of angular deformity correction/lengthening was calculated by dividing the actual correction/lengthening achieved after frame removal by the preoperative planned lengthening/correction.

RESULTS

The lengthening accuracy in Group A and Group B was 96.3 ± 7.1% and 95.7 ± 5.9%, respectively ( P  = 0.685). The angular deformity correction accuracy was 85.1 ± 9.9% for Group B, 85.2 ± 13.9% for Group C, and 80.2 ± 18.4% for Group D ( P  = 0.852). A revision program was performed in six cases (1 in Group B, 1 in Group C, and 4 in Group D) for full correction of the deformities.

CONCLUSION

The accuracy of tibial lengthening is high with the hexapod frame and is minimally affected by simultaneous deformity correction; however, the accuracy of angular correction slightly reduces as the deformity becomes more complex. Surgeons should be aware that reprogramming may be required after complex deformity correction.

Intraoperative medial wall disruption in Dega pelvic osteotomy: Does it effect the radiographic outcome at medium-term?

OBJECTIVES

To compare the radiographic outcomes of our patients who encountered medial wall disruption, with those who did not while undergoing Dega osteotomy.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 95 hips with developmental dysplasia of the hip who were treated with Dega pelvic osteotomy. Hips were divided into 2 groups according to medial wall disruption: group A included the hips with medial wall disruption, while group B included the hips without disruption. Preoperative, immediate postoperative, 12 weeks and last follow-up anteroposterior radiographs of the pelvis were reviewed for changes in the acetabular index (AI) between groups.

RESULTS

There were 22 hips in group A and 73 hips in the group B. Preoperative (34.6 versus [vs] 37.2, p=0.231), postoperative (17.9 vs 18.4, p=0.682), 12th week (18 vs 18, p=0.504) and last follow-up (13.3 vs 15.1, p=0.097). The acetabular index measurements were comparable between the groups. Corrections achieved during surgery, and during the follow-up period were also comparable between the two groups, indicating no loss of radiographic correction caused by medial wall disruption. Ninety one percent of the patients in group A and 90% of group B achieved good or excellent results according to the Severin classification (p=0.944).

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that disruption of the medial wall did not have a significant detrimental effect on radiographic correction when performing Dega osteotomy.

An Alternative Fixation Option for Subtrochanteric Femur Fractures in Children: Adult Proximal Humerus Plate

BACKGROUND

Subtrochanteric femur fractures are unstable injuries due to strong muscle forces on the proximal femur. The ideal fixation device is controversial in the treatment of subtrochanteric femur fractures in children. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of subtrochanteric femur fractures in children treated with an adult proximal humerus plate.

METHODS

A total of 9 patients [mean age at surgery, 8.3 years (range: 7 to 12); mean follow-up period, 28.1 months (range: 12 to 56)] who underwent surgery due to a subtrochanteric femur fracture and treated with an adult proximal humerus between January 2017 and December 2021 were retrospectively evaluated. Four of the patients had a pathological fracture associated with a benign bone tumor while 5 patients had a nonpathological fracture. The clinical and radiological outcomes were assessed using the Flynn scoring system at the latest follow-up. Time to union and complications were recorded.

RESULTS

All patients demonstrated a solid fusion of the fracture site and were able to bear full weight at the latest follow-up. The mean time to union was 8.2 weeks (range: 6 to 10). Based on the Flynn scoring system at the latest follow-up, seven patients had excellent clinical outcomes and two patients had satisfactory outcomes. Two patients had limb length discrepancy, and one patient had coxa valga and a limb length discrepancy of 16 mm. There were no patients with nonunion, infection, implant failure, osteonecrosis of the femoral head, and heterotopic bone formation.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that the adult proximal humerus plate may be an effective alternative fixation option in the treatment of subtrochanteric femur fractures in children, including pathological fractures.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, Case series.