Survivors of infantile meningococcal septicaemia often develop progressive skeletal deformity as a consequence of physeal damage at multiple sites, particularly in the lower limb. Distal tibial physeal arrest typically occurs with sparing of the distal fibular physis leading to a rapidly progressive varus deformity. Isolated case reports include this deformity, but to our knowledge there is no previous literature that specifically reports the development of this deformity and potential treatment options.

We report our experience of 6 patients (7ankles) with this deformity, managed with corrective osteotomy using a programmable circular fixator.

We investigated the effect of adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens on the tibial regenerate after removal of the external fixator in a rabbit model of distraction osteogenesis using New Zealand white rabbits.

Forty rabbits were randomly distributed into two groups. In the neoadjuvant group, half of the rabbits received 1mg/kg cisplatinum & 2mg/kg adriamycin at eight weeks of age followed by 1mg/kg cisplatinum & 4mg/kg adriamycin at ten weeks of age. The remaining ten received an identical volume of normal saline using the same regimen. The adjuvant group differed only in the timing of the chemotherapy infusion. Half received the initial infusion ten days prior to the osteotomy, with the second infusion four days following the osteotomy. Again, the remaining ten rabbits received an identical volume of normal saline using the same regimen. This produced an identical interval between infusions and identical age at osteotomy in both groups. All rabbits underwent a tibial osteotomy at 12 weeks of age. Distraction started 24hours after osteotomy at a rate of 0.75mm a day for 10 days, followed by 18 days without correction to allow for consolidation of the regenerate.

At week 16 there was no difference in Bone Mineral Density (BMD), Bone Mineral Content (BMC) or volumetric Bone Mineral Density (vBMD) in the adjuvant group. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy appears to have a significant detrimental effect on BMD, vBMD and BMC. Despite this there were no significant alterations in the mechanical properties of the regenerate. Histologically there was a trend for increased cortical thickness in the control groups compared to intervention however this did not prove statistically significant.

In conclusion, adjuvant chemotherapy may be more beneficial for cases where distraction osteogenesis is being considered to replace segmental bone loss after tumour excision.

Purpose of study

To determine whether hemiplegia causes abnormal torsion of the radius of the affected compared with the unaffected limb as demonstrated by MRI measurements, and to assess whether this correlates with the passive range of movement as measured clinically.

Methods: A Ring Fixator (Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF); Smith & Nephew, Memphis, TN), was used in the treatment of 5 patients (ages 11 to 16 years) with proximal tibial growth arrest following trauma.

Results: The mean corrections were 14.2° (max 28°, min 0°) in the saggital plane and 14° (max 38°, min 2°) in the coronal plane. Leg length discrepancy was also corrected (max 1cm). The average time in frame was 17.8 weeks, with an average correction time of 29.8 days. Knee Society Clinical Rating System (KSCRS) scores post operatively ranged from 95 to 100. All patients returned to full activity, and would accept the same treatment if offered again. The circular fixator is an effective, minimally invasive method for treating the complex deformities arising from this rare injury. Patients remain active during treatment, encouraging a rapid return to school/work activities.

Introduction: A criticism of innominate osteotomy is that it causes relative acetabular retroversion, predisposing to osteoarthritis. This study was designed to address this hypothesis.

Materials and Methods: We had access to radiographs of 30 patients that had undergone open reduction and innominate osteotomy for late presenting developmental hip dislocation. The patients are now middle-aged and formed part of a previously reported study. Standardised, well-centered anteroposterior standing hip radiographs were obtained and using the validated method of Hefti (1995), anterior and posterior acetabular coverage and contact area were measured. From this we were able to extrapalate the acetabular version.

Ten operated hips had advanced osteoarthritis which made it impossible to identify acetabular landmarks.

Twenty-six hips were readable despite signs of mild to moderate osteoarthritis in some (Group A). 20 contra-lateral hips without DDH which appeared radiographically normal formed control group B. 21 further age and sex matched AP pelvis radiographs were taken from the PACS system at random. All of which had been reported as normal by a consultant musculoskeletal radiologist, these formed group C.

The Kruskal Wallis test was used to compare the 4 outcomes, in the 3 groups.

A significant difference between the groups was found for contact area (p< 0.001). There was no significant difference between the other 3 outcomes. Anterior coverage (p=0.509), posterior coverage (p = 0.135) and antirversion (p= 0.845).

Conclusion: Acetabular coverage and anteversion in hips with a good outcome after innominate osteotomy with open reduction were not different to a control group of radiographically normal hips without previous DDH. The early osteoarthritic changes seen in these hips may be related to a decreased contact area compared to the normal population. Innominate osteotomy before the age of 5 years has the potential to facilitate, or at least not prevent, normal acetabular development and version.

Introduction: A criticism of innominate osteotomy (IO) is that it causes relative acetabular retroversion, predisposing to OA. This study was designed to address this hypothesis.

Materials and Methods: We had access to radiographs of 30 patients 45 years after they had undergone open reduction and innominate osteotomy for late presenting DDH. Using the validated method of Hefti (1995) we measured anterior and posterior acetabular coverage, contact area and version.

Results: Group 1 – 26 Post-op hips, Group 2 – 20 Contralateral hips, Group 3 – 21 Normal hips. Anterior coverage was 10.8% in group 1, 11.0% in group 2 and 12.0% in group 3. Posterior coverage was 18.8% in group 1, 18.9% in group 2 and 21.0% in group 3. Contact area was 16.1 cm2 in group 1, 13.9 cm2 in group 2, and 22.1 cm2 in group 3. Version was 7.20 in group 1, 7.10 in group 2, and 7.70 in group 3.

A significant difference was found for contact area (p< 0.001). There was no significant difference in version (p = 0.845).

Conclusion: Early OA may be related to contact area. Any abnormal (retro)version grows out. Innominate osteotomy before the age of 5 years has the potential to facilitate, or at least not prevent, normal acetabular development and version.

A Ring Fixator (Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF); Smith & Nephew, Memphis, TN), was used in the treatment of 5 patients (ages 11 to 16 years) with proximal tibial growth arrest following trauma. The mean corrections were 14.20 (max 280, min 00) in the saggital plane and 140 (max 380, min 20) in the coronal plane. Leg length discrepancy was also corrected (max 1 cm). The average time in frame was 17.8 weeks, with an average correction time of 29.8 days. Knee Society Clinical Rating System (KSCRS) scores post operatively ranged from 95 to 100. All patients returned to full activity, and would accept the same treatment if offered again.

The circular fixator is an effective, minimally invasive method of treatment for post-traumatic proximal tibial deformity. Patients remain active during treatment encouraging a rapid return to school/work activities.

Survivors of meningococcal septicaemia often develop progressive skeletal deformity secondary to physeal damage at multiple sites, particularly in the lower limb. Distal tibial physeal arrest typically occurs with sparing of the distal fibular physis leading to a rapidly progressive varus ankle deformity. There is no previous literature reporting this ankle deformity following meningococcal septicaemia.

We report the management of this deformity in 13 ankles in 10 consecutive patients 36 months after meningococcal septicaemia. Plain radiographs and MRI were used to define the deformity and the extent of growth plate involvement.

The Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF) with a distal tibial metaphyseal osteotomy was used to restore the distal tibio-fibular joint. Distal fibular epiphysiodesis was performed in all ankles at the initial procedure. Distal tibial epiphysiodesis was performed at the time of fixator removal.

The age at operation ranged from 3–14 years (mean 8). The preoperative ankle varus deformity ranged from 9–29 degrees (mean 19). The differential shortening of the tibia with respect to fibula was on average 1.2 cms. The mean time in frame was 136 days. After a mean follow-up of 1.7 years results were excellent in all patients with complete correction of deformity and shortening. Mechanincal axis was corrected in all patients.

Complications included, 4 superficial pin site infections, 1 lateral peroneal nerve palsy which recovered completely. There were no major nerve or vascular complications.

We consider that this approach provides a powerful method of correction for this difficult group of patients.

Introduction: A criticism of innominate osteotomy is that it causes relative acetabular retroversion, predisposing to osteoarthritis. This study was designed to address this hypothesis.

Materials and Methods: We had access to radiographs of 30 patients that had undergone open reduction and innominate osteotomy for late presenting developmental hip dislocation. The patients are now middle-aged and formed part of a previously reported study on the long term outcome of this protocol. Standardised, well-centered anteroposterior standing hip radiographs had been obtained. We used the validated method of Hefti (1995) to measure anterior and posterior acetabular coverage and contact area. All measurements were made by a single independent investigator.

Results: 10 operated hips had advanced osteoarthritis which made it impossible to identify acetabular landmarks. 26 hips were readable despite signs of mild to moderate osteoarthritis in some (Group A). 20 contra-lateral hips without DDH which appeared radiographically normal formed control group B.

Discussion: We were unable to assess operated hips which had gone on to replacement or severe osteoarthritis. This is a flaw as those hips with better radiographs have been selected out for study. Nonetheless this was a unique opportunity to assess the effect of innominate osteotomy on acetabular development in good numbers of hips with a variety of evolved outcomes.

Conclusion: Acetabular coverage and load area in hips with a good outcome after innominate osteotomy with open reduction were not different to a control group of radiographically normal hips without previous DDH. Innominate osteotomy before the age of 5 years has the potential to facilitate, or at least not prevent, normal acetabular development and version.

Premature epiphysial closure is an infrequent complication of Perthes' disease. Twenty-two patients with this condition are reviewed, three of whom were bilaterally affected. The aetiology, radiographic features and effect on function are discussed. The incidence of this complication can be reduced by an awareness of the clinical and radiographic signs which contra-indicate treatment by upper fermoral osteotomy.

Analysis was made of the results of two methods of treatment of progressive infantile idiopathic scoliosis: a group of forty-eight children treated by rib resection, localiser jackets and Milwaukee brace were compared with a 'control' group of nineteen children treated by localiser jackets and Milwaukee brace alone. This failed to show any significant difference between the two groups. Carefully controlled splintage was effective in slowing the rate of progression of most curves which was not significantly affected by the addition of rib resection.