Comparison of intralesional corticosteroid injection with and without thumb Spica cast for de-Quervain tenosynovitis.

Objective: To compare efficacy of methyl prednisolone acetate injection with and without thumb spica cast for the treatment of de-Quervain tenosynovitis. Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Setting: Orthopedic Unit, Allied Hospital, Faisalabad. Period: April 2016 to September 2016. Material & Methods: In each group 41 patients were included with non-probability consecutive sampling. Results: Eighty two patients were enrolled in the study. Out of 82 patients in the study, 3 (3.7%) were males and 79 (96.3%) were females. There were 10 (12.20%) pateints with age >40 years, and 36 (43.90%) patient in each of age group 21-30 and 31-40 years. The proportions of cured persons between two groups i.e., treated with corticosteroid injection and those treated with combination of injection and thumb Spica splint were found same with p-value 0.19 for Z=1.31. The efficacy was independent of treatment methods with χ2=1.10 (p-value = 0.30). The same independence pattern was also observed in different age groups. Age range was between 18 and 70 years. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square test. Six weeks following treatment, 29 (35.37%) patients from group A and 34 (41.46%) patients from group B showed relief of pain, swelling and tenderness and a negative Finkelstein test (p-value 0.295). post stratification of gender showed no significant association (p-value 0.388 and 0.328 in groups A and B respectively). Conclusion: It has been concluded that use of corticosteroid injection alone is sufficient to treat de-Quervain syndrome as compared to the use of thumb Spica splint with corticosteroid injection. It is therefore recommended that in patients suffering from de-Quervain syndrome, corticosteroid injection may be the choice of treatment.

Study to determine the Results of Femoral Shaft Fractures among Children managed with Immediate Hip Spica Cast

This prospective descriptive study aims to assess the importance of the immediate hip spica in a fracture of the femoral shaft in children at the Orthopedic Department of Liaqat University of Medica and Health science Jamshoro, Pakistan, for a one-year duration from June 2019 to June 2020. All children 1 to 5 years of age with femoral fractures who were admitted to the Orthopedic department within seven days of injury were included in the study. A total of 35 children, 24 (68.6%) boys and 11 (31.42%) girls, with a mean age of 3.8 years, were treated with an immediate hip spica cast. Their ages ranged from 1 to 5 years. The time of immobilization of the Spica cast ranged from 4 to 6 weeks (mean 5.4 weeks). In the second week, seven (22.85%) children had spica wetting, and breakage and reinforcement of spica was done, and 5 (14.28%) children had a spica wedging, and casting was applied to fix the angulation. No extension or hypertrophy was observed in the fractured limb. We concluded that immediate hip spica casting is a safe, inexpensive and definitive treatment of femoral shaft fractures in children aged 1-5 years.

Preliminary results of rigid fixation (locking plate/screw) after triple pelvic osteotomy without a hip spica cast: A modified fixation method in 21 patients

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate whether rigid fixation after triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO) utilizing a 3.5-mm locking plate and screws without hip spica cast can provide enough stability and prevent correction loss in pediatric patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD). Patients and methods: A total of 21 hips of 21 pediatric patients (9 males, 12 females; mean age: 9.3±2.0 years; range, 6 to 14 years) who underwent rigid fixation with locking plate/screws after TPO for DDH and LCPD between June 2015 and October 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative, immediate postoperative, and six-month follow-up anteroposterior radiographs were compared for the Wiberg’s center-edge angle (CE), Sharp angle, acetabular coverage of the femoral head (ACFH), and center-head distance discrepancy (CHDD). The patient demographics, surgery time, perioperative complications were evaluated. Results: Underlying diagnosis were DDH in 14 patients and LCPD in seven patients. In patients with DDH, postoperative evaluation showed significant increase in the mean CE angle (5.6±16.1° vs. 30.5±9.3°, respectively) and ACFH (46.4±16.8% vs. 84.5±12.1%, respectively), and a significant decrease in the mean Sharp angle (55.3±6.2° vs. 35.6±7.8°, respectively) and CHDD (14.6±10.7% vs. 6.2±5.6%, respectively). The final follow-up revealed that there was no correction loss in these parameters. In the patients with LCPD, postoperative evaluation showed a significant increase in the mean CE (20.1±11.1° vs. 38.3±9.6°, respectively) and ACFH (62.9±18% vs. 91.4±10.1%, respectively), and a significant decrease in the mean Sharp angle (46±3.6° vs. 25.2±5.5°, respectively). The final follow-up revealed that there was no correction loss in radiological parameters. No perioperative complications were noted. Conclusion: Our study results suggest that rigid fixation construct with a 3.5-mm locking plate and screws without hip spica cast can provide adequate stability to allow early mobilization following TPO in children without any loss of correction, until bony healing at the osteotomy sites.

Is Hip Spica an obsolete method for paediatric femur fractures ?-A retrospective analysis of 58 patients

Background- Diaphyseal femur fracture in paediatric age group are common in orthopaedics with treatment options varying from conservative methods such as hip spica to operative measures such as nailing/plating. We analyzed results of patients treated conservatively in a hip spica cast. Material and Methods- 58 patients, upto 5 years of age, with shaft femur fracture managed by hip spica cast were retrospectively analysed in terms of healing clinically and radiologically and complications noted, if any. Results- Fracture healed satisfactorily in all patients. Mean age of patients affected was 3.8 years. Males were more affected and road side accident was most common etiology. Mean hospital stay was 3.4 days. Most common complication was skin breakage (27.58%) followed by cast soiling or breakage (13.79%) while shortening was seen in 3 patients (5.1%) and angulation in 2 patients (3.44%). Conclusion- Despite newer and safer implants, hip spica remains safe and cost effective method for treatment of femur fracture in children.

Traumatic bilateral posterior hip dislocation in children. A 12 years follow up case report

Background. Bilateral traumatic hip dislocation in children is a very rare orthopedic emergency. Few case reports are available in literature. Clinical case. A 4-year-old male child case with a trivial mechanism of injury is presented. Closed reduction in emergency department was achieved after 24 hours of injury, he was placed on Bucks skin traction for 4 days and during 4 weeks in a spica cast. There was not either clinical sign nor images of early or late complications during follow up until he reached skeletal maturity. Discussion. Hip dislocation in children is a rare emergency with an incidence of 0.8 cases per million per year, its treatment should not be delayed to minimize late complications such as osteonecrosis, recurrent dislocations, osteoarthritis, neurological lesions, coxa magna and heterotopic ossification. The reported incidence for hip osteonecrosis is 36.4% for late (6 hours) and 8.2% after early (6 hours) reduction. After 12 years of follow up no complication was found although the reduction was made 24 hours later. Conclusions. After immediate reduction a 4 to 6 weeks immobilization period is an effective treatment. Close monitoring to timely identify and treat any further complication is mandatory.

A Method of Shoulder Spica Cast Application In Shoulder Muscle Transfer Patients In Supine Position

Background Children with birth brachial plexus injury (BBPI) often require secondary surgery for the shoulder. The shoulder spica is necessary after shoulder muscle transfer surgery in babies with BBPI. However, its application can be difficult in the supine position under anesthesia. The authors describe a simple and cost-effective method of applying the shoulder spica cast without changing the supine position under anesthesia. Technique While still under anesthesia, the child is placed in a supine position and then elevated on the wooden bar. The POP roll is wrapped around in a cylindrical manner, starting from the level one inch above the anterior superior iliac spine. The contralateral shoulder is also incorporated into the cast. Conclusion The spica application technique described comprises commonly available materials, such as a wooden plank, pair of bolsters, plaster of Paris rolls, and dressing materials overcoming the need for customized apparatus or the operation table. The materials are easy to assemble and thereby applicable just about anywhere. The task also becomes less challenging for the anesthetic in the supine position. This technique is easily reproducible and cost-effective.