Search Results (116)

Background/Objectives: In periarticular knee surgery, such as osteotomies, ligament reconstruction, and fracture fixation, surgeons face a dilemma: ensuring the safety of the popliteal artery (PA) while securing adequate surgical access to the bone. While macroscopic anatomical studies suggest knee flexion protects the PA, they often fail to account for physiological muscle tension in living knees. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the dynamic positional changes in the PA and the vastus medialis and lateralis muscles (VM and VL, respectively) using Open Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to determine the optimal limb position for each surgical step. Methods: Twenty-three living knees were evaluated using Open MRI. The shortest perpendicular distances from the posterior aspect of the femur and tibia to the PA, and from the femoral cortex to the posterior border of the VM and VL, were measured at 10° knee-flexed position (representing the extended position) and 90° knee-flexed position. Results: The PA shifted significantly away from the bone in 90° knee-flexed position compared to extension at the distal femur (0 and 1 cm proximal to the intercondylar line (Blumensaat’s line)) and the proximal tibia (0, 1, and 2 cm distal to the joint line) (Q < 0.05). Conversely, both the VM and VL moved significantly closer to the femur in flexion at all measured levels (0–4 cm) (Q < 0.05), often causing the muscles to compress tightly against the bone. Conclusions: The vascular safety margin is maximized in flexion, whereas surgical exposure for the distal femur is optimized in extension due to vastus muscle relaxation. We suggest performing superficial exposure and femoral plate insertion in extension, and surgical maneuvers involving the posterior cortex in flexion to minimize neurovascular and soft tissue complications. Full article

Background: Pes planovalgus affects 44–54% of preschool children and represents one of the most common concerns in pediatric orthopedic practice. Aim: This narrative review synthesizes the evidence linking increased femoral antetorsion to pediatric flatfoot deformity. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science through January 2026. The initial search yielded 847 records; after screening, 52 studies were included, 29 of which are directly cited. Search terms included combinations of: “femoral antetorsion” OR “femoral anteversion” AND “flatfoot” OR “pes planovalgus” AND “children” OR “pediatric”. Results: Strong correlations exist between flatfoot and increased internal hip rotation (as a proxy for femoral antetorsion) in preschool children (r = 0.53–0.77), suggesting an association, though direct causation remains unproven. Both deformities share similar developmental trajectories with spontaneous resolution by school age. The biomechanical model proposes that elevated antetorsion reduces gluteus medius moment arms by 40–50%, necessitating compensatory hip internal rotation; however, this derives from computational models and cerebral palsy populations, with limited direct validation in typically developing children. Femoral derotation osteotomy improves the foot progression angle, though transfer efficiency is incomplete (~54% of surgical correction manifests distally). Conclusions: Femoral antetorsion and pes planovalgus are strongly associated in preschool children, though whether this represents a direct mechanistic cascade or parallel manifestations of common developmental factors remains uncertain. This understanding supports watchful waiting in preschool children and, in persistent cases, prioritizes the assessment of the entire rotational profile before intervention. Full article

Background: Surgical management of adult patients with post-dysplastic coxarthrosis using total hip arthroplasty is technically demanding and carries an increased risk of complications. In cases of high iliac dislocation classified as Crowe type IV, restoring the acetabular component to the anatomical hip centre often requires femoral shortening osteotomy to enable safe reduction in the prosthetic joint. Nevertheless, long-term evidence on functional outcomes and prosthesis survival with this approach is limited. Methods: A retrospective cohort study included 19 patients with 22 cases of Crowe type IV post-dysplastic hip osteoarthritis treated with uncemented total hip arthroplasty (Pinnacle/S-ROM, DePuy, Warsaw, IN, USA) combined with transverse subtrochanteric femoral shortening osteotomy. Patients underwent serial clinical follow-up, including assessment of range of motion, measurement of limb-length discrepancy, and functional evaluation using the Harris Hip Score and the WOMAC questionnaire. Radiological assessment included evaluation of osteotomy union, implant positioning, and osteolysis on standardized radiographs. Vertical distances of the centre of rotation (CR), the tip of the greater trochanter (GT), and the tip of the lesser trochanter (LT) from both reference lines were measured bilaterally, and inter-side differences were calculated. The reference lines consisted of the line connecting the inferior margins of the ischial bones and the teardrop (TD) line. Results: All osteotomies united at a mean of 5.57 months, with a mean follow-up of 129 months. Mean limb-length discrepancy decreased from 5.27 cm to 1.5 cm, and mean hip flexion improved from 82.9° to 106°. Functional outcomes improved significantly, with mean WOMAC increasing from 55.4 to 80.1 (p < 0.001) and mean Harris Hip Score from 49.8 to 84.66 at up to 3 years of follow-up (p < 0.001). Osteotomy length correlated strongly with lesser trochanter–teardrop distance (p = 0.00000048). Complications included distal femoral fissure (27.3%) and revision (18%), with no infection or permanent neurological deficit. Conclusions: Total hip arthroplasty combined with subtrochanteric femoral shortening osteotomy for Crowe type IV post-dysplastic hip osteoarthritis appears to be a feasible and effective procedure in an experienced centre, providing reliable osteotomy healing and significant early functional improvement that is sustained over time. Limb-length discrepancy was reduced and satisfactory biomechanical restoration was achieved, with an acceptable complication profile and implant survival of 81.3% at long-term follow-up. The LT–TD parameter was identified as a potential predictor of osteotomy length, enabling the proposal of a preoperative planning equation. However, given the limited sample size and lack of validation, these findings should be interpreted cautiously. Further studies are needed to confirm their broader applicability. Full article

Background: In revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA), clinical focus is mainly on the femoral and tibial components, while patellar complications are often underemphasized. However, patellar bone deficiency is a significant issue that can negatively affect surgical outcomes, especially in septic revisions. Objective: This review provides an overview of contemporary approaches to the evaluation and treatment of patellar bone loss in rTKA, emphasizing preoperative planning, classification frameworks, and treatment options. Methods: A narrative review of the literature was conducted. Studies published between 2000 and 2024 addressing preoperative assessment, surgical techniques, and outcomes in the management of patellar bone loss in rTKA were screened. Discussion: A recent consensus has addressed the evaluation, classification, and treatment of significant bone loss after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), providing specific recommendations for the management of patellar bone loss and extensor mechanism involvement in cases of severe bone deficiency. In this review, the principal surgical strategies described in the literature are summarized, including patellar component retention or revision, the use of biconvex inlay and trabecular metal implants, bone grafting, various augmentation techniques, resection arthroplasty, gull-wing osteotomy, and patellectomy. Conclusions: Despite various surgical strategies, no consensus exists on a universally superior approach. Ongoing research is essential to establishing standardized, evidence-based protocols for effective management of patellar bone loss in rTKA. Full article

Background/Objectives: Hip displacement is a common problem in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Typically, the recommended hip surveillance imaging for these children consists of an anteroposterior pelvic radiograph, from which we calculate the migration percentage (MP) to determine treatment plans (conservative/preventive therapy, femoral osteotomy, femoral and pelvic osteotomies, and salvage surgery). However, little is known about the accuracy of MP for treatment planning. We aim to compare treatment plans based on MP thresholds with plans determined by an orthopedic surgeon following review of the hip CTs. Methods: We retrospectively identified hip CTs performed in children who were ≤18 years old with CP (11/2018—07/2024). The inclusion criteria were: (1) a pelvic radiograph performed 6 months prior to the hip CT; and (2) no surgeries between the pelvic radiograph and the hip CT. These hip CTs were randomized and blindly reviewed by an orthopedic surgeon to determine each child’s treatment plan (CT-treatment). Separately, a pediatric radiologist blindly reviewed the randomized pelvic radiographs and measured each hip’s MP to determine each child’s treatment plan (XR-treatment). We used kappa-agreement and Bland–Altman analyses to compare XR- and CT-treatments. Results: Our study cohort consisted of 139 children (mean age = 9.3 ± 3.8 years; male = 90) with 278 hips. The proportion of agreement and unweighted kappa between XR- and CT-treatment were both low: 0.532 (148/278) and 0.339, respectively. Bland–Altman analyses showed that XR-treatment and CT-treatment were exchangeable when MP ≤ 10% but were not exchangeable otherwise. Conclusions: We should be cautious about relying exclusively on pelvic radiographs and subsequent MP calculation in making treatment decisions for hip displacement in children with CP since many anatomic details become evident on 3D imaging. Full article

Background/Objectives: Diagnostic evaluation and management of nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) vary substantially. This systematic review was conducted to inform development of the Association Research Circulation Osseous (ARCO) clinical practice guideline for diagnosis and treatment of ARCO stages I to III ONFH. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Global Index Medicus, and the Cochrane Library for studies evaluating imaging modalities and treatments for adult ONFH. We assessed risk of bias using the QUADAS-2, the ROB-2, and the ROBINS-I tools; conducted meta-analyses using random-effects regression; and evaluated certainty of evidence using GRADE methodology. Results: Among 36 included studies, 18 addressed diagnostic test accuracy and 18 addressed comparative effectiveness of treatments. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated the highest pooled sensitivity (0.91; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.87 to 0.94) and specificity (0.96; 95% CI, 0.87 to 0.99) for ONFH diagnosis. Bone marrow edema and grade 2+ joint effusion on MRI differentiated symptomatic versus asymptomatic disease. Computed tomography and MRI better detected subchondral fractures than plain radiography. Very low-grade evidence suggested lower rates of femoral head collapse with core decompression plus bone marrow concentrate compared with core decompression alone (pooled relative risk [RR], 0.55; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.83), and with vascularized versus non-vascularized bone grafting (RR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.14 to 0.84) over a ≤5-year follow-up. Based on three non-comparative case series, osteotomies might have a lower risk of collapse over a 10- to 20-year follow-up, but this needs to be evaluated in future comparative research. Inconsistent outcome reporting hindered treatment outcome pooling. There were no comparative studies that evaluated observation only versus intervention in asymptomatic disease or strategies for monitoring treatment response. Conclusions: Evidence supporting optimal imaging modalities and early joint-preserving interventions remains limited and predominantly observational, underscoring the need for high-quality comparative studies with consistently defined core outcomes to guide clinical decision-making. Full article

Background and Objectives: While particulated costal hyaline cartilage allograft (PCHCA) combined with microdrilling demonstrates superior cartilage regeneration compared to microdrilling alone in high tibial osteotomy (HTO), the impact on early clinical recovery remains uncertain. The aim of this study is to compare early clinical outcomes (within 6 months) between microdrilling alone versus combined particulated costal hyaline cartilage allograft (PCHCA) with microdrilling in medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) for medial compartment osteoarthritis, and to investigate age-related differences in treatment response. Materials and Methods: This prospective, dual-center, randomized controlled trial with blinded outcome assessment enrolled 64 patients (33 treatment and 31 control) undergoing MOWHTO with medial femoral condyle cartilage defects (ICRS III-IV, ≥200 mm²). The treatment group received PCHCA implantation combined with microdrilling, while the control group received microdrilling alone. Patients and outcome assessors were blinded to group allocation. Primary outcomes were KOOS-Pain and VAS scores at 12 and 24 weeks. Age-stratified analysis compared patients ≤ 60 years (n = 44) versus > 60 years (n = 20) Results: The treatment group showed significantly superior KOOS-Pain scores at 12 weeks (70.6 vs. 61.6, p = 0.014) and 24 weeks (82.9 vs. 71.5, p = 0.011), with corresponding VAS improvements (p = 0.010 and p = 0.004). Age-stratified analysis revealed patients ≤ 60 years achieved comparable outcomes regardless of treatment (p = 0.574), while patients > 60 years demonstrated significantly superior outcomes with PCHCA (KOOS-Pain improvement: 24.7 vs. 17.9 points, p = 0.012). BMI ≥ 26 kg/m² significantly predicted reduced odds of achieving MCID for both pain (OR 0.88, p = 0.028) and ADL (OR 0.80, p = 0.003). Conclusions: PCHCA combined with microdrilling provides superior early pain relief compared to microdrilling alone in MOWHTO, with effects most pronounced in patients > 60 years. Age-stratified treatment selection and BMI optimization should be considered to maximize outcomes. Full article

Introduction: This case report presents the multifactorial surgical management and long-term outcome of a permanent patellar dislocation in a 16-year-old female patient. Case presentation: A 16-year-old female with permanent patellar dislocation of the left knee complained of progressive pain and functional limitations. Physical examination revealed a 20-degree passive flexion contracture, significant muscle weakness in knee extension, and a permanently laterally dislocated patella that could not be manually repositioned. Imaging studies revealed a complex knee deformity characterised by femoral valgus, tibial varus, posterior tibial slope, and trochlear dysplasia. The patient underwent a comprehensive surgical approach addressing all deformities, including femoral and tibial osteotomies, trochleoplasty, medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) plasty, and quadriceps muscle balancing. Results: At the eight-year follow-up, the patient demonstrated a full range of motion and adequate stability, and experienced mild pain only rarely. Outcomes improved significantly: the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score increased from 10.3% to 75.9%, the Lysholm score rose from 24 to 72, the Kujala score improved from 22 to 67, and the BPII score increased from 14.9 to 55.4. Conclusions: Comprehensive surgical correction of all predisposing factors achieved sustained functional improvement over eight years, demonstrating that systematic treatment of anatomical and functional abnormalities is essential for the successful management of permanent patellar dislocation. Level of evidence: V. Full article

Background and Objectives: Femoral malunion, defined as healing of a femoral fracture in an anatomically incorrect position, can lead to significant biomechanical and functional impairment despite modern fixation techniques achieving union rates near 99%. The lack of a universal definition and standardized management approach continues to hinder optimal outcomes. This review aims to synthesize the literature on the causes, clinical presentation, radiologic assessment, surgical indications, corrective procedures, and outcomes of femoral malunion to guide clinical decision-making and future research. Materials and Methods: A narrative review of peer-reviewed orthopedic literature was conducted, focusing on adult femoral malunions across anatomical regions. Articles detailing deformity thresholds, imaging modalities, corrective osteotomies, and fixation strategies were included. Particular emphasis was placed on region-specific deformities—femoral head, neck, intertrochanteric, diaphyseal, and distal femur—and their corresponding surgical correction methods, including valgus intertrochanteric osteotomy, clamshell osteotomy, and lengthening with external or magnetic intramedullary devices. Results: Malunion most commonly presents as angular, rotational, or length deformity, with thresholds of >5–10° angulation, >10° rotation, or >1–2 cm shortening being clinically significant. Patients may experience pain, limp, gait asymmetry, and early-onset arthritis. Corrective techniques tailored to the anatomical site yield favorable results: valgus intertrochanteric osteotomy restores leg length and alignment; diaphyseal malunions respond well to single- or multi-plane osteotomies with internal fixation or gradual correction; distal femoral malunions often require multiplanar osteotomy to reestablish the joint line. Most series report high union rates and functional improvement, though complications such as infection and hardware failure may occur. Conclusions: Femoral malunion remains a complex but treatable condition. Successful outcomes rely on accurate deformity characterization, patient-specific surgical planning, and restoration of mechanical alignment. Standardized deformity criteria and long-term functional outcome studies are needed to refine management algorithms and improve patient care. Full article

The relationship between femoral deformity and gait deviation is complex. Femoral anteversion can be assessed using the trochanter prominence angle test or by imaging techniques. Hip rotation during gait can be determined using conventional 3D gait analysis methods including palpation of femoral epicondyles or by using functional calibration. This study re-evaluates the indications for femoral osteotomies in this context. Hip rotation was analysed using predictive and functional methods in 80 patients who were referred for gait analysis due to rotational gait issues. Femoral anteversion was determined both manually and via MRI. In severe cases of femoral malalignment, the trochanter prominence angle test systematically underestimates the deformity by up to 15° compared to MRI results. Hip rotation, as measured by functional methods, also underestimates the outcome obtained by conventional methods, by up to 5°. Regardless of the method used, significant variability in hip rotation is observed during gait when the femoral deformation is moderate (anteversion between 0° and 30°). More severe deformities are not fully compensated for during gait. In cases of severe femoral malalignment, the functional change after osteotomy does not match the amount of derotation. Furthermore, both the trochanter prominence angle test and hip rotation during gait, as monitored via functional methods, underestimate the problem in the transverse plane. Full article

Background/Objectives: The sequelae from conditions affecting the proximal femur may cause instability, pain, leg length discrepancies and abnormal gait. Treatment options include arthrodesis and total hip arthroplasty, but both alternatives have limitations in young patients with severe deformities. Pelvic support osteotomy constitutes a viable option in these cases. The present study analyses the effectiveness and safety of the procedure. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study on patients with an unstable or stiff hip treated with a pelvic support osteotomy. Both the results obtained and the complications that occurred were subjected to a statistical analysis. In addition, a narrative literature review was carried out to elucidate the biomechanical rationale and the results of the technique. Results: This study included a total of 12 patients (8 male and 4 female) with a mean age of 13 years (range: 0–19). All cases were unilateral and the mean follow-up time was 6.9 years (range: 1–10). Preoperative leg length discrepancy was 8 cm (range: 5–10), and all patients presented with a marked Trendelenburg sign. The mean leg lengthening achieved was 8 cm (range: 8–10), following a mean external fixation time of 263 days (range: 180–360), which entails an external fixation index of 32.5 days per centimeter lengthened (range: 25–37). Mean leg length discrepancy fell to 0.9 cm (range: 0–3) and the Trendelenburg sign improved following treatment: it disappeared in three patients (25%), it became mild in seven (58%), and it improved to moderate in two (17%). Eight patients (66%) experienced some sort of complication over the course of treatment. Conclusions: Pelvic support osteotomies, combined with femoral lengthening, are a safe and effective option for managing severely damaged hips in children and adolescents. Full article

Background/Objectives: Managing long bone fractures and deformities in osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) with telescoping rods is a common but challenging procedure. A rare complication is the distal migration of the rod’s proximal female component, which complicates standard revision surgery. This article aims to describe a surgical technique for the revision of a distally migrated Fassier–Duval (FD) femoral rod. Methods: We present the case of an 8-year-old girl with OI type IV who experienced distal migration of her right femoral FD rod—the surgical technique involved extracting the rod retrogradely through the fracture/osteotomy site. We used a trephine to remove surrounding bone within the canal, thereby preserving the critical bone stock in the greater trochanter needed for secure fixation of the revision implant. Results: The distally migrated female component was successfully removed through the trephined canal with a combination of axial traction and rotational force. The proximal bone stock was preserved, allowing for the stable placement of a revision FD rod. Conclusions: The retrograde trephine technique is a viable and effective strategy for revising a distally migrated telescoping rod in patients with OI. This approach prioritizes the preservation of proximal bone stock, which is crucial for the stability and longevity of the revision implant. Full article

Objectives: This retrospective study examines acetabular morphology and defects in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The study discovers the usefulness and reliability of a reconstructed 3D CT measurement technique and compares it to conventional radiographic measurements. Methods: 33 subjects with CP who underwent hip reconstruction, including Dega osteotomy and varus derotation femoral osteotomy, were included and compared to an age-matched group of 42 typically developing children. We reproduced a three directional acetabular index (3DAI), including anterosuperior, superolateral and posterosuperior indices in CT analysis, and compared them with established radiographic measurements for the migration percentage (MP) and the acetabular index (AI). Results: The results showed significantly higher 3DAI in every direction of wall deficiency, accentuating the methods sensitivity for acetabular dysplasia. The interrater and test–retest reliability were robust with ICC = 0.939–0.988 for the CP group. Conventional radiographic measurements demonstrated better discriminative power for identifying hip dislocation and correlated strongly with the 3DAI (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The 3DAI method showcases an important addition to the conventional radiographic measurements by enabling a quantification of the defect amount and direction for operative planning. The study supports the potential of a 3D analysis in the improvement of diagnostic precision and suggests a continuous refinement of the CT measurement technique. Full article

Background: The Derotational femoral osteotomy (DFO) is an effective surgical treatment for patients with disabling anterior knee pain associated with pathological Femoral anteversion (FAV). However, the complexity in determining the precise origin of the deformity has put limits on its use. This study aims to review the literature to learn how the authors study the origin of the deformity and then provide a new methodology using 3D technology to assess the origin of FAV. Methods: A search of the literature was conducted on PubMed utilizing the following search string: “anteversion” and “femur” or “origin” or “CT” or “MRI” or “3D”. In addition, an observational study was conducted on CT scans of six femurs from three female patients with unilateral pathological FAV. This work represents a pilot study and should be considered preliminary. Using the 3DSlicer (version 4.11.20210226), MeshMixer (version3.5), and 3DBuilder software (Microsoft.com), 3D biomodels were generated. A mirrored healthy femur served as a reference. The CloudCompare software (software version 2.13.0) was used to compare volumetric structures and analyze torsional deformities. Torsion at each level was quantified using MATLAB (software version 23.2). Results: The 3D technology identified three torsional patterns: 1. FAV predominantly originating at the femoral head (distance between the centroids = maximum deformity in the last discs, which coincides with the proximal region of the femur; heat maps = red in the proximal femur); 2. FAV primarily affects the mid-distal diaphysis (distance between the centroids = maximum deformity in the first discs, which coincides with mid-distal third of the femur; heat maps = red in the diaphyseal level); 3. a pan-diaphyseal deformity involving the entire femur (distance between the centroids = both the first and last discs, means deformity along the entire femur; heat maps = red along the entire femoral diaphysis). Conclusions: All femoral segments contributed to the total FAV, but the location and severity varied among the cases. Pathological FAV is a multifactorial deformity that can arise in different femoral regions. Individualized correction strategies are essential to improving DFO outcomes and preventing secondary deformities. It is important to note that the pilot data is intended to be purely illustrative and, as such, should not be utilized for the purposes of guiding clinical decision-making. Full article

Introduction: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) presents significant surgical challenges due to bone fragility, narrow medullary canals, and complex deformities. While telescoping rods like the Fassier–Duval (FD) system are commonly used in growing patients, they are unsuitable when the canal diameter is too small or when patients approach skeletal maturity. The Simple Locking Intramedullary (SLIM) nail offers a solid, non-telescoping alternative in these cases. Methods: We describe the surgical technique for SLIM nail implantation and highlight key technical pearls developed through institutional experience, focusing on preoperative planning, intraoperative strategies, and the management of unique anatomical challenges in OI patients. Results: Three cases illustrate the application of these techniques: the first case demonstrates SLIM nail insertion in a 3-year-old child with a narrow IM canal to correct significant bowing; reaming was performed retrograde from the osteotomy site for the proximal segment and antegrade for the distal segment. The second case is a 15-year-old OI patient with a disengaged FD rod and narrow IM canal showing insertion of SLIM rod, and the third case is a 16-year-old patient with femoral deformity and telescoping rod who needed revision with SLIM nail and supplemental plate fixation. Conclusions: The SLIM nail is a viable option for select OI patients. Full article