This study reports a higher than expected frequency of spinal cord abnormalities in patients with the preoperative diagnosis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The indications for preoperative magnetic resonance imaging before spinal fusion vary among physicians; however, strict adherence to previously published recommendations as listed in this report is advisable. It appears from the results of this study that by following these guidelines, small syrinxes may remain undetected, but the clinical significance of this is unknown.

We treated two children with the unusual complication of ulnar nerve palsy after closed both-bone forearm fractures. Both patients developed an ulnar claw-hand deformity within 7 weeks of injury that resolved spontaneously by 20 weeks postinjury with nonoperative treatment. No patient showed any signs or symptoms of an ischemic compartment syndrome. Both nerve injuries were identified immediately at the time of fracture by a careful neurologic examination. This avoids confusion with a postreduction nerve entrapment injury or ischemic injury after a localized compartment syndrome, which may have considerably different treatments and outcomes. We recommend that a careful neurologic examination be recorded before any manipulative reduction of forearm fractures in children. If an ulnar nerve palsy is detected, it is probably a result of nerve contusion and should resolve without the need for surgical exploration.

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