No abstract

We assessed the results of the treatment of severe iatrogenic infantile quadriceps retraction in a pediatric surgery department, which still admits such cases. We used two different surgical techniques of quadricepsplasty: one based on the Judet technique and the other based on the Payr and Thompson techniques. We selected the technique to perform according to the initial rate of limitation of the range of movement of the knee. We followed 76 patients operated on with one of the two techniques for at least 3 years. There were 94 cases operated on with a modified Judet technique and 34 according to the Payr-Thompson technique. After 3 years, maximal knee flexion improved from an average of -3 to 81 degree in the first group and from 37 to 115 degree in the second group. The most frequent complications were skin necrosis after the Judet quadricepsplasty and active extension lag after the Payr-Thompson procedure.

Surgery in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a major operative intervention where 10–12 vertebrae are instrumented and fused. A smaller motion preserving surgery would be more desirable for these otherwise healthy adolescents. The ApiFix® system is a novel less invasive short segment pedicle screw based instrumentation inserted around the apex of the main curve. The system has a ratchet mechanism that enables gradual postoperative device elongation and curve correction. The ratchet is activated by performing specific spinal exercises. The unique features of the device allow curve correction without fusion. The system which has a CE approval was employed in adolescents with main thoracic curves.More than a dozen of ApiFix surgeries have been performed so far. The preoperative Cobb angle was 45° ± 8, and 25° ± 8 at final follow up. The following is a report on three adolescent females aged 13–16 years with curves between 43°-53° and Risser sign of 1–4 who underwent surgery with ApiFix®. Two pedicle screws were inserted around the curve apex and the ratchet based device with polyaxial ring connectors was attached to the screws. No fusion attempt was made. Operative time was around one hour. Two weeks after surgery the patients were instructed to perform Schroth like daily exercises with the aim of rod elongation and gradual curve correction. Patients were followed between 6 months to 2 years. Curves were reduced and maintained between 22- 33°. Patients were pain free and were able to perform their spinal exercises. Postoperative gradual elongation of the device was observed. No screw loosening or rod breakage were observed. No adding on or curve progression was seen.Three factors may contribute to the ApiFix® success: polyaxial connections that prevent mechanical failure, gradual curve correction by spinal motion and spinal growth modulation. The ApiFix® system allows managing moderate AIS with a simple and minor surgical intervention. Recovery is rapid with negligible motion loss. It allows gradual and safe curve correction with high patient satisfaction. It may also serve as an internal brace for AIS.

Ewing sarcoma, a rare malignancy of childhood and adolescence, has become a model of progress in diagnosis and treatment through long-standing research efforts in multinational clinical trials. The aim of this study is to present the specific diagnostic and therapeutic approach of Ewing sarcoma in children and adolescents. Materials and method. A retrospective and prospective analysis of all Ewing sarcoma treated in a large referral center – the Department of Pediatric and Orthopedic Surgery, Maria Sklodowska Curie Emergency Hospital for Children, between 2005 and 2012 is presented. A total of 28 patients were identified, 19 boys and 9 girls, with a male to female ratio of 2.11:1. Diagnosis was based on the result of the histopathological examination of tumor biopsy. Results. The mean age of the patients was 12.3 years (range 3-19 years) and the mean tumor volume was 197.96 cm3 (range 8-1,200 cm3). 8/28 patients (28.57%) had metastatic disease at diagnosis, mainly in the lungs (7 cases). Chemotherapy was administred to 26 patients (92.85%). Local therapy consisted of surgery in all patients and of surgery combined with radiation, in 5 patients. After a mean follow-up of 51.5 months, 9 patients have died, 17 (60.71%) patients are alive and free of disease and 2 patients are alive with disease. Conclusions. The management of a child or adolescent with Ewing sarcoma is best carried out in a specialized center under the care of a multidisciplinary team, in order to obtain the best outcome for the patient. Ewing sarcoma has a high mortality rate in Romania, especially because of late diagnosis.

Diastematomyelia is a rare condition. It has to be taken into consideration when dealing with a congenital scoliosis. The first step in the surgical procedure has to be the resection of the diastematomyelic septum. In case of a scoliosis ranging up to 30° and not presenting a progressive potential, the expectative-evaluation attitude is a correct one.