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Background: The current method of treatment of spinal deformities would be almost impossible without pedicle screws (PS) placement. There are only a few studies evaluating the safety of PS placement and possible complications in children during growth. The present study was carried out to evaluate the safety and accuracy of PS placement in children with spinal deformities at any age using postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans. Methods: 318 patients (34 males and 284 females) who underwent 6358 PS fixations for pediatric spinal deformities were enrolled in this multi-center study. The patients were divided into three age groups: less than 10 years old, 11–13 years old, and 14–18 years old. These patients underwent postoperative CT scans and were analyzed for pedicle screw malposition (anterior, superior, inferior, medial, and lateral breaches). Results: The breach rate was 5.92% for all pedicles. There were 1.47% lateral and 3.12% medial breaches for all pedicles with tapping canals, and 2.66% lateral and 3.84% medial breaches for all pedicles without a tapping canal for the screw. Of the 6358 screws placed in the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine, 98% of the screws were accurately placed (grade 0, 1, and juxta pedicular). A total of 56 screws (0.88%) breached more than 4 mm (grade 3), and 17 (0.26%) screws were replaced. No new and permanent neurological, vascular, or visceral complications were encountered. Conclusions: The free-hand technique for pedicle screw placement in the acceptable and safety zone in pedicles and vertebral bodies was 98%. No complications associated with screw insertion in growth were noted. The free-hand technique for pedicle screw placement can be safely used in patients at any age. The screw accuracy does not depend on the child’s age nor the size of the deformity curve. Segmental instrumentation with posterior fixation in children with spinal deformities can be performed with a very low complication rate. Navigation of the robot is only an auxiliary tool in the hands of the surgeons, and the result of the work ultimately depends on the surgeons.

Introduction: Purulent lobar pneumonia is an inflammation of pulmonary tissue that may progress to parenchymal necrosis and abscess formation. The authors present a case of purulent lobar pneumonia diagnosed using transthoracic lung ultrasound (TLU). Abscess-type lesions had not been visualized in previous computed tomography (CT) scans. Aim: To analyze the potential of TLU as a diagnostic tool for purulent lobar pneumonia. Case study: A 55-year-old patient with a several-week history of cough, abdominal pain, and diarrhea was admitted to the intensive care unit due to rapidly progressing cardiopulmonary failure. CT revealed merging parenchymal/interstitial densities within the right lung. Broad-spectrum antibiotics were initiated. TLU revealed the presence of lesions characteristic of pneumonia with the development of abscesses and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Despite treatment initiation, the patient’s condition progressively worsened. On the 3rd day of hospitalization, the patient passed away. At autopsy, purulent lobar pneumonia was identified as the direct cause of death. Results and discussion: Despite broad and well-documented knowledge regarding its applicability, ultrasound has not been widely used as a diagnostic tool. Conclusions: TLU is a safe, repeatable, and inexpensive diagnostic tool. The use of ultrasound in diagnosing pneumonia is well documented, and based on specific diagnostic criteria. As a diagnostic tool for pneumonia, dynamic air bronchogram had a high specificity and positive predictive value. The high sensitivity and specificity of TLU, as pertains to detecting necrosis or abscesses in the course of pneumonia, is comparable with CT. TLU facilitated visualization of small-diameter abscesses.

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