1b// Children's Orthopaedics Flashcards
How many bones are there in a child’s skeleton?
270
What are growth plates called, and what do they do?
physis
they are the areas from which long bone growth occurs postnatally
What are the types of bone development?
intramembranous mesenchymal cells» bone
endochondral mesenchymal» cartilage» bone
What type of bone do intramembranous mesenchymal cells lead to?
flat bones (cranial bones and clavicle)
What type of bone do endochondral mesenchymal cells make?
long bones (all other long bones)
What is the process called of making cranial bones and the clavicle?
intramembranous ossification
What is the process called of making all other long bones?
endochondral ossification
Describe the process of intramembranous ossification.
- Condensation of mesenchymal cells which differentiate into osteoblasts – Ossification centre forms
- Secreted osteoid traps osteoblasts which become osteocytes
- Trabecular matrix and immature periosteum form
- then angiogenesis between woven bone and trabecular, forming bone marrow
- Compact bone develops superficial to cancellous bone. Crowded blood vessels condense into red bone marrow
Where does endochondral ossification occur?
both primary and secondary ossification centres
What are primary ossification centres? And what part of the bone are they located?
Sites of pre-natal bone growth through endochondral ossification from the central part of the bone
What are secondary ossification centres?
Occurs post-natal after the primary ossification centre and long bones often have several (the physis)
What are the 2 types of endochondral ossification?
primary and secondary
e.g., endochondral primary ossification
Describe the process of endochondral primary ossification.
pre-natal growth through primary ossification centres
a) Mesenchymal Differentiation at the primary centre
b) The cartilage model of the future bony skeleton forms
c) Capillaries (via angiogenesis) penetrate cartilage.
Calcification at the primary ossification centre – spongy bone forms
Perichondrium transforms into periosteum
d) Cartilage and chondrocytes continue to grow at ends of the bone
e) Secondary ossification centres develop
Where are primary ossification centres?
middle of diaphysis (shaft of bone)
Where do secondary ossification centres develop? And how are they developed?
at proximal and distal ends of long bone with their own blood supply
blood supply calcifies the previously uncalcified matrix into immature spongy bone, so cartilage at ends of bone become sites of secondary ossification
What is endochondral secondary ossification for?
long bone lengthening
post bone growth through secondary ossification centres
“the physis”
Describe endochondral secondary ossification.
- where does it occur
- what zone and where
- what does it contain
- and sides
Happens at the physis (physeal plate)
Zone of elongation in long bone
Contains cartilage
Epiphyseal side – hyaline cartilage active and dividing to form hyaline cartilage
matrix
Diaphyseal side – Cartilage calcifies and
dies and then replaced by bone
What are the epiphyseal and diaphyseal sides?
the diaphysis (shaft or primary ossification centre), metaphysis (where the bone flares), physis (or growth plate) and the epiphysis (secondary ossification centre).
Do these make sense?
How does a child’s skeleton differ to that of an adult? (4)
more elasticity
physis (constantly growing)
speed of healing is much faster (due to continuous growth)
remodelling potential
What does it mean by a child’s bone elasticity? And why is it more elastic?
Children’s bone can bend – more elastic than adult
due to increased density of haversian canals
What can increased density of haversian canals lead to? (3)
Plastic deformity:
– bends before breaks
Buckle fracture:
– Tarus like the column
Greenstick:
– like the tree
One cortex fractures but does not break the other side
Why do children have more haversian canals?
as their bones are more metabolically active
Describe growth of bones in children, e.g., where and speed? And when does growth stop?
Growth occurs at varying rates at varying sites
Growth stops as the physis closes
When does physeal closure occur?
Complete at girls: 15-16
boys= 18-19
What does physeal closure depend on?
puberty
menarche
parental height
gradual physeal closure
How are physeal injuries categorised?
salter-harris
What can physeal injuries lead to? And what can that lead to?
growth arrest
leads to deformity
What is the speed of remodelling and healing dependent on?
The speed of healing and remodeling potential is dependent on the location and the age of the patient
Who heals bones more quickly in the general population?
younger child
Which physis grows the most?
at the knee and at the extreme of upper limb
What the stages of healing/ remodelling? (3)
inflammation
repair/ callus
remodelling
What are common children’s congenital conditions (that you need to know)? (4)
Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
Club Foot
Achondroplasia
Osteogenesis Imperfecta
What is developmental dysplasia of the hip? And what type of disorder is it?
Group of disorder of the neonatal hip where the head of the femur is unstable or incongruous in relation to the acetabulum.
A ‘Packaging Disorder’
What is a packaging disorder?
occurs in utero, due to the way a child sits
What is the normal development of the hip dependent on?
the concentric
reduction and balanced forces through the hip
What is the spectrum of developmental dysplasia of the hip? (3)
dysplasia
or
subluxation
or
dislocation
Dysplasia 2: 100 Dislocation 2:1000
What are risk factors for developmental dysplasia of the hip? (6)
Female 6:1
First born
Breech
FHx
Oligohydramnios
Native American/Laplanders – swaddling of hip
How is developmental dysplasia of the hip examined?
Usually picked up on baby check – screening in UK
Range of motion of hip
- Usually limitation in hip abduction
- Leg length (Galeazzi)
In those 3 months or older Barlow and Ortalani are non-sensitive
What are the investigations for developmental dysplasia of the hip?
Ultrasound – birth to 4 months
- After 4 months X-ray
- If prior to 6 weeks needs to be age adjusted
Measures the acetabular dysplasia and the position of hip