Exam 1: Orthopedics Flashcards
Definition of Scoliosis
A spinal deformity in which there is a lateral curvature in the spine greater than 10 degrees.
Congenital Scoliosis
Anomolous vertebral development
Infantile Scoliosis
onset before 3yrs old
Juvenile Scoliosis
detected between ages 3-10
Neuromuscular scoliosis
Associated with neurological or muscular diseases
Adolescent Idiopathic
Most common form, onset between 10 yrs old and after.
- Present in 2 to 4 percent of children between 10 to 16 yrs. old
- Possible genetic link because it is often seen in multiple family members.
- More common in girls
- Of adolescents diagnosed with AIS, only 10% have curve progression requiring medical attention.
Curve Progression (with degrees)
- Double curves progress more than single curves
- Can have a curve that looks like an “S”
- Larger curves (30-40°) progress more than smaller curves (20-30°)
- Females progress more than males
- Increase risk of curve progression during Peak Height Velocity during adolescent growth spurt (girls Tanner 2-3, boys Tanner 3-5)
AIS Symptoms (9)
- One shoulder higher than other
- One shoulder blade sticks out more than other
- One side of rib cage appears larger than the other
- One hip higher and more prominent
- Parents usually notice this the most, may have difficulty hemming clothing
- Waist appears uneven (but it actually isn’t)
- Body tilts to one side
- One leg appears shorter than other
- Head not centered over body
- PAIN IS NOT A TYPICAL SYMPTOM
- There may be pain in other places but not in the spine
- Pain in spine could indicate tumor, end for further eval
Screening for Orthopedics (American Academy of orthopedics)
Girls- @ 11 and 13 yrs.
Boys-Once at 13Yrs.
Screening for orthopedics: american academy of pediatrics
Routine health visits at ages 10, 12, 14 and 16 for both girls and boys
*This mostly occurs at nurses offices in schools but that isn’t sufficient because a lot of time scoliosis gets missed; need to do further screening
History Taking of AIS (5)
- Primarily diagnosis of exclusion (ensure nothing else is causing it)
- Family history of scoliosis or other musculoskeletal disorders (inquire about family hx)
- Menstrual onset
- *VERY IMP. because you want to know how much more they are going to grow because that will impact their treatment (have they already experienced peak height velocity?)
- Development of secondary sexual characteristics and recent growth patterns
- Presence of pain and neurologic changes including bowel and bladder dysfunction because this is atypical for AIS
Adams Bend Forward Test
1st: Bend forward at waist until spine becomes parallel to the floor while holding palms together with arms extended.
*Examine child from behind and side LOOKING FOR ASYMMETRY in the contour of the back (rib hump)
~If you see asymmetry, need to get an idea of the degree using a scoliometer (measure in cervical, thoracic, and lumbar)
~Refer anything above 7-10 degrees to orthopedics
2nd: Flexibility should also be evaluated by stabilizing the spine and asking the child to twist to both sides
Ninety percent of curves are to the right, LEFT THORACIC IS CONCERNING!!!
Diagnosing Scoliosis (primary concerns and determinants of progression)
Primary concerns: possible underlying cause and curve progression
Determinants of progression: gender, future growth potential and curve magnitude at time of diagnosis.
- Females progress more than males
- Look at tanner stages to see if they have had their peak height velocity (if not, progression will increase)
- Larger curves at onset progress quicker than smaller curves at onset
Evaluation of Potential Growth (4)
- Tanner Stage assessment
- Increased risk of progression @ peak height velocity
- Risser scale: evaluates skeletal maturity; using x-ray, looks at bony fusion of apothesis of the ileac crest
* The higher the number, the more fusion has occurred - Bone Age: also evaluates skeletal maturity; compares growth plates in hand to growth plate in book to look at growth & their potential level of curve progression
- Cobb Angle
Cobb Angle
Determines magnitude of curve
Superior and inferior vertebrae of scoliotic curve (looking at top of curve and bottom of curve on X-RAY)
Gives definitive angle
*Use this and evaluation of growth potential to tell you how aggressive treatment should be
Treatment: Bracing (use for, goal, and when it’s worn)
Use for: Skeletally immature child, with curve > 30° -Or- Curve which increased from 10°- >25° in a short amount of time
*may brace a child that is at a later time in development if need be
Goal: prevent curve progression or until curve progression can’t be controlled
Worn: 18 – 23 hours/day (makes adherence an issue)
~Braces should be continued until growth stops
Types of Braces (7)
- Milwaukee
- TLSO
- Boston
- Charleston
- Providence
- Spine-Core (least effective)
- RSC (mos effective)
Treatment: Surgery (indications and 4 objectives)
Indication: Cobb Angle >45 degrees
Objectives:
- Arrest progression
- Achieve maximum permanent correction
- Improve appearance
- Keep short and long term complications to a minimum
- Surgery will for the most part correct the curve, whereas bracing only prevents progression
- May do surgery and bracing to keep short and long term complications to a minimum, but bracing isn’t required after surgery
Surgical Procedure
- Fusing the vertebrae along the curve
- Supporting fused bones with instrumentation attached to spine
- Bone grafts fuse the vertebrae together
- *Fuse the vertebrae together with bone graft made ileac crest and then support the fused bones with an instrument attached to spine
- Many surgical variation exist using different instruments, procedures and surgical approaches.
- Cause of scoliosis usually determines type of procedure
Complications of Surgery (8)
- Bleeding
- Postoperative pain
- Infection
- Nerve damage
- Pseudoarthrosis
- Disk degeneration and low back pain
- Complications that involve lungs and circulation
- Flat back syndrome with Harrington rod.
Clubfoot
- Involves bone deformities and malposition with soft tissue contractures
- TEV most frequently occurring clubfoot (95%)
- Early evaluation and treatment for optimum correction; you will get maximum correction and is least invasive
*Can be diagnosed in utero or immediately after birth
Incidence of Clubfoot
1-2/1,000 live births
- Affects boys nearly twice as often as girls
- Bilateral in 50% of the cases
- A positive family history is associated with an increased incidence
Clubfoot: Talipes Equinovarus
A complex deformity of the ankle and foot with:
- forefoot adduction- toes point in - midfoot supination-turns upward - hindfoot varus-heel turns inward - ankle equinus-toes point downward
Etiology of Clubfoot (6)
Exact cause is unknown
* intrauterine positioning * neuromuscular or muscle abnormality * genetic predisposition * arrested fetal development of skeletal and soft tissue * seen with congenital abnormalities * amniotic banding (premature rupture of amniotic sac causing amnions to float around in fluid and can wrap around extremities of fetus)
IDIOPATHIC CLUBFOOT: no reason why you would expect it
Positional Clubfoot
occur primarily from intrauterine crowding. Responds to simple stretching and casting
Syndromic (tetralogic) Clubfoot
associated with other congenital abnormalities. More severe form.
Congenital (idiopathic or true clubfoot)
occur in otherwise healthy infants. It is the most common form.
*No other congenital anomalies, just born with clubfoot
Other Symptoms of Clubfoot (6)
- Small foot
- Shortened Achilles tendon
- Underdeveloped calf muscle
- Empty heel bed (if you press on it, you can’t feel the bone, but the bone is there)
- Transverse plantar crease
- Normal leg lengths (even if it is unilateral, the leg length is normal, there is just a shortening of the achilles tendon that may make it seem abnormal)
Diagnosing Clubfoot (4)
- May be detected antenatally
- Diagnosis at birth – visual inspection
- Radiographs to confirm degree and severity of deformity
- MRI may also be used