(msk) children's orthopaedics Flashcards
define physis
cartilaginous disc separating the epiphysis from the metaphysis
is responsible for interstitial bone growth of long bones
where are the physes found in children’s long bones?
two physes for each long bone: at the proximal and distal end
why are physes important?
site of interstitial bone growth needed for bone lengthening as children grow
(reserve, proliferative, hypertrophic and calcification zones)
differentiate between epiphysis, metaphysis, diaphysis and physis
epiphysis = wide end of long bones containing spongy, cancellous bone
diaphysis = tubular shaft of bone from distal to proximal end
metaphysis = region that connects the epiphysis to the diaphysis
physis = cartilagenous growth plate between epiphysis and metaphysis where interstitial bone growth for bone lengthening takes place
what are the two types of bone development?
intramembranous ossification
endochondral ossification
what type of bones is intramembranous ossification important for?
flat bones (e.g. clavicle, cranial bones)
what type of bones is endochondral ossification important for?
long bones
what is the main difference between endochondral and intramembranous ossification?
intramembranous = mesenchymal cells to bone
endochondral = mesenchymal cells to CARTILAGE to bone
describe the process of intramembranous ossification
mesenchymal cells differentiate into osteogenic cells and then osteoblasts = ossification centre forms
osteoblasts secrete osteoid and become trapped in the matrix as calcification occurs
when trapped, osteoblasts become osteocytes and bone formation occurs
in the central regions, the trabecular matrix develops forming spongy bone
blood vessels condense here and supply this region to form spongy red bone marrow
cortical bone develops superficial to the cancellous bone
how does spongy bone develop in intramembranous ossification?
trabecular matrix develops and blood vessels condense and supply this region
= spongy, cancellous bone
how does cortical bone develop in intramembranous ossification?
osteoblasts secrete osteoid and become trapped in the matrix as osteocytes during calcification, forming cortical bone
(occurs superficial to spongy bone formation)
what is the ossification centre in intramembranous ossification?
when osteoblasts, recently differentiated from mesenchymal cells, accumulate in a region prior to osteoid secretion
describe the process of endochondral ossification
1) mesenchymal cell differentiation
2) hyaline cartilage model with a lateral bony collar forms
3) interstitional and appositional growth of cartilage model
4) central matrix of cartilage model begins to CALCIFY as blood vessels condense to supply this region = forming the primary ossification centre + perichondrium converted into periosteum
5) spongy bone forms a the centre and extends proximally and distally - cartilage/chondrocytes develop
6) osteoclastic activity in the centre breaks down some bone and cartilage to form the medullary cavity
7) secondary ossification centres develop with its own blood vessel and calcification at the epiphyseal proximal and distal end – calcification of the matrix
8) some cartilage remains = articular cartilage, physis
describe the process of endochondral ossification
hyaline cartilage model with a lateral body collar forms
interstitional and appositional growth of cartilage model
central matrix of cartilage model begins to calcify as blood vessels condense to supply this region forming the primary ossification centre
spongy bone forms at the centre and extends proximally and distally
osteoclastic activity in the centre breaks down some bone and cartilage to form the medullary cavity
by birth, at the proximal and distal epiphyseal regions, blood vessels form and calcification occurs = secondary ossification centres
secondary centres = bone development in epiphyseal regions
but remnants = articular hyaline cartilage and epiphyseal growth plates (of initial hyaline cartilage model)
what is endochondral ossification divided into?
primary endochondral ossification
secondary endochondral ossification
what is primary and secondary endochondral ossification?
primary
- pre-natal
- involved formation of primary ossification centres & subsequent central bone growth
secondary
- post-natal, adolescent
- involves the development of epiphyseal secondary ossification centres
- long bone lengthening at epiphyseal growth plates
what are primary ossification centres?
sites of pre-natal endochondral ossification in the central part of the bone
what are secondary ossification centres?
sites of post-natal endochondral ossification in the epiphyseal part of the bone
= interstitial bone lengthening occurs
where do primary ossification centres form in endochondral ossification?
in the central (diaphyseal) portion of the hyaline cartilage model
where and when do secondary ossification centres form in endochondral ossification?
when = post-natally, adolescent years
where = epiphyseal portion of long bone
why does osteoclast activity occur in endochondral ossification?
medullary cavity formation
why is the articular cartilage and epiphyseal growth plate important in endochondral ossification?
the only remnants of the initial hyaline cartilage model
- articular cartilage = joint articulation
- growth plate = sites of interstitial bone growth and lengthening
what happens at the physeal (epiphyseal growth) plate?
interstital bone growth
= chondrocytes proliferate, mature, hypertrophy and then form a calcified matrix to add to the ossified bone of the diaphyseal edges
differentiate between the epiphyseal and the diaphyseal side in interstitial bone growth
epiphyseal side – hyaline cartilage active and dividing to form hyaline cartilage matrix
diaphyseal side – cartilage calcifies and cell death and then replaced by bone
what are four ways in which children’s bones differ primarily from adult bones?
physis
remodelling potential
elasticity
speed of healing
why are children’s bones more elastic than adult bones?
increased density of Haversian canals within children’s bones
to meet the increased metabolic demand
explain how the increased elasticity of children’s bones helps with bone growth
increased elasticity
= increased density of Haversian canals
= more dense blood supply
= increased bone growth
why do children have more Haversian canals in their bones?
to increase the vascular supply to the bone
as children’s bones are more metabolically active
what is the main consequence of the increased elasticity of children’s bones?
increased plastic deformity of the bones
i.e. likely to bend before they break
what is a Buckle fracture?
where only one side of the bone buckles/crumples but the other side of the bone is unaffected
(due to longitudinal force through bone cortex)
i.e. torus fracture
what is a Greenstick fracture?
when bone bends to the extent that one side breaks and the other side remains intact
(breaking twigs = the tough bark on one side will break but the bark on the other side remains intact)
what are Haversian canals?
microscopic tubes within cortical bone osteons housing the neurovascular supply to the bone
what is physeal growth?
(interstitial) bone growth at the epiphyseal growth plates at various sites at varying rates
which factors determine when growth at epiphyseal plates ceases?
puberty, menarche, parental height, genetic factors
in girls, when does physeal growth cease?
15-16
in boys, when does physeal growth cease?
18-19
what are two possible consequences of traumatic injuries to the physes?
1) growth arrest
2) deformity
how are physeal injuries categorised?
based on the Salter-Harris scale
how can physeal injury lead to growth arrest?
when the entirety of the physeal plate is injured, interstitial bone growth is significantly impaired
= growth arrest
how can physeal injury lead to deformity?
when a portion of the physeal plate is injured, interstitial bone growth continues in the intact region but stops in the injured region
= deformity
what three factors do the speed of healing and remodelling potential depend on?
1) location of injury
2) age of patient
3) GROWTH level at the site of injury
which group of patients heal most quickly?
young children
greatest growth = fastest healing
which region of the upper limb heals most quickly and why?
shoulders and wrist regions
areas of greatest growth = fastest healing
which region of the lower limb heals most quickly and why?
around the knee (distal femur, proximal tibia)
areas of greatest growth = fastest healing
why is the rate of healing accelerated in children?
children’s bones have very rapid growth rates
greatest, rapid growth rates = fastest healing + remodelling potential
how is healing linked to growth rate?
the more rapid the growth rate in a region, the faster the healing and the more the remodelling potential of the area
list four paediatric congenital orthopaedic conditions
developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH)
club foot
achondroplasia
osteogenesis imperfects
what is developmental dysplasia of the hip?
disorder of the neonatal hip
where the head of the femur is unstable or incongruous in relation to the acetabulum
what does normal hip development require?
concentric reduction + balanced forces through the hip
= hip needs to sit in acetabulum so they can exert forces on each other to produce a normal hip joint
what happens if the hip develops outside the acetabulum?
if hip develops outside the socket, lack of force and pressure exertion on the acetabulum
= impaired acetabular development
what are the three types of DDH?
1) dysplasia
2) subluxation
3) dislocation
what is dysplasia in DDH?
hip lies in acetabulum BUT not centrally placed
what is subluxation in DDH?
hip lies in acetabulum but loosely
pops in and out of socket due to shallow acetabulum
what is dislocation in DDH?
hip never been inside acetabulum, develops outside
acetabulum very shallow
what are the risk factors for DDH?
female
firstborn
breech
family history
oligohydramnios
Native America/Laplanders (nature of swaddling the baby)
how is DDH diagnosed?
in the baby check (screening in the UK)
shows:
- reduced range of motion
- Barlow, Ortolani and Galeazzi tests show DDH
what are the findings in a baby check of a patient with DDH?
reduced RoM
Barlow, Ortolani, Galeazzi tests shows DDH
what is the primary method of investigation for DDH?
ultrasound (up till 4 months)
for 4+ months = usually X-ray