Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Flashcards
What presentations in orthopaedics do we need to be able to form differentials for?
Limp
Swollen joint
A child comes in with a limp.
Which structures do we need to think about?
Hip
Knee
Ankle/Foot
Neurological
What hip related differentials could you have for a limp?
SUFE Perthes disease Septic arthritis of hip Transient synovitis Trauma Osteomyelitis DDH Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
What knee related differentials could you have for a limp?
Septic arthritis Transient synovitis Trauma Osteomyelitis Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
What neurological problems could be included in the differentials for a limp?
Cerebral palsy
Muscular dystrophy
What else might cause a child to limp (other than medical/surgical differentials)?
Non-accidental injury
What is DDH?
Developmental dysplasia of the hip is an abnormality of the neonatal hip joint, with a spectrum of severity
How many newborns need treating for DDH?
1-2 in every 1000
Although it may affect 1 in every 100, but they don’t need treatment
Which hip is DDH more common in?
The left hip
How many cases of DDH are bilateral?
Around 20%
What are the main risk factors that we use for screening for DDH?
Breech presentation
Family Hx of DDH
What are the other potential risk factors for DDH (aside from breech presentation and FHx)?
- Oligohydramnios
- First-borns
- Female sex
- Race (Native Americans)
- Very high birth weight (over 5kg)
What % of DDH cases are females?
80%
When do we screen for DDH?
Initially in the NIPE
How do we screen for DDH?
Using visual insepction and the Barlow test and Ortolani test
What is the Barlow test?
Attempt to dislocate an articulated femoral head by:
1 - adducting and pushing posteriorly on the hip joint
2- Feel for a clunk that indicates dislocation
What is the Ortolani test?
Attemp to relocate a dislocated femoral head by:
1 - Elevation and abduction of hip while flexed at 90 degrees.
2 - Feel for palpable clunk of relocation of femoral head
If DDH is suspected, what should we do?
Refer them for USS for diagnosis
How is DDH managed?
Most spontaneously stabilise by 3-6 weeks of life, so nothing until then.
Pavlik harness between 6 weeks and 4-5 months.
Older children may need surgical intervention.
What position does a Pavlik harness hold a child’s hips in?
Flexion and abduction
What sign might we see on visual inspection of a neonate with DDH?
Leg length discrepancy when knees are flexed by comparing knee height.
What is the main complication of untreated DDH?
Early onset arthritis
What is osteomyelitis?
An infection of the bone, usually caused by Staph. aureus.
What are the risk factors for osteomyelitis?
- Diabetes
- Sickle cell anaemia
- IV drug use
- Immunosuppression
- Alcohol excess
How should we investigate osteomyelitis?
MRI scan
Which part of the bone is most commonly affected in children?
The metaphysis
A child presents to A&E with acute inset illness (possibly septic), and a very very painful left femur.
What is your top differential?
Osteomyelitis -> Sepsis
What will the affected area be like on examination of suspected osteomyelitis?
- Very painful, but with preserved range of movement
- If no movement, may have spread to joint capsule
-Pyrexia over painful area
How should suspected osteomyelitis be investigated?
- Blood cultures
- Bloods (FBC and CRP)
-X-rays are not useful initially as they show nothing, but >2 weeks later will show loss of density
How should osteomyelitis be managed?
- Sepsis protocol if sepsis suspected
- Rest
- IV abx for 4-6 weeks
- Surgical intervention if abscess present, and to remove pieces of dead bone.
What are some acute complications associated with osteomyelitis?
- Sepsis
- Acute pyogenic arthritis
- Septic arthritis
What are some chronic complications associated with osteomyelitis?
- Growth retardation
- Chronic osteomyelitis
- Increased risk of fractures
Which antibiotics are used for osteomyelitis?
- Flucloxacillin (with fusidic acid)
- Clindamycin (if pen-allergic)
- Vancomycin or teicoplanin if MRSA suspected
What organism should be suspected if a child with sickle cell anaemia gets osteomyelitis?
Salmonella species
What is rickets?
Decreased mineral content in growing bones
What is the most common cause of rickets?
Vitamin D deficiency
How do we become vitamin D deficient most commonly?
Lack of sunlight &/or insufficient dietary intake (usually a combination)
Aside from vitamin d deficiency due to intake, what other causes of riskets are there?
- Renal (leading to vit d def)
- Drug induced
- Genetic (Vit D resistant)
- Hypoparathyroidism
Which drugs are most commonly associated with rickets?
Anticonvulsants