Paediatric Orthopaedics Flashcards
2 normal variants most commonly referred
Intoeing
Flat feet
3 variations in normal development
Flat feet
Femoral anteversion
Bow legs
4 self-correcting pathologies in childrens bones
Metatarsal adduction
Persistent femoral anteversion
Posterior tibial bowing
Curly toes
David Jones 5 S’s for assessing
Symmetry Symptomatic Systemic illness Skeletal disease Stiffness
Rotational alignment- axial
Angular alignment- coronal
What effect does excessive femoral anterversion have on rotation of the hip?
Internal rotation
Leads to intoeing
Correctable pathology
Position of knee cap if intoeing is arising from the hip?
Inwards
Why might tibial torsion occur and what form is normal?
Internal torsion normal to extent
Occurs due to in utero moulding and tibial shape
3 variations relating to anhular alignment
Bowed legs
Knock knees
Flat feet
3 assessments for angular alignment
Heel raise and Jack’s test
Foot rotational alignment
Foot progression in gait
4 points of clinical assessment
Walking
Standing
Tip toe
Staheli rotational profile
3 points to assess in standing
Alignment from the front
Patellar position
Heels/arch/toe/leg length from behind
Staheli rotational profile
Hip rotation/version
Thigh foot angle
Foot bisector line
What is a limp?
Abnormal gait due to pain, weakness or derformity
Shorter stance phases (weight bearing) on affected limb
Common causes of limp
Toxic synovitis Septic arthritis Trauma - teens Osteomyelitis Viral syndrome Perthe's disease Fracture Soft tissue infection
What is associated with antalgic gait on examination?
Tenderness (shortened stance phase)
Reduced range of motion
Conditions causing antalgic gait
Infection Inflammation Trauma Overuse syndrome Toddlers fracture
Which sign indicates Abductor lurch
Trendelendburg sign
What conditions are associated with abductor lurch?
Cerebral palsy
Hip dysplasia
Describe an equinus gait
Toe to heel gait
What conditions are associated with equinus gait?
Cerebral palsy
Idiopathic toe walker
Club foot
Circumduction is seen during which phase in a circumduction gait?
During swing phase
Which 3 things should be examined for if a patient has a circumduction gait?
Assess limb length
Neurological exam
Check range of mption
Which conditions are associated with a circumduction gait?
Painful foot
Leg length inequality
Which investigation can be ordered if a patient has an antalgic gait?
Radiograph
Bone scan
Which investigation should be ordered if a patient has an abductor lurch?
Pelvic radiograph
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis is most commonly seen in which patients?
Obese male adolescent
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis is likened to which object?
Ice cream falling off the cone
Displaced femoral head
Why is the femoral head displaced in slipped capital femoral epiphysis?
Disruption of growth plate
Symptom of slipped capital femoral epiphysis?
Painful limp
Referred pain to thigh or knee
Treatment for slipped capital femoral epiphysis
Percutaneous screw fixation
Differentials for infectious and inflammatory causes of limp
Osteomyelitis
Transient synovitis
Septic arthritis
History for infectious causes of limp
Limp Pain General malaise/loss of appetite/listless Temperature Recent URTI/ ear infection Trauma Pseudoparalysis
Initial investigations acute limping child
Temperature
X ray
USS
Bloods - CRP, ESR, FBC, WCC, CK, cultures
Signs and symptoms of septic arthritis
Limp Psuedoparalysis Swollen red joint Refusal to weight bear/ move joint Pain Temperature
Routes of infection leading to septic arthritis
Puncture or trauma Dissemination from osteomyelitis Haematogenous route Adjacent soft tissue infection Diagnostic or therapeutic procedures
Investigations for septic arthritis
Full Blood Count White cell count ESR CRP X ray Ultrasound Synovial fluid - WCC, gram stain, culture
Clinical Predictive Criteria for Septic arthritis
Kocher
- Pyrexia
- Not weight bearing
- WBC > 12000/ml
- ESR >40 mm/hr
Score 3-4 indicative - 90% chance septic arthritis
Treatment for septic arthritis
Antibiotics - IV 2 weeks
Aspiration
Arthroscopy
Arthrotomy
Common infection in septic arthritis
Staphylococcus aureus
Risk factors for osteomyelitis
Blunt trauma
Recent infection
Mean age for osteomyeltiis in chidren
6 years
Symptoms for osteomyelitis
Pain Reduced Range of Movement Fever Localised signs Reduced weight bearing
Investigations for osteomyelitis
WCC
CRP
ESR
Microbiology - staph aureus
Indications for surgey in osteomyelitis
Aspiration needed for culture Drainage of subperiosteal abscess Drainage of joint sepsis Debridement of dead tissue Failure to improve Biopsy
How to differentiate transient synovitis from osteomyelitis or septic arthritis?
Diagnosis of exclusion Child will allow joint to be examined Relatively not as unwell Recent infection Low CRP, normal WCC
Red flag symptoms in paediatric orthopaedics
Night pain Stops doing sport/going out Sweats and fatigue Abnormal bloods - low Hb, atypical film, atypical platelets Refer to paediatrics and oncology
Classification for fractures with physeal injury in forearm
Salter Harris Type 1 - same level Type 2 - Above physeal plate Type 3- Below Type 4 Through Type 5 Crush
SALTR - 12345`
Describe a Galeazzi fracture
Shaft fracture of forearm
Distal 1/3 of radius with dislocation of radioulnar joint
Describe a Monteggia fracture
Shaft of ulna
Dislocation of radial head
What percentage of paediatric fractures occur in the forearm?
50%
Which fractures are most common in the forearm?
80% occur distally
5% pproximal to elbow
What type of impact results in a buckle fracture?
Low energy
High energy fractures can lead to what type of injury?
Open fracture
Soft tissue displacement
Complications of Fractures
Compartment syndrome - Volkmann's Non union Refracture Radioulnar synostosis PIN injury Superficial radial nerve injury Distal radioulnar joint/ Radiocapitellar problems
Management of buckle fracture in distal radis
Cast 3-4 weeks
Management of greenstick fracture in distal radius
Cast 3-4 weeks
Complete fracture of distal radius management
Cast with Kirschner wires 6 weeks
Risk for manipulation
Complete fracture
Failed anatomic reduction
Not B/E pop
Knee trauma differential
Infection Inflammation Neoplasm Apophysisits Foot Hip Sickle cell, haemophilia Anterior knee pain
Bony injury of the knee
Physeal/metaphyseal Tibial spine Tibial tubercle Patellar fracture Sleeve fracture Paterllar dislocation Referred
Ratio of femoral to tibial physeal injury
2:1
Treatment for physeal knee injury
Cast to immobilise
Percutaneous screw fixation
ORIF articular displacement
Range of movement wihtin 6 weeks
Elements of physeal arrest
Monitor harris lines, angulation and length Resect bar Complete epiphysiodesis Contralateral epiphysiodesis Corrective osteotomy
Why are patellar fractures rare?
Cartilaginous until age 4
Management for patellar fracture
Undisplaced - cylinder cast
Displaced - Orif
Risk factors for patellar dislocation
Laxity Poor VMO Q angle Femoral anteversion Tibial external rotation Patella alta
Overuse injuries
Osgood Schlatters - prominent patella
Sever’s - inflammation of calcaneus