Paediatric Orthropaedics Master Deck Flashcards
What is osteogenesis imperfecta?
AKA brittle bone disease
Caused by a defect of maturation and organisation of type 1 collagen
Describe the inheritance of osetogenesis imperfecta
Usually, autosomal dominant with multiple fragility fractures of childhood, short stature with multiple deformities, blue sclerae and loss of hearing
Rarer cases are autosomal recessive and are either fatal in the perinatal period or assoc. with spinal deformity
What can osteogenesis imperfecta be mistaken for?
Multiple fractures can be mistaken for child abuse/non-accidental injury
Structure of bones in osteogenesis imperfecta?
Bones tend to be thin, with thin cortices and osteopenic; fractures tend to heal with abundant but poor quality callus
Mild cases may have normal X-rays with a history of low energy fractures
Treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta?
Fractures require splintage, traction and surgical stabilisation
What is skeletal dysplasia?
Medical term for short stature and is due to a genetic error (hereditary/sporadic mutation) resulting in abnormal development of bone and connective tissue
What is the most common skeletal dysplasia?
Achondroplasia (may be autosomal dominant but most cases are sporadic)
It causes disproportionately short limbs with a prominent forehead and widened nose; joints are lax and mental development is normal
Congenital causes of connective tissue disorders?
Due to genetic disorders of collagen synthesis (mainly type I found in bone, tendon and ligaments) resulting in joint hypermobility
CTDs affect soft tissues more than bone
Describe generalised (familial) joint laxity
Hypermobility of the joints (usually runs in families and is autosomal dominant)
More prone to soft tissue injuries and recurrent dislocation of joints, esp. shoulder and patella
What is Marfan’s syndrome?
Autosomal dominant or sporadic mutation of the fibrillin gene results in tall stature, disproportionately long limbs and ligamentous laxity
Assoc. features with Marfan’s syndrome?
High arched palate, scoliosis, pectus excavatum, lens dislocation, retinal detachment, aortic aneurysm and cardiac valve competence
Premature death due to cardiac abnormalities
Treatment of Marfan’s syndrome?
Surgery is rare as biological abnormality cannot be detected
What is Ehlers-Danlos syndrome?
Heterogeneous condition which is often autosomal dominant, causing abnormal elastin and collagen formation
There are more than 10 types
Clinical features of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome?
Profound joint hypermobility
Vascular fragility, with ease of bruising, joint instability and scoliosis
Treatment of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome?
Bony surgery for dislocating joints however bleeding can be a problem and skin healing may be poor (stretched scars or wound dehiscence)
MSK manifestations of Down’s syndrome?
Short stature and joint laxity with possible recurrent dislocation, esp patella
Atlanto-axial instability in the cervical spine may also occur
What are the muscular dystrophies?
Rare and usually X-linked recessive hereditary disorders, resulting in progressive muscle weakness and wasting
Affects only BOYS
What is Duchenne muscular dystrophy?
Defect in the dystrophin gene inv. in Ca transport results in muscle weakness which may only be noticed when the boy starts to walk and has difficulty standing and going upstairs (Gower’s sign)
Progression of DMD?
Progressive muscle weakness follows and by the age of 10 or so he can no longer walk and by age 20 progressive cardiac and respiratory failure develop with death typically in the early 20s
Diagnosis of DMD?
Raised serum creatinine phosphokinase
Abnormalities on muscle biopsy
Treatment of DMD?
Physiotherapy, splintage and deformity correction may prolong mobility
Severe scoliosis may be corrected with spinal surgery
How do upper motor neuron (brain and spinal cord) causes of neuromuscular disorders present?
Weakness, spasticity, hyperreflexia and an extensor plantar response (Babinski sign)
How do lower motor neuron (affecting anterior horn cells, nerve roots or peripheral nerve) causes of neuromuscular disorders present?
Weakness, reduced tone and hypo/areflexia
What is cerebral palsy?
NM disorder with onset before 2‐3 years of age, due to an insult to the immature brain before, during or after birth
Causes inc. genetic problems, brain malformation, intrauterine infection in early pregnancy, prematurity, intra‐cranial haemorrhage, hypoxia during birth and meningitis
Signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy?
Range from mild and limited to one limb OR can be total body inv. with profound learning difficulties
Developmental milestone may be missed and the ability to ambulate or perform normal tasks may be impaired
What is spina bifida?
Congenital disorder where the two halves of the posterior vertebral arch fail to fuse; there are different forms, ranging from mild to severe
Types of spina bifida?
Spina bifida occulta (mildest form) - may have no assoc. problems but some people can develop tethering of the spinal cord and roots, leadin to a high-arched foot and clawing of the toes
Spina bifida cystica (most severe form) - contents of the vertebral canal herniate through the defect, with either herniation of the meninges alone (meningocoele) OR with the spinal cord/cauda equina
What is polio and how does it caused NM disorders?
AKA poliomyelitis - viral infection affecting motor anterior horn cells in the spinal cord or brainstem, resulting LMN deficit
Vaccination has made encounters uncommon
Describe obstetric brachial plexus injury
Brachial plexus injury during vaginal delivery most commonly arises in large babies, twin deliveries, etc
Types of obstetric brachial plexus injury?
Erb’s palsy (most common) - injury to C5 & 6 nerve roots results in loss of motor innervation to the deltoid, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, biceps and brachialis muscles; this causes internal rotation of the humerus, leading to a Waiter’s tip posture
Klumpke’s palsy (rare) - injury to C8 & T1 causes paralysis of intrinsic hand muscles, etc; the fingers are flexed, producing a “claw” hand
Total brachial plexus palsy - poorest prognosis
Treatment of Erb’s palsy?
Physiotherapy is used early to prevent contractures
Surgical release of contractures and tendon transfers may be required if there is no recovery
Treatment of Klumpke’s palsy?
No specific treatment
What are some of the normal developmental milestones for babies?
Sits alone, crawls – 6‐9 months
Stands – 8‐12 months
Walks – 14‐17 months
Jumps – 24 months
Manages stairs independently – 3 years
What are some of the landmarks of neurological development for babies?
Loss of primitive reflexes (moro reflex, stepping reflex, rooting, grasp reflex, fencing posture etc) by 1‐6 months
Head control – 2 months
Speaking a few words – 9‐12 months
Eats with fingers, uses spoon – 14 months
Stacks four blocks – 18 months
Understands 200 words, learns around 10 words/day ‐ 18‐20 months
Potty trained – 2‐3 years
Describe normal lower limb development
At birth - VARUS knees (BOW knees)
These become neutrally aligned at around 14 months, progressing to 10-15 degrees VALGUS (knock-knees) at 3 years
This gradually regresses to physiologic valgus of 6 degrees
Treatment of childhood varus or valgus knees?
Reassurance as most develop normal alignment
Some develop minor degrees of varus or valgus alignment (often familial)
Describe the appearance of valgus and varus DEFORMITY and potential causes
Varus deformity - larger gap between the knees
Valgus deformity - larger gap that normal between the feet/ankles
Most cases are idiopathic, some are familial and others have an underlying skeletal disorder, e.g: skeletal dysplasia, Blount’s disease
Treatment of valgus and varus deformities?
Majority of cases of bowed-legs or knock-knees resolve by the age of 10; genu varum of excessive genu valgum after the age of 10 may require surgery
What is Blount’s disease?
Growth disorder of the medial proximal tibial physis, causing marked and persistent genu varum
Treatment of Blount’s disease?
Surgical correction
Condition may occur in adolescence so growth plate restriction on the medial side with a small plate and screws is used
Rare causes of pathologic genu varum?
Rickets
Osteochondromas (tumours)
Traumatic physeal injury
Skeletal dysplasia
Consequences of persistent genu varum?
Risk of early onset medial compartment OA
Causes of pathological genu valgum?
Rickets
Enchondromatosis (tumours)
Trauma
Neurofibromatosis
Can be idiopathic