Paediatrics Orthopaedics Flashcards
Where are epipheseal growth plates?
Found in bones of children but not adults
Made from hyaline cartilage and divide the epiphysis and the metaphysis (epithysis and metaphysis fuse and growth plates become the epiphyseal lines)
Label this:
What types of bone are in children and adults respectively?
Children = more cancellous bone spongy, highly vascular in centre of bones (more flexible but less strong)
Adults = more cortical bone which is compact, hard bones around the outside
What type of fractures are children more prone to?
Greenstick fractures - one side of bone breaks and other stays intact
Why is bone healing in children better?
Good blood supply (less long term deformity than compared with adults)
Childrens bones are less resistant to compression, what is the result?
Buckle fracture (or torus fracture)
What is bone remodelling?
Process where bone tissue is taken from areas of low tension and deposited in areas of high tension (bone changes to optimum shape for function)
Why is bone remodelling useful in children?
Even if set at incorrect angle - remodels over time to return to correct shape
Label the following fractures:
What classification system is used for growth plate fractures?
Salter-Harris classification
What mnemonic is used for fractures through the growth plate?
SALTR mnemonic
Type 1: Straight across
Type 2: Above
Type 3: BeLow
Type 4: Through
Type 5: CRush
Label the following salter harris fractures?
What is the management of fractures in children?
Safeguarding is important
Firstly achieve mechanical alignment of the fracture:
- Closed reduction via manipulation of the joint
- Open reduction via surgery
Secondly provide relative stability to allow healing
How can bones be fixed in position?
External casts
K wires
Intramedullary wires
Intramedullary nails
Screws
Plates and screws
What is the WHO pain ladder for children?
Step 1: paracetamol or ibuprofen
Step 2: morphine
What pain relief is not used in children and why?
Codeine and tramadol (unpredicatability in their metabolism - effects vary too greatly)
Why is aspirin contraindicated in children?
Risk of Reye’s syndrome(except in certain circumstances e.g.Kawasaki disease)
How may a child present with hip pain?
Limp
Refusal to use affected leg
Refusal to weight bear
Inability to walk
Pain
Swollen or tender joint
What are the differential diagnoses for hip pain in 0-4 year olds?
Septic arthritis
Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH)
Transient sinovitis
What are the differential diagnoses of hip pain in 5-10 year olds?
Septic arthritis
Transient sinovitis
Perthes disease
What are some differentials for hip pain in 10-16 year olds?
Septic arthritis
Slipped upper femoral epiphysis (SUFE)
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
What are some ref flags for hip pain?
Child under 3 years old
Fever
Waking at night with pain
Weight loss
Anorexia
Night sweats
Fatigue
Persistent pain
Stiffness in the morning
Swollen / red joint
When is urgent referral for assessment in a limping child?
Child under 3 years
Older than 9 with a restricted or painful hip
Not able to weight bear
Evidence of neurovascular compromise
Severe pain / agitation
Suspicion of abuse
What investiagtion for hip pain in children?
Blood tests including inflammatory markers (CRP and ESR) for JIA and septic arthritis
Xrays to diagnose fractures, SUFE and other boney pathology
Ultrasound to establish an effusion (fluid) in the joint
Joint aspiration to diagnose or exclude septic arthritis
MRI to diagnose osteomyelitis
What age is septic arthritis most common at?
Children under 4 years (mortality 10%)
Why is septic arthritis an emergency?
Destroys the joint
Causes serious systemic illness
What percent of joint replacement surgery does spetic arthritis occur in?
1% (higher in revision surgery)
How does septic arthritis present?
Hot, red, swollen, painful joint
Refusing to weight bear
Stiffness and reduced range of motion
Systemic symptoms = fever, lethargy and sepsis
What is the most common bacteria causing septic arthritis?
Staphylococcus aureus
Neisseria gonorrhoea (gonococcus)
Group A streptococcus (strep pyogenes)
Haemophilus influenza
Escherichia coli (E. Coli)
What are some differential diagnoses for septic arthritis?
Transient sinovitis
Perthes disease
Slipped upper femoral epiphysis
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
What is the management of septic arthritis?
Low threshold for treating (caution with immunosuppressed patients)
Admission to hospital under orthopaedic team
Aspirate joint before abx (send for gram staining, crystal microscopy, culture and antibiotic sensitivities)
If severe then may require surgical drainage and washout of the joint
Which antibiotics are used in septic arthritis?
Empirical IV antibiotics given until sensitivities are known (usually continues for 3 to 6 weeks when septic arthritis is confirmed)
What is transient synovitis? When is it seen?
Temporary irritation and inflammation in the synovial membrane of the joint
Most common cause of hip pain in children aged 3-10 years
What is transient synovitis associated with?
Viral upper respiratory tract infection
How does transient synovitis present?
Acute / gradual onset:
- Limp
- Refusal to weight bear
- Groin or hip pain
- Mild low grade temperature
Otherwise well
What is the management of transient synovitis?
Symptomatic - simple analgesia
Must exclude septic arthritis
Aged 3-9 years: managed in primary care if limp present for less than 48 hours and otherwise well - give clear safety net advice to attend A&E immediately if symptoms worsen or develop fever
How long should patients with transient synovitis be followed up for?
48 hours and 1 week to ensure symptoms are improving and then fully resolve
What is the prognosis of transient synovitis?
Significant improvement after 24-48 hours
Symptoms fully resolve within 1-2 weeks without any lasting problems (may recur in 20% of patients)
What happens in Perthes disease?
Disruption of blood flow to the femoral head causing avascular necrosis of the bone
What is the full name of Perthes disease?
Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease
When does Perthes disease most commonly occur?
Boys aged between 5-8 years
What causes Perthes disease?
Idiopathic - no clear cause or trigger for the avascular necrosis (theorised that its due to repeated mechanical stress to the epiphysis)
How does Perthes disease progress?
Revascularisation or neovascularisation and healing of femoral head
What is the main complication of Perthes disease?
Soft and deformed femoral head, leading to early hip osteoarthritis
THR (5% of patients)
How does Perthes disease present?
Pain in hip / groin
Limp
Restricted hip movements
Referred pain to knee
If triggered by minor trauma = slipped upper femoral epiphysis
What is the investigation in Perthes disease?
X-ray (can be normal)
Blood tests (inflammatory markers used to exclude other causes)
Technetium bone scan
MRI scan
What is the management of Perthes disease?
Younger + less severe disease = conservative
Maintain healthy position and alignment to reduce risk of deformity to femoral head:
- Bed rest
- Traction
- Crutches
- Analgesia
Physio to retain range of movement
Regular x-rays to assess healing
Surgery in severe cases, older children or those that are not healing
What is a slipped upper femoral epiphysis (SUFE) also known as?
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE)
What is a slipped upper femoral epiphysis?
Head of femur displaces along the growth plate