Paediatrics - orthopaedics, rheumatology and dermatology Flashcards
what is osteogenesis imperfecta
Osteogenesis imperfecta is a genetic condition that results in brittle bones that are prone to fractures. It is caused by a range of genetic mutations that affect the formation of collagen (type 1)
what are the features of osteogenesis imperfecta
Hypermobility
Blue / grey sclera (the “whites” of the eyes)
Triangular face
Short stature
Deafness from early adulthood
Dental problems, particularly with formation of teeth
Bone deformities, such as bowed legs and scoliosis
Joint and bone pain
what other conditions is osteogenesis imperfecta associated with
congenital cataracts
what are the four major clinical features which characterises osteogenesis imperfecta
- osteoporosis with abnormal bone fragility
- blue sclera
- dentinogenetic imperfecta
- hearing impairment
what is the pathophysiology of osteogenesis imperfecta
there is a disturbance in the synthesis of type 1 collagen, which is the predominant protein of the extracellular matrix of most tissue
in bone this defect results on osteoporosis which increases the tendency to fracture
type 1 collagen is also a major constituent of dentine, sclarae, ligaments, blood vessels and skin
what are the genetic abnormalities behind osteogenesis imperfecta
mutation in one of two genes that carry instructions for making type 1 collagen
mutations in the COL1A1 and COL1A2 genes are responsible for over 90% of cases
what are the three main types of osteogenesis imperfecta
- mild: type 1
- perinatal lethal: type 2
- progressive deforming: type 3
types 4 and 5 are variable in severity and are uncommon
what features of osteogenesis imperfecta may be seen on antenatal scans
decreased attenuation and abnormally increased visualisation of fetal brain
may show evidence of fractures
may be evidence of polyhydramnios
what is the treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta
Bisphosphonates
vitamin D supplementation
physiotherapy and occupational therapy
paediatricians for follow up
orthopaedic surgeons for managing fractures
specialist workers
social workers
what is rickets
rickets is a condition affecting children where there is defective bone mineralisation causing soft and deformed bones
what are causes of rickets
rickets is caused by a deficiency in vitamin D or calcium
rare form of rickets is caused by genetic defects that results in low blood phosphate
how is vitamin D obtained in the body
produces in response to sunlight
obtained through eating foods such as eggs, oily fish or fortified cereals or supplements
what is hereditary hypophosphataemic rickets
this is a rare form of rickets caused by an X linked dominant disorder, where there is low phosphate in the blood
what is the pathophysiology of rickets
- vitamin D is a hormone created by cholesterol in response to UV
- reduced sun without vitamin D supplementation leads to a deficiency
- malabsorption disorders can also cause vitamin D deficiency, and so can chronic kidney disease
- Vitamin D is essential for calcium and phosphate absorption as well as regulating bone turnover and promoting bone resorption to boost serum calcium
- inadequate vitamin D leads to a lack of calcium and phosphate in the blood, leading to defective bone mineralisation.
- low calcium also causes a secondary hyperparathyroidism
how does rickets present
lethargy
bone pain
swollen wrists
bone deformities
poor growth
dental problems
muscle weakness
pathological or abnormal fractures
what bone deformities can occur in rickets
Bowing of the legs - legs curve outward
knock knees - curve inwards
rachitic rosary - where the ends of the ribs expand and the costochondral junctions causing lumps along the chest
craniotabes - soft skull with delayed closure of the sutures and frontal bossing
delayed teeth - under-developed enamel
what investigations should be done in someone with suspected rickets
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D
W ray
serum calcium and phosphate
serum alkaline phosphatase
parathyroid hormone levels
FBC and ferritin
inflammatory markers
kidney function tests
liver function tests
thyroid function tests
malabsorption screen
autoimmune and rheumatoid tests
what level of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the blood would establish a diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency
25 nmol/L or less
what is the management for children with rickets
children with vitamin D deficiency can be treated with vitamin D (ergocalciferol) with doses depending on the age
- dose for children between 6 months and 12 years is 6,000 IU per day for 8-12 weeks
children with features of rickets should be referred and treated with vitamin D and calcium. can also have surgery
how can you prevent rickets from occurring
breastfed babies are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency than formula fed babies
breastfeeding women and all children should take vitamin D supplementation
NICE recommends 400 IU (10mg) supplement per day
what is transient synovitis
a temporary irritation and inflammation in the synovial membrane of a joint
what is transient synovitis often associated with
a recent viral upper respiratory tract infection
how does transient synovitis present
occurs within a few weeks of viral illness
hip presents in flexion, abduction and external rotation
limp
refusal to weight bear
groin or hip pain
limited range of movement: most commonly hip abduction
mild low grade fever
normal obs and should be systemically well
how is transient synovitis diagnosed
need to rule out septic arthritis
- bed side observations
- bloods: full screen + culture
- imaging: X-ray, USS
what is the management of transient synovitis
normally a self limiting disorder and so management is symptomatic with simple analgesia to help the discomfort
- children 3-9 may be managed in primary care if the limp is present for less than 48hrs and they are otherwise well - SAFTEY NET
- follow up at 48hrs and 1 weeks to ensure symptoms are improving and resolve
what percentage of patients may have recurrence of transient synovitis
20%
what is septic arteritis
this is infection within a joint
what age does septic arthritis most commonly happen in
in children under the age of 4
how does septic arthritis present
affects one joint - knee or hip mc
rapid onset of:
hot, red, swollen and painful joint
refusing to weight bear
stiffness and reduction in the range of movement
systemic symptoms such as fever, lethargy and sepsis
what are the causative organisms of septic arthritis
staphylococcus aureus is most common
neisseria gonorrhoea
group A strep (pyogenes)
haemophilus influenza
e. coli
what are differential diagnosis for septic arthritis
transient synovitis
perthes disease
slipped upper femoral epiphysis
juvenile idiopathic arthritis
how is septic arthritis diagnosed
Bloods: full screen + cultures
imaging: X-ray, ultrasound
joint aspiration and culture
how is septic arthritis treated
Empirical antibiotics IV given until sensitivities are known, choice of which depends on local guidelines (normally ceftriaxone and vancomycin)
antibiotics are given for 30-6 weeks
patients may require surgical drainage and washout to clear the joint of infection
what is osteomyelitis
it is an infection in the bone and bone marrow which typically occurs in the metaphysis of the long bones
how might infection be introduced to the bone in osteomyelitis
directly - open fracture
travelled through the blood after entering through another route such as skin or gums
what are risk factors for developing oseomyelitis
more common in boys
more common in children under 10
open bone fracture
orthopaedic surgery
immunocompromised
sickle cell anaemia
HIV
tuberculosis
how does osteomyelitis present
acutely with an unwell child/chronically with subtly features
refusing to use the limb or weight bear
pain
swelling
tenderness
may be afebrile or have a low grade fever
what investigations should be done for osteomyelitis
X ray is first line imaging, MRI is the best
bloods: inflammatory markers and wbc
blood culture
bone marrow aspiration/biopsy with histology and culture
how is osteomyelitis managed
extensive and prolonged antibiotic therapy - flucloxacillin, clindamycin if penicillin allergy, vancomycin if staph. aureus suspected
surgical drainage and debridement of infected bone
what is Perthes disease
involves the disruption of blood flow to the femoral head causing avascular necrosis of the bone, affecting the epiphysis of the femur
what is the most common ages Perthes disease affects
children aged 4-12 mostly between the ages of 5-8 and most commonly in boys
what are the causes of Perthes disease
idiopathic - theory suggests that repeated mechanical stress to the epiphysis may interrupt the blood supply
what is the presentation of Perthes disease
slow onset of:
pain in the hip or groin
limp
restricted hip movements and stiffness with loss of internal rotation and abduction
may be referred pain to the knee
muscle spasms
leg length discrepancy (late finding)
what investigations are done for Perthes disease
initial investigation - X ray
bloods: inflammatory markers
technetium bone scan
MRI scan
what is the main complication of Perthes disease
soft and deformed femoral head which leads to early hip osteoarthritis
how may patients with Perthes disease will need a total hip replacement
around 5% of patients
what is the management of Perthes disease
initial management in younger and less severe disease is conservative
help maintain a healthy position and alignment in the joint and reduce the risk of damage or deformity to the femoral head with: bed rest, traction, crutches, analgesia
physiotherapy
regular X rays
surgery to help with alignment and function
what are the radiographic findings in Perthes disease
asymmetrical femoral epiphyseal size
increased density of femoral head epiphysis
radiolucency
coxa plana: femoral head widening and flattening
coxa magna: proximal femoral neck deformity
sagging rope sign: thin sclerotic line running across the femoral neck
crescent sign is a specific finding in late stage disease and represents a subchondral fracture
what might increase the likelihood for surgery in perthes disease
age over 8 years old
more than 50% of the femoral head is damaged
nonsurgical management has been unsuccessful
what are the complications of Perthes disease
osteoarthritis
general join stiffness and immobility
premature physeal arrest, degenerative arthritis
acetabular dysplasia
unequal, shortened limb length
what is discoid menisci
A discoid meniscus is thicker than normal, and often oval or disc-shaped. It is more prone to injury than a normally shaped meniscus.
what is the clinical presentation of discoid menisci
frequently asymptomatic but discoid menisci are prone to cystic degeneration with subsequent tearing
if this happens it presents as: pain, locking or a clunk sensations
stiffness or swelling
pain
feeling as if the knee is giving way
inability to fully extend the knee
what is the pathophysiology of discoid menisci
there is decreased collagen fibres and loss of normal collagen orientation which predisposes them to intradiscal/meniscal mucoid degeneration
what are the different classifications of discoid menisci
complete vs incomplete
stable vs unstable
what is the difference between complete and incomplete discoid menisci
80% coverage of the tibial plateau is often used as the cut off between incomplete and complete
what is the difference between stable and unstable discoid menisci
stable: normal peripheral attachments with an intact posterior meniscofemoral ligament
unstable: lack or tear of a posterior meniscocapsular ligaments with an attachment only from the meniscofemoral ligament of Wrisberg
what are radiographic features of discoid menisci
plain radiograph: widening of the lateral joint space and cupping of the lateral tibial plateau
MRI: meniscal body width of 15mm or more is typically considered diagnostic (coronal)
what is the treatment of discoid menisci
conservative management
may need meniscal repair with partial or total resection
what are complications of discoid menisci
meniscal tears
intrasubstance mucoid degeneration
early bony degenerative change
what is the meniscus
it acts as a shock absorber between the femur and the tibia. it protects the thin articular cartilage that covers the ends of the bones and helps the knee to easily bend and straighten
what is incomplete discoid meniscus
the meniscus is slightly thicker and wider than normal
what is complete discoid meniscus
when the meniscus completely covers the tibia
what is hypermobile Wrisberg discoid meniscus
this occurs when the ligaments that attach the meniscus to the femur and tibia are not there. Without these ligaments even a fairly normal shaped meniscus can move around the joint and cause pain, as well as licking and popping of the knee
why is the discoid meniscus more proneto injury
due to the thick, abnormal shape f a discoid meniscus makes it more likely to get stuck in the knee or to tear
why is meniscus difficult to heal
because the meniscus lacks a strong blood supple and the nutrients that are essential to healing cant reach the injured tissue
what is the cause of discoid meniscus
it is a congenital defect that is present from birth
what is the surgical treatment for discoid meniscus
knee arthroscopy is the most common - few small incisions and meniscus is cut and reshaped
what is slipped upper femoral epiphysis
it is where the head of the femur is displaced (slips) along the growth plate
when is slipped upper femoral epiphysis most common
it is most common around the ages of 8-15
most common in boys around 12
rarer in girls, and presents around 11
it is more common in obese children
how does Slipped Upper Femoral Epiphysis present
typical presentation is an adolescent , obese male undergoing a growth spurt. There may be history of minor trauma
pain is disproportionate to the severity of the trauma
hip, groin, thigh or knee pain
restricted range of movement in the hip
painful limp
what will examination show for Slipped Upper Femoral Epiphysis
the patient will prefer to keep the hip in external rotation
they will have limited movement of the hip, particularly restricted internal rotation
how do you diagnose Slipped Upper Femoral Epiphysis
initial investigation is Xray
bloods: normal
technetium bone scan
Ct and MRI
how is Slipped Upper Femoral Epiphysis managed
surgery is required to return the femoral head to the correct position and fix it in place to prevent it slipping further
what is Osgood-Schlatter disease
inflammation at the tibial tuberosity where the patella ligament inserts and is common cause of anterior knee pain in adolescents
when does Osgood-Schlatter disease typically present
at around 10-15 years
more common in males
what is the pathophysiology of Osgood-Schlatter disease
the patella tendon inserts into the tibial tuberosity which is at the epiphyseal plate. stress from running, jumping and other movements at the same time as growth can result in inflammation on the tibial epiphysial plate.
there are multiple small avulsion fractures where the patella ligament pulls away pieces if the bone.
this leads to growth of the tibial tuberosity causing a visible lump below the knee
initially this is tender due to inflammation but as the bone heals it becomes hard and non tender
how does Osgood-Schlatter disease present
gradual onset of symptoms
visible or palpable hard and tender lump at the tibial tuberosity
pain in the anterior aspect of the knee
pain exacerbated by physical activity, kneeling and on knee extension
how is Osgood-Schlatter disease managed
reducing pain and inflammation
- reduction of physical activity
- ice
- NSAIDs for symptomatic relief
once symptoms settle, stretching and physiotherapy can be used to strengthen the joint and improve function
what is the prognosis of Osgood-Schlatter disease
symptoms should fully resolve over time
patient is usually left with a hard bony lump on their knee
what is a rare complication of Osgood-Schlatter disease
full avulsion fracture where the tibial tuberosity is separated from the rest of the tibia
how do you treat a full avulsion fracture
this usually requires a surgical intervention
what is developmental dysplasia of the hip
it is a disorder of abnormal development resulting in dysplasia and potential subluxation or dislocation of the hip secondary to capsular laxity and mechanical factors
when does developmental dysplasia of the hip occur
most common abnormality in newborn infants.
which hip is most commonly affected in developmental dysplasia of the hip
due to the nature of how the baby sits in the womb the left hip is more commonly affected
what are risk factors of developmental dysplasia of the hip
family history of DDH
breeched baby
female sex
fixed root deformity
torticollis
what are clinical features of developmental dysplasia of the hip
leg length discrepancy
limitations in hip abduction on one side
significant bilateral restriction in abduction
in children older than 1 a Trendelenburg gait and toe walking may also be seen
asymmetrical buttock creases
hip locking/clicking
pain
what tests are used to screen babies for hip dysplasia
Ortolani and Barlow tests
what is the Barlow test
performed by adducting the hip (bringing the thigh towards the midline) whilst applying light pressure on the knee with your thumb, directing the force posteriorly.
If the hip is unstable, the femoral head will slip over the posterior rim of the acetabulum, producing a palpable sensation of subluxation or dislocation.
If the hip is dislocatable the test is considered positive.
what is the Ortolani test
Ortolani test is done with the baby on their back with the hips and knees flexed. Palms are placed on the baby’s knees with thumbs on the inner thigh and four fingers on the outer thigh. Gentle pressure is used to abduct the hips and apply pressure behind the legs with the fingers to see if the hips will dislocate anteriorly.
how is Developmental dysplasia of the hip diagnosed
when it is suspected an ultrasound of the hips will be investigation of choice and establish the diagnosis
all children with risk factors or examination findings should have an ultrasound
Xray can also be used in older infants (greater than 4-6 months)
what is the management of Developmental dysplasia of the hip
under 6 months: Pavlik harness
6-8 months or failure of Pavlik harness: closed reduction and spica casting
greater than 18 months (or failure of closed reduction): operative management (open reduction and hip reconstruction)
what is a Pavlik harness
it is used in Developmental dysplasia of the hip when the baby is under 6 months. it is fitted and kept on permanently and adjusted for growth. it holds the femoral head in the correct position to allow the acetabulum to develop a normal shape. The harness keeps the babies hips flexed and abducted
what are complications of Developmental dysplasia of the hip
recurrence
transient femoral nerve palsy with excessive flexion during Pavlik bracing
avascular necrosis due to retrograde femoral head blood flow (mc affected is the median circumflex femoral artery)
what is juvenile idiopathic arthritis
it is a condition affecting children and adolescents where autoimmune inflammation occurs in the joints
when is JIA diagnosed
when the arthritis is without any other cause
when it lasts more than 6 weeks
when it is in a patient under 16
what are the different subtypes of JIA
five key ones:
systemic JIA
polyarticular JIA
oligoarticular JIA
enthesitis related arthritis
juvenile psoriatic arthritis
what is systemic JIA
this is a systemic illness that can occur throughout childhood
it is an idiopathic inflammatory condition
what are the typical features of systemic JIA
subtle salmon pink rash
high swinging fevers
enlarged lymph nodes
weight loss
joint inflammation and pain
splenomegaly
muscle pain
pleuritis and pericarditis
will antinuclear antibodies and rheumatoid factor be positive or negative in systemic JIA
usually negative
however there will be raised inflammatory markers with raised CRP, ESR, platelets and ferritin
what is a key complication of systemic JIA
macrophage activation syndrome
what is macrophage activation syndrome
it is where there is a severe activation of the immune system with a massive inflammatory response
how does macrophage activation syndrome present
It presents with an acutely unwell child with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), anaemia, thrombocytopenia, bleeding and a non-blanching rash. It is life threatening
what is a key investigation finding in macrophage activation syndrome
low ESR
what is polyarticular JIA
it involves idiopathic inflammatory arthritis in 5 joints or more
what are the features of polyarticular JIA
it tends to be symmetrical
can affect small joints of the hands and feet as well as larger ones
minimal systemic symptoms but there can be mild fever, anaemia and reduced growth
what disease is polyarticular JIA the same as in adults
rheumatoid arthritis
are children with polyarticular JIA rheumatoid factor positive or negative
most are negative - seronegative
if rheumatoid factor is positive they tend to be older children and adolescents and the disease pattern is much more similar to rheumatoid arthritis in adults
what is oligoarticular JIA
it involves 4 joints or less, usually affecting only a single joint
which joints does oligoarticular JIA commonly affect
the larger joints
- often the knee or ankle
who does oligoarticular JIA most commonly occur in
in girls under the age of 6
what is a classic feature that is associated with oligoarticular JIA
anterior uveitis
what are the features of oligoarticular JIA
4 or less joints affected
associated with anterior uveitis
patients tend to have no systemic symptoms
antinuclear antibodies are often positive, rheumatoid factor is usually negative
what is enthesitis related arthritis
this is thought of as a paediatric version of seronegative spondyloarthropathy
it is inflammation of the point where a tendon of a muscle inserts into a bone. Patients have inflammatory arthritis in the joints as well as enthesitis
what can enthesitis be caused by
traumatic stress such as repetitive strain during sport
autoimmune inflammatory process
what can help to diagnose enthesitis
an MRI scan (cant differentiate between what it is due to)
what gene do the majority of patients with enthesitis related arthritis have
HLA - b27
when assessing a patient with enthesitis related arthritis what else should you be considering
signs and symptoms of psoriasis
signs and symptoms of IBD
signs and symptoms of anterior uveitis
what are features of enthesitis related arthritis
patients will have tenderness to localised palpation of the entheses
may have signs of psoriasis, IBD or anterior uveitis
what key areas are worth palpating in patients with enthesitis related arthritis
interphalangeal joints in the hand
wrist
over the greater trochanter on the lateral aspect of the hip
quadriceps insertion at the anterior superior iliac spine
quadriceps and patella tendon insertion around the patella
base of achilles at the calcaneus
metatarsal heads on the base of the foot
what is juvenile psoriatic arthritis
this is a seronegative inflammatory arthritis when associated with psoriasis
what are signs associated with juvenile psoriatic arthritis
plaques of psoriasis on the skin
pitting of the nails
onycholysis - separation of the nail from nail bed
dactylitis - inflammation of full finger
enthesitis - inflammation of the entheses
how is juvenile idiopathic arthritis managed
MDT approach
NSAIDs such as ibuprofen
steroids either oral, IM or intra articular in oligoarthritis
DMARDs such as methotrexate, sulfasalazine and leflunomide
biologic therapy such as TNF inhibitors etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab
what is scoliosis
it is an abnormal side to side curve of your spine - can range from mild to severe
what are the different names for idiopathic scoliosis dependent on when it is diagnosed
infantile - younger than 3
juvenile - age 4-10
adolescent - 11-18
adult - any time after 18
what are the three types of scoliosis
idiopathic - most common
congenital - when vertebrae dont form as they should during development
neuromuscular - abnormalities in the muscles and nerves that support the spine causes this, usually occurs alongside neurological or muscular conditions like injury, cerebral palsy, spina bifida or muscular dystrophy
how common is scoliosis
affects an estimated 2% of people around the world
what are symptoms of scoliosis
back pain
difficulty standing upright
core muscle weakness
leg pain, numbness or weakness
what are the signs of scoliosis
uneven shoulders
shoulder blades that stick out
head that doesnt centre around the pelvis
uneven waist
elevated hip
constant leading to one side
uneven leg length
changes in skin appearance or texture (dimples, hair patches, discolouration)
what part of the spine does scoliosis affect
adolescents - most occur in the thoracic spine
adults - mainly lumbar or the lower spine
what can cause scoliosis
vertebrae malformation during development
genetic mutation
spinal injury
tumour
muscle/nerve condition
what are risk factors for developing scoliosis
biological family history of scoliosis
underlying nerve/muscle condition
what are complications of scoliosis
long lasting pain
physical deformity
organ damage
nerve damage
arthritis
spinal fluid leakage
difficulty breathing
how is scoliosis diagnosed
scoliosis screening - remove shirt and stand up straight and bend forward.
physical examination
X-rays (from front and side)
CT/MRI
how is scoliosis measured
measure the curve of the spine in degrees
no scoliosis diagnosis: less than 10 degrees
Mild: between 10-24 degrees
moderate: between 25-39 degrees
severe: more than 40 degrees
how is scoliosis treated
dependent on type and severity
- conservative: regular monitoring, analgesia, exercise/physio, back brace
- surgery: stabilise spine and relieve pressure on nerves
what surgery is done to correct scoliosis
spinal fusion: fuse vertebrae to stabilise spine, and use metal braces to hold spine in place
expandable rod: insertion of an expandable rod along vertebrae to support a child’s growing spine
what is torticollis
it is when the babies neck muscles cause their head to turn and rotate to one side due to a short, tight sternocleidomastoid muscle
what are the two types of torticollis
congenital - mc
acquired
when does acquired torticollis usually occur
in the first four to six months of a babies life
what are the symptoms of torticollis
babies head tilts to one side and the chin tilts to the other
limited movement of the babies head and neck
one shoulder will be higher than the other
swollen neck muscles
small pea sized limp in one of the babies neck muscles
uneven facial features
what additional symptoms may be present in acquired torticollis
severe neck pain
head tremors
headache
what causes torticollis
it is due to shortening of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.
It is unsure why it shortens but may be due to positioning in the womb, abnormal development, haemotoma, fibrosis or Klippel-Feil syndrome
what is Klippel-feil syndrome
a rare birth defect that causes the vertebrae in the neck to fuse
what causes acquired torticollis
because of swelling around the throat. This swelling causes the tissues surrounding the upper spine to loosen, allowing vertebrae to move out of the normal position.
this causes neck muscles to spasm and causing the head to tilt to one side
can also be due to GORD, vision problems, reaction to medications, scar tissue, cervical spondylarthritis, sandifer syndrome, grisel syndrome
what is Sandifer syndrome
rare condition which combines GORD with neck spasms
what is Grisels syndrome
rare complication of head and neck infections or ENT surgeries
how is torticollis diagnosed
physical examination
neck X ray
head and neck CT/MRI
what is the management of torticollis
stretching exercised and position changes can help congenital torticollis
may need surgery to lengthen SCM muscle
in acquired need to focus on the underlying cause: antibiotics, botox injections, heat therapy, massage, neck braces/collars, physical therapy
what are growth plates
they are found in the bones of children, but not adults. they are the area at the ends of long bones that allow the bones to grow in length
what are growth plates made from
hyaline cartilage
what is the difference between bones of children compared to adults
- children have growth plates
- children have more cancellous bone which is spongy and highly vascular making them more flexible but less strong
what are the differences in fractures in children compared to adults
- the younger the child the faster and better the healing of fractures
- when bones break in children they are much more likely to break clean in two
- children are more likely to get greenstick fractures where one side of the bone breaks while the other stays intact
- children are more likely to have a buckle fracture
what are types of fracture
Buckle
transverse
oblique
spiral
segmental
salter-harris (growth plate fracture)
comminuted
greenstick
what are issues with fractures in the growth plate
they can cause issues with growth of the bone
what classification is sued to grade growth plate fractures
the Salter harris classification
- the higher the grade the more likely it will affect growth
what are the different types of growth plate fractures
SALTR pneumonic
type 1: Straight across
type 2: Above
type 3: BeLow
type 4: Through
type 5: CRush
what are the principles of managing a fracture in children
think safeguarding - is it a reasonable fracture?
mechanical alignment via closed reduction via manipulation of the joint, or open reduction via surgery
then provide stability with fixing the bone
what are ways a bone can be fixed in place post fracture
external casts
K wires
intramedullary wires
intramedullary nails
screws
plate and screws
how do you manage pain in a child with a fracture
WHO have a pain ladder for children with two steps
1. paracetamol or ibuprofen
2. morphine
how may hip pain present in children
limp
refusal to weight bare
refusal to use affected leg
inability to walk
pain
swollen or tender joint
what are causes of joint pain in children 0-4 years old
septic arthritis
developmental dysplasia of the hip
transient arthritis
what are causes of joint pain in children 5-10 years old
septic arthritis
transient arthritis
perthes disease
what are causes of joint pain in children 10-16 years old
septic arthritis
slipped upper femoral epiphysis
juvenile idiopathic arthritis
what are red flags for hip pain in children
Child under 3 years
Fever
Waking at night with pain
Weight loss
Anorexia
Night sweats
Fatigue
Persistent pain
Stiffness in the morning
Swollen or red joint
when would you urgently refer a limping child
Child under 3 years
Child older than 9 with a restricted or painful hip
Not able to weight bear
Evidence of neurovascular compromise
Severe pain or agitation
Red flags for serious pathology
Suspicion of abuse
how do you manage a child with a limp/hip pain
bloods: inflammatory markers, anaemia
C-rays
ultrasound
joint aspiration
MRI
what is Talipes
it is a fixed abnormal ankle position that presents at birth
what is talipes equinovarus
this is when the ankle is in plantar flexion and supination
what is talipes calcaneovalgus
this is when the ankle is in dorsiflexion and pronated
what is the ponseti method
this is a way of treated talipes without surgery where the foot is manipulated towards a normal position and a cast is applied to hold it in position.
this is repeated over and over until the foot is in the correct position
at some point an achilles tenotomy is perfroed to release tension in the achilles tendon
after treatment with casts, a brace is used to hold the feet in correct position when not walking until the child is around 4
what is positional talipes
this is a common condition where the resting position of the ankle is in plantar flexion and supination, however it is not fixed and there is no structural boney issue in the ankle
- muscles are slightly tight but bones unaffected
- foot can be moved into a normal position
- physiotherapist provide exercises to help move foot back into a normal position