UNASSIGNED: To present a case of delayed presentation of congenital ulnar drift of the hand.
UNASSIGNED: Congenital ulnar drift, frequently known as windblown hand, represents ulnar deviation of fingers with or without other malformations that are usually present since birth. This deformity is rare and can present as an isolated entity or as a part of a syndrome. It is usually detected and managed surgically at birth. However, to our knowledge, delayed presentation beyond the first years of life has not been reported in the literature. Therefore, this paper presents a case of delayed presentation of congenital ulnar drift of the hand and reviews the available literature to highlight the importance of early detection and address associated deformities.
UNASSIGNED: A 12-year-old boy visited a hand surgery clinic complaining of bilateral painless hand deformities since birth that were neither progressive nor associated with any activity restrictions. Despite seeking medical advice from different institutions, no underlying pathology was detected. Physical examination findings supported congenital ulnar drift of the hand, which was further confirmed with radiographs findings of ulnar drift at the metacarpophalangeal joints without presence of any other hand malformations. Management was non-operative because of the lack of functional impairment.

BACKGROUND: Foot and ankle pathology can often require complex surgical reconstruction. Until recently, circular external fixators such as the Ilizarov frame have proven to be useful, yet they fall short when progressive, precise corrections are required. Computer-assisted hexapod external fixators seek to address many of the shortfalls of traditional circular fixators. However, evidence for their use is scarce. The objective of this work was to evaluate the functional and quality of life outcomes and post-operative complications of patients treated with computer-assisted hexapod external fixation.
METHODS: A retrospective, observational study was conducted. All cases were treated with either a TrueLok hex (TL-HEX) or a Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF) fixator. Primary outcomes were post-operative improvement in 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF12) and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS) scores, and complications following Paley\'s classification.
RESULTS: A total of 59 patients with complex foot and ankle conditions using 64 external fixation frames were included. The median sum of both SF12 score domains improved from a preoperative score of 63.6 to 91.3 at last follow-up (p < 0.001). Median AOFAS improved from a preoperative score of 35 to 75.5 at last follow up (p < 0.001). Functional improvement was not affected by the choice of external fixator. Complications occurred in 49 cases (77 %). The most common post-operative complications included pin tract complications in 37 (58 %) cases, joint rigidity in 24 (38 %) and axial deviation in 9 (14 %).
CONCLUSIONS: Computer-assisted hexapod external fixation is an effective technique to correct complex foot and ankle deformities and leads to a marked improvement in post-operative functional and quality-of-life outcomes with a high minor complication rate.

Weight-bearing computed tomography has multiple advantages in evaluating the hindfoot and ankle. It can assess hindfoot and ankle alignment, pathology in ankle arthritis, and complications related to total ankle replacements. It is an essential tool in ankle osteoarthritis diagnostic, preoperative planning, and total ankle replacement outcomes. It allows for better accuracy and reproducibility of alignment and implant size. In addition, it has the potential to more assertively detect complications related to weight bearing.

OBJECTIVE: While existing adult spinal deformity (ASD) alignment schemas acknowledge the dynamic relationship between the pelvis and spine, consideration of vertebral pelvic angles (VPA) thresholds for PJK may provide further insight into the relationship of each individual vertebra to the pelvis, which may allow for greater individualization of operative targets. Herein, we examine VPA\'s utility in preventing mechanical complications and its possible unification with prevalent scoring systems.
METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study of a prospectively collected database, operative ASD patients ≥ 18 years with complete baseline (BL) and two-year (Y) operative, radiographic, and health-related quality of life data were included. Descriptive analyses, means comparison, and logistic regression tests were applied to explore demographic and surgical differences, as well as the impact of alignment goals on outcomes. Cohorts were grouped as patients who met VPA non-PJK thresholds, as defined by Duvvuri et al. 2023 alone versus traditional GAP/SAAS alignment matching versus combined VPA + SAAS + GAP. The Non-PJK VPA validated mean for L1PA was 10.4 ± 7.0 and T9PA 8.9 ± 7.5.
RESULTS: 398 patients met inclusion criteria (mean age 61 ± 14 years, 78% female, BL BMI 27 ± 6, BL CCI 2 ± 2). At baseline, mean vertebral pelvic angles were as follows: T1PA: 24 ± 14; T4PA 20 ± 13, T9PA 15 ± 12, L1PA 11 ± 10, L4PA 11 ± 6. Mean vertebral pelvic angles at 6 W postoperatively: T1PA 16 ± 10, T4PA 12 ± 10, T9PA 8 ± 9, L1PA 9 ± 8, L4PA 11 ± 5. 240 (60%) patients attained optimal L1PA, while 104 patients (26.1%) reached non-PJK mean for T9PA. 89 patients (22%) were optimal by both VPA standards. VPA-Optimal group demonstrated significantly lower rates of 1Y PJK (17% v 83%, p = 0.042) and PJF by 2Y (7% v. 93%, p = 0.038). When patients attained VPA goals in addition to GAP/SAAS goals at 6 W, they demonstrated significantly lower rates of Y1 PJK (p = 0.026) and Y1 and Y2 PJF. Those with optimal VPA registered greater SRS-22 scores across multiple domains (p < 0.02) as well as a greater rate of normal neurological examination at 6 W (p = 0.048).
CONCLUSIONS: Vertebral pelvic angles are a reliable measure of global alignment, and respecting certain targets may help prevent development of PJK/PJF. The value of VPA can be augmented through integration with GAP/SAAS frameworks to prevent complications and improve quality of life.

Approximately 90% of patients with arthritis exhibit forefoot deformities, including deformities within the metatarsophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints. Current pharmacological treatment with Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) consists of two groups: synthetic drugs (sDMARDs) and biological drugs (bDMARDs). The objective of our study was to investigate foot anthropometry changes in RA patients based on the administered treatment over a five-year period Method: A longitudinal analysis was conducted with RA patients who were grouped based on their pharmacological treatment. The pharmacological treatment groups were categorized into (I) methotrexate (MTX), (II) MTX plus biological treatments (including all variables), (III) biological treatment alone, and (IV) a miscellaneous group comprising patients with diverse treatments, including patients for whom various drugs had failed or who had not achieved remission with pharmacological treatment. For the anthropometric measurements, a foot measurement platform validated by McPoil et al. was used. Post hoc analyses with Bonferroni correction were performed to identify pairwise differences between the treatment groups while controlling for Type I errors due to multiple comparisons. Results: In the period from 2018 to 2023, significant changes were observed in several foot measurements. For instance, the MTX group showed a statistically significant increase in left heel width (p = 0.026). The MTX group experienced a slight increase in left foot length, while the Biologics and MTX + Bio groups exhibited more substantial increases in both maximum medial arch height and midfoot width. Conclusions: Different RA treatments can have a significant impact on foot structure over a five-year period, showing notable changes in heel width and overall foot morphology. Combined treatments with MTX and biologics potentially offer better management of RA.

BACKGROUND: Children with cervical or cervicothoracic congenital scoliosis are limited in their ability to compensate for the main curve of the deformity because there are only a few mobile segments in their cervical spine. Over the years, we have frequently observed coronal atlantoaxial dislocation (CAAD) in a lateral direction (from left to right or vice versa) in these patients. It was anticipated that CAAD might compensate for the horizontal position of the head, and it is hypothesized that CAAD depends on the degree of scoliotic deformity. Thus, the aim of our study was to investigate whether there is a correlation between CAAD and scoliosis parameters in these patients.
METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed based on CAT scans and preoperative X-rays of patients with cervical and cervicothoracic scoliosis with an apex between C4 and T6. Seventeen patients, with a mean age of 7.25 years, who were 9 girls and 8 boys, and who were treated between 2006 and 2022 were included. Cobb`s angle of the main curve (CA-MC), Cobb`s angle of the secondary curve (CA-SC), and T1-, C2- and UEV (upper end vertebra) tilt were measured on whole-spine radiographs in the standing position. The CAAD was measured via coronal CAT scan reconstruction and defined as the difference in the distances of the lateral masses to the midline of the axis. Pearson`s linear correlation coefficients (r) were determined using SPSS to evaluate correlations between CAAD and the measured parameters. p < 0.05 indicated statistical significance.
RESULTS: CAAD toward the convex region in patients with scoliosis was typically observed; the mean CAAD was 3 mm ± 3.7 mm. The mean CA-MC was 46° ± 13°, the mean CA-SC was 16° ± 9.6°, the mean T1 tilt was 17° ± 8.8°, the mean C2 tilt was 9°± 8.8°, and the mean UEV tilt was 24° ± 7.2°. There was a strong linear correlation between CAAD and CA-MC (r = 0.784, p < 0.001), C2 tilt (r = 0.745; p < 0.001), and UEV tilt (r = 0.519; p = 0.033). There was no correlation between CAAD and either CA-SC or T1 tilt.
CONCLUSIONS: Children with cervical or cervicothoracic scoliosis tend to have a CAAD toward the convexity of the scoliosis that correlates to CA-MC, C2-tilt, and UEV-tilt. CAAD may be seen as a compensatory mechanism to keep the head in a horizontal position. Severe or progressive CAAD may result in destruction of the atlantoaxial joint, including severe complaints, thus necessitating close follow-up and possibly early surgical treatment. Moreover, CAAD might be a useful additional radiographic parameter to be checked in future scoliosis studies.

Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is a rare genetic syndrome that leads to the development of neurofibromas and increases the risk of malignancy, including malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Patients with NF1 often have other orthopaedic manifestations, including short stature, osteopenia, and dysplasia. A 47-year-old patient with a history of NF1 and multiple neurofibromas of the right lower extremity presented with a severe valgus deformity, instability, and osteoarthritis of the right knee that was debilitating to daily life. Over time, the patient lost proprioception and potentially some sensation to the right knee with neurofibroma formation, leading to the development of Charcot arthropathy of the right knee with secondary osteoarthritis. The preoperative workup consisted of a magnetic resonance imaging of the knee to confirm no malignancy was present and templating to ensure the standard implant size was amenable for the patient. A primary total knee arthroplasty was performed with a cemented-stemmed hinged knee implant. At 6 months post-surgery, the patient had a dramatic improvement in her pain and quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Angular deformity in the lower extremity can result in pain, gait disturbance, cosmetic deformity and joint degeneration. Up until the introduction of guided growth, which has since become the widely accepted treatment for frontal plane angular angular deformity around the knee in skeletally immature patients, treatment consisted of staples, corrective osteotomy or an angular epiphysiodesis. Guided growth modulation uses the tension band principle with the goal of treatment being to normalise the lower limb mechanical axis resulting in lower morbidity than previous treatments. In order to assess the success of this procedure we reviewed our results in an attempt to identify patients who may not benefit from this elegant procedure.
METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of prospectively collected surgical records and diagnostic imaging in our paediatric tertiary national referral centre to identify all patients who had guided growth surgery for coronal plane angular deformity of the knee from 2007 to 2023. We noted the patient demographics, diagnosis, peri-operative experience and outcome. All patients were followed until skeletal maturity, until their hardware was removed or at least 2 years.
RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-six patients were assessed for eligibility. Of the 282 treated knees which met the criteria for final assessment 55 (19.5%) were unsuccessful. Complications were few but included infection and metal-work prominence. Procedures that were less likely to be successfully included growth disturbances following trauma (18.8% failure) or infection (40%), tumour (66.6%), mucopolysaccharidoses type I (15.7%), spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia (25%) or Blount\'s disease (60%). Idiopathic angular deformity showed an 89.5% success rate with guided growth.
CONCLUSIONS: In our hands, guided growth had an 80.5% success rate when all diagnoses were considered. We continue to advocate the use of guided growth as a successful treatment option for skeletally immature patients with limb deformity however caution should be employed when considering its use in certain patient groups.
METHODS: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Flatfoot is a condition resulting from complex three-dimensional (3D) morphological changes. Most Previous studies have been constrained by using two-dimensional radiographs and non-weight-bearing conditions. The deformity in flatfoot is associated with the 3D morphology of the bone. These morphological changes affect the force line conduction of the hindfoot/midfoot/forefoot, leading to further morphological alterations. Given that a two-dimensional plane axis overlooks the 3D structural information, it is essential to measure the 3D model of the entire foot in conjunction with the definition under the standing position. This study aims to analyze the morphological changes in flatfoot using 3D measurements from weight-bearing CT (WBCT).
METHODS: In this retrospective comparative our CT database was searched between 4-2021 and 3-2022. Following inclusion criteria were used: Patients were required to exhibit clinical symptoms suggestive of flatfoot, including painful swelling of the medial plantar area or abnormal gait, corroborated by clinical examination and confirmatory radiological findings on CT or MRI. Healthy participants were required to be free of any foot diseases or conditions affecting lower limb movement. After applying the exclusion criteria (Flatfoot with other foot diseases), CT scans (mean age = 20.9375, SD = 16.1) confirmed eligible for further analysis. The distance, angle in sagittal/transverse/coronal planes, and volume of the two groups were compared on reconstructed 3D models using the t-test. Logistic regression was used to identify flatfoot risk factors, which were then analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curves and nomogram.
RESULTS: The flatfoot group exhibited significantly lower values for calcaneofibular distance (p = 0.001), sagittal and transverse calcaneal inclination angle (p < 0.001), medial column height (p < 0.001), sagittal talonavicular coverage angle (p < 0.001), and sagittal (p < 0.001) and transverse (p = 0.015) Hibb angle. In contrast, the sagittal lateral talocalcaneal angle (p = 0.013), sagittal (p < 0.001) and transverse (p = 0.004) talocalcaneal angle, transverse talonavicular coverage angle (p < 0.001), coronal Hibb angle (p < 0.001), and sagittal (p < 0.001) and transverse (p = 0.001) Meary\'s angle were significantly higher in the flatfoot group. The sagittal Hibb angle (B =  - 0.379, OR = 0.684) and medial column height (B =  - 0.990, OR = 0.372) were identified as significant risk factors for acquiring a flatfoot.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings validate the 3D spatial position alterations in flatfoot. These include the abduction of the forefoot and prolapse of the first metatarsal proximal, the arch collapsed, subluxation of the talonavicular joint in the midfoot, adduction and valgus of the calcaneus, adduction and plantar ward movement of the talus in the hindfoot, along with the first metatarsal\'s abduction and dorsiflexion in the forefoot.

OBJECTIVE: Scoliosis surgery is becoming increasingly frequent. Rate of readmission is little discussed in the literature. It is an interesting data for the patient\'s information and for public authorities to calculate cost-effectiveness. Aim of the study was to evaluate rate and causes of short and long-term readmissions in patients > 45 years old operated on for a scoliosis primary cases, then to look for predictors of these readmissions.
METHODS: In this monocentric retrospective cohort study, over 45 years-old scoliosis primary cases operated on between 2015 and 2018 and with a minimum of 2 years follow-up were included. The number of readmissions and their causes were analyzed. Rehospitalized patients (RH) were then compared to non-rehospitalized patients (NRH). Risk factors were sought using a multivariate analysis by logistic regression.
RESULTS: 105 patients were included (90% female; 64 ± 8 years). 56% were readmitted at least once. Main cause of readmission as pseudarthrosis (70%). Among the RH patients, fifty-eight required at least one revision. We found no significant difference between RH and NRH, apart from the rate of immediate post-operative medical complications which was significantly higher in RH (17% (n = 11) vs. 4% (n = 2), p = 0.04). According to multivariate analysis, BMI and age were found as predictors of readmission of mechanical origin, and BMI for readmissions of septic origin.
CONCLUSIONS: The readmission rate after scoliosis surgery was 56%. The main cause was pseudarthrosis. Rehospitalized patients had more immediate post-operative medical complications. The elderly and overweight patients are more likely to be readmitted for mechanical or septic reasons.