In September 2018, an international meeting of doctors of various disciplines, with expertise in the detection and treatment of DDH, was held in Csolyospalos, Hungary. The aim was to achieve consensus on the detection and early treatment of the condition and to develop a standardized system of teaching and training for hip ultrasound. There was strong agreement that US screening is essential. Specifically the Graf technique was selected as the technique of choice. Universal US screening was strongly favored. Screening should be carried out as soon as possible, but not later than the sixth week of age. US screening is cost-effective, does not result in overtreatment, and contributes to a reduction of long-term consequences. The essential principle of treatment is timely application of a device to achieve reduction, retention and maturation, by holding the hips in flexion, and a safe degree of abduction. It was agreed that the effectiveness of any screening policy depends on the correct scanning technique. Therefore, standardization of teaching and training of the Graf technique is mandatory. A unified teaching policy and materials should be developed for this purpose. Certification, re-certification and audit were discussed. The group, which has been formalized as the International Interdisciplinary Consensus Committee On DDH Evaluation (ICODE), will continue to meet and work towards establishing international consensus on DDH, standardizing and developing teaching and training of the Graf technique for hip US, and maintaining standards for detection and management.

The purpose of this study was to establish a nomogram in order to predict limb length discrepancies in children with unilateral fibular hemimelia more accurately. In 31 children with unilateral fibular hemimelia the femoraltibial length and skeletal age were determined an average of seven times per case by sequential radiographs during growth. From the data, a skeletal age nomogram was developed which shows a steeply declining mean skeletal age pattern in unilateral fibular hemimelia (the slope in girls was −0.59 and in boys −0.64). This nomogram crosses the normal mean skeletal age line of the Moseley straight-line graph at 10.5 years in girls and at 12 years in boys, and continues to decline until maturity. The results demonstrate an abnormal skeletal maturation process in patients with unilateral fibular hemimelia. The consistently declining steep skeletal age nomogram in unilateral fibular hemimelia makes prediction of skeletal maturity and limb length discrepancy inaccurate by the standard predictive methods particularly when using early skeletal ages. The skeletal age nomogram from our data determines skeletal maturation in children with unilateral fibular hemimelia more accurately, and allows a correct prediction of limb length discrepancy.

Introduction: Botulinum toxin is used for decreasing spasticity, improving gait pattern and preventing secondary deformities and orthopedic surgeries in children with cerebral palsy. Despite its wide use, there is no evidence for the long-term beneficial effect of the toxin. Aim: The authors focused on the short-term effects of the toxin and on the subjective evaluation done by the parents about the botox treatment. Method: First, the calf muscle of 18 children was treated and casting was also performed. In our second patient group, multilevel lower limb injection was done in 12 cases. Joints’ range of motion, muscle tone and spasticity were assessed before and 4–6 weeks after treatment. In ambulatory children, gait analysis was done. Side effects were recorded and parental opinion about the treatment was requested. Results: Increased ankle range of motion and decreased muscle tone and spasticity were seen in our first patient group. In the second group, hip flexion contracture became milder and hip abduction and the popliteal angle improved. However, gait analysis results only slightly changed after botox treatment. Occasional mild and transient adverse effects were observed during the pharmacologically active period of the toxin. Associate beneficial effects were also reported such as better comfort, easier movements, improving function of the non-injected upper limb, decreasing dysarthria and dysphagia. Conclusion: Our study strengthens the observation that botox treatment of the spastic calf muscle together with plaster casting can result in improved ankle dorsiflexion. Multilevel botox treatment can improve lower limb joints range of motion, however, gait pattern remains unchanged. The administration of botulinum toxin with respect to the guidelines has no major adverse effects. Further studies are needed to clarify the observed beneficial associate effects of the toxin. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(28): 1105–1111.

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