Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for developing a subsequent contralateral slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) and provide a prediction score to quantify risk of subsequent slip at the time of initial presentation. Methods This retrospective study included patients that presented with a unilateral SCFE between 2006 and 2017. Chart and radiographic review were performed to collect demographic, clinical and radiographic risk factors. Descriptive statistics, univariate analyses and multivariate regression analysis were used to compare risk factors between patients that did or did not develop a subsequent contralateral SCFE. Results This study included 183 patients and 33 patients (18%) developed a subsequent contralateral SCFE. Younger age at time of initial presentation, lower modified Oxford Score and smaller difference in epiphyseal-diaphyseal angle between both sides during index presentation were significant predictors of subsequent contralateral SCFE. Specifically, age ≤ 11 years, modified Oxford Score ≤ 20 and difference in epiphyseal-diaphyseal angle of ≤ 21° between both hips were predictive of a contralateral slip (Area Under the Curve = 0.78; p < 0.05). The presence of each risk factor increased the risk of subsequent contralateral SCFE and having all three risk factors increased the risk to 73%. Conclusion There is a significant risk of subsequent contralateral SCFE in patients with unilateral SCFE, and predictive risk factors include younger age, lower modified Oxford Score and smaller difference in epiphyseal-diaphyseal angle between the affected and unaffected hips. Level of Evidence Level III

Background: Complex fracture-dislocations of the elbow, including terrible triad of the elbow, are serious injuries with guarded outcomes in adults. Although described extensively in adults, little is known about similar complex fracturedislocations of the elbow in the pediatric population. The purpose of this study was to describe patterns of elbow dislocations with associated fractures in children and report the outcomes of these injuries. Methods: This was a retrospective review of patients who presented to a level I trauma center from 2007 to 2019 with an elbow dislocation and at least 2 associated fractures. Demographic data, fracture locations, and treatment modality were recorded. Operative reports and radiographs were reviewed to determine clinical outcomes and complications. Results: A total of 26 patients (mean age, 9.8 y) were identified. The majority of patients sustained an elbow dislocation and a medial epicondyle fracture (n = 16). The most common third fractures involved the lateral condyle (n = 8) or radial neck (n = 7). At mean 6.03 ± 3.11 months follow-up, 3 patients lacked ≥ 10 degrees of extension, and 2 patients lacked ≥ 15 degrees of flexion. Most patients had a Flynn score of "excellent" (n = 20, 76.9%) or "good" (n = 2, 7.7%). One patient with significant residual stiffness ( > 30 degrees flexion contracture) eventually underwent open contracture release. Conclusions: The most common complex elbow fracturedislocation pattern in this series was an elbow dislocation with fracture of the medial epicondyle and lateral condyle or radial neck. In contrast to adult terrible triad injuries, most patients had a favorable clinical outcome, with nearly 80% excellent results and a low rate of complications. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV-case series.

Background: Following open or closed reduction for children with developmental dysplasia of the hip, there remains a significant risk of residual acetabular dysplasia which can compromise the long-term health of the hip joint. The purpose of this study was to use postoperative in-spica magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data to determine factors predictive of residual acetabular dysplasia at short-term follow-up. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 63 hips in 48 patients which underwent closed or open reduction and spica casting for developmental dysplasia of the hip. MRI performed in-spica at ∼3-week follow-up were used to assess 11 validated metrics and 2 subjective factors. Acetabular index (AI) was measured on anteroposterior pelvic radiographs at 2-year postoperative followup. Binary logistic regression was then used to identify variables predictive of residual dysplasia, defined as an AI greater than the 90th percentile for age based on historic normative data. Results: Average age at surgical reduction was 9.3 ± 3.2 months. 58.7% (37/63) of reductions were open. A total of 43 (68.3%) hips demonstrated residual acetabular dysplasia at 2 years postoperatively based on normative values. In those with persistent dysplasia, patients were on average older at the time of reduction (10.0 mo ± 3.2 vs. 8.0 mo ± 2.8, P = 0.010) and more likely female (88.4% vs. 60.0%, P = 0.010). Patients with residual dysplasia were more likely to have mild subluxation on postoperative MRI (40.0% vs. 10.5%, P = 0.022). Hips with a cartilaginous acetabular index (CAI) of > 23 degrees were 7.6 times more likely to develop residual dysplasia. Type of reduction (ie, closed vs. open) did not appear to influence the rate of residual dysplasia (P = 0.682). Conclusion:In this series, the rate of residual dysplasia after surgical reduction was higher than most previous reports, with no appreciable difference between closed and open reductions. Older age, female sex, and a higher CAI were associated with a greater risk of persistent radiographic dysplasia. In particular, hips with a CAI > 23 degrees were 7.6 times more likely to be dysplastic at 2-year follow-up.

Background: Following successful treatment of developmental hip dysplasia with a Pavlik harness, controversy exists over the benefit of continued harness use for an additional “weaning” period beyond ultrasonographic normalization versus simply terminating treatment. Although practitioners are often dogmatic in their beliefs, there is little literature to support the superiority of 1 protocol over the other. The purpose of this study was to compare the radiographic outcomes of 2 cohorts of infants with developmental hip dysplasia treated with Pavlik harness, 1 with a weaning protocol and 1 without. Methods: This was a comparative review of patients with dislocated/reducible hips and stable dysplasia from 2 centers. All patients had pretreatment ultrasounds, and all started harness treatment before 3 months of age. On the basis of power analysis, a sufficient cohort of hips were matched based on clinical examination, age at initiation, initial α angle, and initial percent femoral head coverage. Patients from institution W (weaned) were weaned following ultrasonographic normalization, whereas those from institution NW (not weaned) immediately ceased treatment. The primary outcome was the acetabular index at 1 year of age. Results: In total, 16 dislocated/reducible and 16 stable dysplastic hips were matched at each center (64 total hips in 53 patients). Initial α angle and initial femoral head coverage were not different between cohorts for either stable dysplasia (P=0.59, 0.81) or dislocated/reducible hips (P=0.67, 0.70), respectively. As expected, weaned hips were treated for significantly longer in both the stable dysplasia (1540.4 vs. 1066.3 h, P<0.01), and dislocated/reducible cohorts (1596.6 vs. 1362.5 h, P=0.01). Despite this, we found no significant difference in the acetabular index at 1 year in either cohort (22.8 vs. 23.1 degrees, P=0.84 for stable dysplasia; 23.9 vs. 24.8 degrees, P=0.32 for Ortolani positive). Conclusions: Despite greater total harness time, infants treated with additional Pavlik weaning did not demonstrate significantly different radiographic results at 1 year of age compared with those who were not weaned. However, differences in follow-up protocols between centers support the need for a more rigorous randomized controlled trial. Level of Evidence: Level III.

Background: Hand radiographs for skeletal maturity staging are now frequently used to evaluate remaining growth potential for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Our objective was to create a model predicting a patient's risk of curve progression based on modern treatment standards. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all AIS patients presenting with a major curve <50 degrees, available hand radiographs, and complete follow up through skeletal maturity at our institution over a 3-year period. Patients with growth remaining underwent rigid bracing of curves > 25 degrees, whereas patients between 10 and 25 degrees were observed. Treatment success was defined as reaching skeletal maturity with a major curve <50 degrees. Four risk categories were identified based on likelihood of curve progression.Results: Of 609 AIS patients (75.4% female) presenting with curves over 10 degrees and reaching skeletal maturity at most recent follow up, 503 (82.6%) had major thoracic curves. 16.3% (82/503) of thoracic curves progressed into surgical treatment range. The highest risk group (Sanders 1 to 6 and curve 40 to 49 degrees, Sanders 1 to 2 and curve 30 to 39) demonstrate a 30% success rate with nonoperative treatment. This constitutes an 111.1 times (95% confidence interval: 47.6 to 250.0, P < 0.001) higher risk of progression to surgical range than patients in the lowest risk categories (Sanders 1 to 8 and curve 10 to 19 degrees, Sanders 3 to 8 and curve 20 to 29 degrees, Sanders 5 to 8 and curve 30 to 39 degrees). Conclusions: Skeletal maturity and curve magnitude have strong predictive value for future curve progression. The results presented here represent a valuable resource for orthopaedic providers regarding a patient's risk of progression and ultimate surgical risk.