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Purpose: Pathologic abnormality of the peroneal tendons are thought to be an under-appreciated source of vague ankle and hindfoot pain in paediatric patients, partly because they can be difficult to diagnose and differentiate from lateral ankle ligament injuries. While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the primary imaging modality used to detect peroneal tendon pathology, previous studies in adults have found that positive MRIs demonstrate a positive predictive value (PPV) of associated clinical findings around 48%. There are no similar known published studies in the paediatric population. Our objective was to determine the positive predictive value of peroneal tendon pathology as diagnosed by MRI as related to positive clinical exam findings in the paediatric and adolescent population., Methods: This IRB approved retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary children's hospital. Inclusion criteria included patients under 18 years from our tertiary care institution with (a) ankle MRI findings indicating pathology of the peroneus brevis/longus tendons confirmed by a board certified paediatric musculoskeletal radiologist and (b) formal review of the clinical examination by a fellowship trained paediatric orthopaedic surgeon. Patients with congenital deformities or previous surgical intervention of the lateral ankle were excluded., Results: Forty-seven patients (with 48 MRIs) met inclusion criteria over a ten year period. The majority of the positive MRI scans (70%) demonstrated a peroneus brevis split tear. Of the patients with positive findings on MRI, 17 patients had an associated positive clinical exam. The positive predictive value of MRI for peroneal tendon tears with positive clinical findings was 35.41% (95% confidence interval = 31.1% to 41.6%). There were 31 patients with MRI positive findings with a negative clinical exam., Conclusion: Despite having a negative clinical exam, a high percentage of patients had positive MRI findings suggestive of peroneal tendon pathology which confirms findings of adult populations demonstrating a high rate of incidental finding of peroneal tendon pathology on MRI in paediatric patients., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to SICOT aisbl.)

Background: Posterior ankle impingement syndrome (PAIS) results from the pinching of anatomical structures in the posterior part of the ankle., Objective: To identify the possible role of imaging in the delayed diagnosis of PAIS and identify key findings on imaging to suggest PAIS in pediatric and adolescent patients., Materials and Methods: Data were collected prospectively in patients younger than 18 years of age who underwent arthroscopy after being diagnosed with PAIS. Imaging was reviewed retrospectively by two radiologists, compared with findings in literature and an age-matched control group, and correlated with arthroscopic findings. Pre- and postsurgical Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain and American Orthopedic Foot Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scores were noted., Results: Thirty-eight patients (20 females, 18 males), 51 ankles, with an average age of 12.9 years had an average 18-month delay in diagnosis. Twenty-seven of the 38 (73%) patients had previously seen multiple medical providers and were given multiple misdiagnoses. Radiographs were reported normal in 34/47 (72%) ankles. Thirty patients had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and findings included the presence of an os trigonum/Stieda process (94%) with associated osseous edema (69%), flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tenosynovitis (16%), and edema in Kager's fat pad (63%). Although individual findings were noted, the impression in the MRI reports in 16/32 (50%) did not mention PAIS as the likely diagnosis. There was a significant difference in the MRI findings of ankle impingement in the patient population when compared to the control group. Surgery was indicated after conservative treatment failed. All 51 ankles had a PAIS diagnosis confirmed during arthroscopy. At an average follow-up of 10.2 months, there was improvement of VAS pain (7.0 to 1.1) and AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores (65.1 to 93.5)., Conclusion: PAIS as a diagnosis is commonly delayed clinically in young patients with radiologic misinterpretation being a contributing factor. Increased awareness about this condition is needed among radiologists and physicians treating young athletes.

Background: Previous studies have reported disparities in orthopaedic care resulting from demographic factors, including insurance status. However, the effect of insurance on pediatric tibial spine fractures (TSFs), an uncommon but significant injury, is unknown. Purpose: To assess the effect of insurance status on the evaluation and treatment of TSFs in children and adolescents. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of TSFs treated at 10 institutions between 2000 and 2019. Demographic data were collected, as was information regarding pre-, intra-, and postoperative treatment, with attention to delays in management and differences in care. Surgical and nonsurgical fractures were included, but a separate analysis of surgical patients was performed. Univariate analysis was followed by purposeful entry multivariate regression to adjust for confounding factors. Results: Data were collected on 434 patients (mean ± SD age, 11.7 ± 3.0 years) of which 61.1% had private (commercial) insurance. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was obtained at similar rates for children with public and private insurance (41.4% vs 41.9%, respectively; P ≥.999). However, multivariate analysis revealed that those with MRI performed ≥21 days after injury were 5.3 times more likely to have public insurance (95% CI, 1.3-21.7; P =.02). Of the 434 patients included, 365 required surgery. Similar to the overall cohort, those in the surgical subgroup with MRI ≥21 days from injury were 4.8 times more likely to have public insurance (95% CI, 1.2-19.6; P =.03). Children who underwent surgery ≥21 days after injury were 2.5 times more likely to have public insurance (95% CI, 1.1-6.1; P =.04). However, there were no differences in the nature of the surgery or findings at surgery. Those who were publicly insured were 4.1 times more likely to be immobilized in a cast rather than a brace postoperatively (95% CI, 2.3-7.4; P <.001). Conclusion: Children with public insurance and a TSF were more likely to experience delays with MRI and surgical treatment than those with private insurance. However, there were no differences in the nature of the surgery or findings at surgery. Additionally, patients with public insurance were more likely to undergo postoperative casting rather than bracing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe the largest case series of lower extremity traumatic internal degloving injury, i.e. Morel-Lavallée lesion (MLL) in the pediatric and adolescent population, its treatment and outcomes. Retrospective review of patients under 18 years who presented with MLL to a tertiary children's hospital. Demographic, clinical, radiographic, treatment and outcomes data were collected. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted. 38 patients having MLL with mean age 14.6 years were classified into two groups: hip/thigh MLL (nine patients) and lower leg MLL (29). Most common cause of lower leg and hip/thigh MLL was sports injury (79.3%) and motor vehicle accident (MVA) (33%) respectively. Most implicated sports were football and baseball. Primary care physicians/pediatricians were the initial treating providers for 63% of patients. Imaging modality of choice was magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for lower leg MLLs (72.4%) and ultrasonography (US) for hip/thigh MLL (66.7%). Twenty-five (65.8%) patients were treated with conservative management, 12 (31.6%) with minimally invasive methods and 1 (2.6%) needed surgical management. Average return to normal activities took 14.3 and 9.1 weeks for hip/thigh and lower leg MLL, respectively. Twenty-four patients with adequate documentation demonstrated lower extremity functional score (LEFS) and pain level of 74/80 (92.5%) and 0.7/10, respectively, at mean 12.5 months follow-up. In contrast to adult injury literature, pediatric MLLs are more common in the leg/knee than hip/thigh region and caused mostly by sports injuries. Primary care physicians are the initial treating providers for the majority of the patients. Intervention is more often needed in the hip/thigh MLLs as opposed to non-operative management for lower leg injuries. This large case series on MLL in the pediatric population demonstrates differences in the management of hip and thigh lesions when compared to the management of the knee and leg lesions in the majority of these patients. Non-operative management in the majority of these lesions provided overall satisfactory outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a high rate of concomitant injuries reported in pediatric patients with tibial spine fractures, ranging from 40% to 68.8%. Many tibial spine fractures are treated without initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Purpose: To understand rates of concomitant injury and if the reported rates of these injuries differed among patients with and without pretreatment MRI. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; level of evidence, 3. Methods: We performed an institutional review board–approved multicenter retrospective cohort study of patients treated for tibial spine fractures between January 1, 2000, and January 31, 2019, at 10 institutions. Patients younger than 25 years of age with tibial spine fractures were included. Data were collected on patient characteristics, injury, orthopaedic history, pretreatment physical examination and imaging, and operative findings. We excluded patients with multiple trauma and individuals with additional lower extremity fractures. Patients were categorized into 2 groups: those with and those without pretreatment MRI. The incidence of reported concomitant injuries was then compared between groups. Results: There were 395 patients with a tibial spine fracture who met inclusion criteria, 139 (35%) of whom were reported to have a clinically significant concomitant injury. Characteristics and fracture patterns were similar between groups. Of patients with pretreatment MRI, 79 of 176 (45%) had an identified concomitant injury, whereas only 60 of 219 patients (27%) without pretreatment MRI had a reported concomitant injury (P <.001). There was a higher rate of lateral meniscal tears (P <.001) in patients with pretreatment MRI than in those without. However, there was a higher rate of soft tissue entrapment at the fracture bed (P =.030) in patients without pretreatment MRI. Overall, 121 patients (87%) with a concomitant injury required at least 1 treatment. Conclusion: Patients with pretreatment MRI had a statistically significantly higher rate of concomitant injury identified. Pretreatment MRI should be considered in the evaluation of tibial spine fractures to improve the identification of concomitant injuries, especially in patients who may otherwise be treated nonoperatively or with closed reduction. Further studies are necessary to refine the indications for MRI in patients with tibial spine fractures, determine the characteristics of patients at highest risk of having a concomitant injury, define the sensitivity and specificity of MRI in tibial spine fractures, and investigate patient outcomes based on pretreatment MRI status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]