Background: The patella is the largest human sesamoid bone and often sustains chondral injury. There is no consensus on how to treat a full-thickness, symptomatic articular cartilage injury of the patella. We analyzed the clinical and functional outcomes of patients with symptomatic full-thickness patellar chondral lesions treated with autologous osteochondral transplantation and evaluated osteochondral autograft bone-plug integration through magnetic resonance imaging. Methods: In this prospective study, thirty-three patients with a symptomatic full-thickness patellar chondral injury surgically treated with autologous osteochondral transplantation were evaluated before and after surgical treatment with a minimum two-year follow-up using the Lysholm, Kujala, and Fulkerson questionnaires and the Short Form-36 health survey score. Magnetic resonance images were made at six and twelve months postoperatively and studies were performed to analyze the osteochondral autograft bone-plug integration. Results: All thirty-three patients showed a significant improvement in functional scores two years after surgery. The average Lysholm scores were 57.27 points preoperatively and 80.76 points at two years postoperatively, the average Kujala scores were 54.76 points preoperatively and 75.18 points at two years postoperatively, and the Fulkerson average scores were 54.24 points preoperatively and 80.42 points at two years postoperatively. The Short Form-36 life quality score improved significantly. Two years after surgery, all magnetic resonance images showed full bone-plug integration into the patella. Conclusions: Autologous osteochondral transplantation is a successful technique to surgically treat symptomatic full-thickness patellar articular cartilage injuries smaller than 2.5 cm in diameter. Patients had a significant improvement in clinical scores. Bone-plug integration and surface alignment were demonstrated in all patients two years after surgery. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Background : The purpose of this study was to compare the results of two popular surgical techniques for medial patellofemoral ligament MPFL reconstruction with a minimum of two-year follow-up. Methods : Fifty-eight patients with traumatic tear of the medial patellofemoral ligament were included in one of the two surgical groups. Group 1 MPFLs were reconstructed through graft endobutton fixation and Group 2 through graft anchor fixation into the patella. After two to five-year follow-up, patients were asked to answer knee function questionnaires (Fulkerson and Kujala) as well as the SF-36 life quality score. Results : There were no statistical difference among postoperative Kujala, Fulkerson, and SF-36 questionnaires scores between Groups 1 and 2. There were statistical significant differences favorable to patients in Group 1 with a shorter follow-up length (2-5 years) compared to those with a longer period of 5-10 years for both Kujala and Fulkerson scores and no difference for group 2. Conclusion : Both medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction techniques had similar results in a two to ten-year follow-up according to functions and life quality questionnaires. Furthermore, endobutton fixation for the patellar edge of the graft had better results in patients with 2 years of follow-up than those with 5 years. Gender was not significant for surgical results. Moreover, group 1 patients had higher number of complications.

In early studies, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) had low sensitivity and positive predictive value in the evaluation of the pars interarticularis pathology; however, more recent reports have suggested an expanded role for MRI. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of MRI in the diagnosis of pars injuries and compare it to computed tomography (CT), which was used as the reference "gold standard" for the detection of fractures. The radiographic and clinic data of 93 adolescents and young adults with a presumptive diagnosis of spondylolysis based upon history and clinic examination were reviewed. Only 26 patients who had MRI and CT images obtained within 30 days of each other were included. All images were reviewed by a fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologist and fellowship-trained pediatric orthopaedist. Overall, 39 individual pars lesions (stress reaction or fracture) were identified. MRI was effective in identifying 36 pars lesions. MRI identified 11 lesions in 9 patients with negative CT. Seven of these lesions were stress reactions (grade 1), whereas 4 were frank fractures. Three pars injuries were noted on CT while the MRI was negative. MRI is an effective method (92% sensitivity) for detecting pars injuries. It can detect stress reactions when a fracture is not visible on CT scan, allowing early treatment of these prelysis lesions. The 92% sensitivity of MRI is comparable with that of other diagnostic modalities such as bone scan, with the advantage of no radiation exposure. MRI should be strongly considered as the advanced imaging modality of choice in the evaluation of patients with suspected spondylolysis. Level III-diagnostic study.

Over half of children and adolescents with spinal trauma have associated injuries, most commonly involving the appendicular skeleton, head and neck, and thorax. The incidence and characteristics of these associated injuries have been well described, but to our knowledge there has been no evaluation of the relationship between the injury characteristics and the patient age. Data were obtained from the trauma registries of the local pediatric and adult level 1 trauma centers, and patients aged 0 to 19 years with spinal trauma were identified. For analysis, patients were divided into 3 age groups: 0 to 3, 4 to 12, and 13 to 19 years. Associated injuries were divided into 5 groups: head, thoracic, abdominal, appendicular skeletal fracture, and neurological. Overall, 25 patients had isolated dislocations and 307 patients had 366 spinal fractures or fracture-dislocations: 36% cervical, 31% thoracic, and 51% lumbar. Most (84%) of the injuries occurred in the 13- to 19-year-old group. Sixty-two percent of patients had associated injuries, most commonly thoracic injuries (pulmonary contusion, pneumothorax, rib fracture); 45% had multilevel spinal fractures, 39% of which were noncontiguous. Nearly three fourths of the noncontiguous fractures occurred in a different spinal region; cervical fracture with concomitant thoracic fracture was the most frequent pattern. This large series of consecutive patients highlights several important concepts concerning pediatric spinal fractures, including age-related patterns of injury, frequent associated injuries, and a high rate of multiple spinal injuries, especially noncontiguous injuries. It also emphasizes the importance of careful full-body examination and imaging of the entire spine in children and adolescents with a known spinal injury. Level IV-case series.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a frequent disease but its etiology remains unknown. Gender prevalence in females is already known and there are many suggested hypotheses to explain its origin and manifestation, like associated neurologic, muscular and connective tissue disorders. Literature reports have tried to analyze disease prevalence in selected populations, possible ways of inheritance, related genes location and their polymorphisms, which may play a role in the development of the deformity. The purpose of this paper is to review and update concepts on the origin and genetic influence on AIS.

Age from newborn to sixteen years old who had a diagnosis of atlanto-occipital dislocation from 1991 through 2011 were identified. Inclusion criteria were complete radiographic and clinical records and duration of follow-up of at least six months. Basic patient characteristics, mechanism of injury, associated injuries, neurological impairment, surgical treatment and type of implant used for fixation, complications, and clinical and radiographic outcomes were recorded. Results: The fourteen patients who were included (seven male and seven female) had a mean age of 5.2 years at the time of injury. An automobile accident in which the victim was a passenger was the most common mechanism of injury. Twelve patients had associated injuries, with a brain injury in eleven of them, and nearly half sustained a spinal cord injury. According to the Traynelis classification system, eight patients had a type-II (longitudinal) atlanto-occipital dislocation, five had a type-I (anterior) dislocation, and one had a type-III (posterior) dislocation. All patients had posterior occipitocervical fusion with internal fixation. The mean duration of follow-up was 75.4 months. The most common postoperative complication was hydrocephalus, which occurred in four patients. Spinal fusion occurred in all patients by four to six months postoperatively. At the time of the most recent follow-up evaluation, half of the patients had neurological impairment. Conclusions: More patients with atlanto-occipital dislocation now survive the initial trauma, although most have associated injuries and many have neurological impairment. Our preferred management is early occipitocervical fusion and stabilization. If there is neurological decline after spinal fixation, obstructive hydrocephalus should be suspected. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence....