Skeletal Deformity in Children with Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Skeletal deformation like genu valgum is reported to be rare in Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). The solitary adenoma or hyperplasia of the parathyroid glands are the cause in 80-85% of the cases. We report 2 cases of girls on 12 years and 15 years of age, complaining from pain and genu valgum deformation of the lower extremities before the planned orthopaedic surgical correction. The first patient had complaints for 3 years and lost ability to walk independently, the second case lost normal gate for a period of 5 months. The paraclinical screening discovered hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia, elevated alkaline phosphatase, normal creatinine, raised parathormone. In the first case the X-rays depicted fibrocystic osteodistrophy from a hyperparathyroid type with bone cysts, giant cell "brown tumors" and pathological bone reorganization, in the second case - coarse fibrous structure of the left knee joint with genu valgum with bone cysts in the distal metaphysis of the left femur. The ultrasound of the thyroid gland found oval hypoechoic formations with suspicious origin from the parathyroid glands. These findings were confirmed from the SPECT/CT pointing active adenomas in the parathyroid glands. Skeletal deformation like genu valgum is the reason to search for the primary diagnosis in our 2 cases. Investigation of the serum calcium and parathormone are diagnostic in 100%. The imaging diagnosis has a critical role for indicating surgical treatment of the parathyroid gland adenoma. Key words: genu valgum, hypercalcemia, paediatric parathyroid adenoma, ultrasound, SPECT/CT.

Middle Term Results of Simple Open Hip Reduction of Irreducible DDH - What Is the Cut-off Age to Safely Perform It with Lower Complications?

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY When developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is irreducible by conservative means, then surgical open hip reduction is the choice. When done before walking age simple open hip reduction (SOHR) is most often enough to stabilize the hip. We tested the hypothesis that simple open hip reduction gives enough stability even in severe Tönnis 4 grades of dislocation. We tried to find what is the cut-off age to safely perform SOHR with lower complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS From 193 open hip reductions (OHR) of irreducible DDH in 123 children for the period 1995-2010 year with X-ray follow up of at least 8 years and full documentation we investigated 75 SOHR. Mean age at follow-up was 13 years and 5 months for the whole group and 8 years and 3 months for the SOHR patients. Age at operation - 7 months to 7.5 years for all patients with OHR, with average OR age for SOHR - 18 months. The traditional surgical technique of open hip reduction was performed through lateral Murphy's approach but with sparing the attachment of the piriformis muscle with the underlying blood supply to the epiphysis during circumferential capsulotomy. We used McKay clinical criteria, radiological classifications of Tönnis, Severin, Herring-Mose and Kalamchi & MacEwen. RESULTS When analyzing the results, there came up a strong statistical correlation between bilaterality and Tönnis grade 4. The final CE angle of Wiberg was on average 28º. According to Severin classification: 74% were excellent and 10% good or 84 % successful results. But according to Herring-Mose sphericity scoring - 60% were good and 30% fair. Mose's fair is a potential cam-type femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI). Clinically according to McKay criteria - 10% excellent and 54% good, or 64% of the operated hips were clinically acceptable, which correlates more with the radiological results according to Mose than with Severin. Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head (FH) according to Kalamchi was: Type I - 6%, Type II - 12 %, Type III - 0%, Type IV - 8 %. Types II and IV represent 20 % of the operated hips. The presence of ossific nucleus in the femoral epiphysis on initial X-ray didn't have a statistical impact on AVN frequency. When analyzing the impact of severity of dislocation and trying to find the cut-off age for fewer complications, there came up a strong statistical significance between AVN IV type appearance in Tonnis grade 4 hips when age at operation was above 9 months. CONCLUSIONS The thorough capsuloplasty after FH reduction in the acetabular socket is enough for stability even in Tonnis 4. When OR age is below 9 months severe AVN is lower and Herring-Mose FH sphericity scoring is higher. Key words: DDH, simple open hip reduction, avascular necrosis of femoral head.

Comparison of the Baska(®) mask with the single-use laryngeal mask airway in low-risk female patients undergoing ambulatory surgery

We compared the Baska(®) mask with the single-use classic laryngeal mask airway (cLMA) in 150 females at low risk for difficult tracheal intubation in a randomised, controlled clinical trial. We found that median (IQR [range]) seal pressure was significantly higher with the Baska mask compared with the cLMA (40 (34-40 [16-40]) vs 22 (18-25 [14-40]) cmH2O, respectively, p < 0.001), indicating a better seal. In contrast, the first time success rate for insertion of the Baska mask was lower than that seen with the cLMA (52/71 (73%) vs 77/99 (98%), respectively, p < 0.001). There were no differences in overall device insertion success rates (78/79 (99%) vs 68/71 (96%), respectively, p = 0.54). The Baska mask proved more difficult to insert, requiring more insertion attempts, taking longer to insert and had higher median (IQR [range]) insertion difficulty scores (1.6 (0.8-2.2 [0.1-5.6]) vs 0.5 (0.3-1.4 [0.1-4.0]), respectively, p < 0.001). There was also an increased rate of minor blood staining of the Baska mask after removal, but there were no differences in other complication rates, such as laryngospasm, or in the severity of throat discomfort. In conclusion, in clinical situations where the seal with the glottic aperture takes priority over ease of insertion, the Baska mask may provide a useful alternative to the cLMA.

An observational study of the Baska® mask: a novel supraglottic airway

The Baska mask is a novel supraglottic airway device. We conducted an initial observational study to assess this device in 30 low-risk female patients. All Baska masks were inserted by a single investigator. The overall success rate for device insertion was 96.7% (95% CI 82.8-99.9%), while the success rate for the first insertion attempt was 76.7% (95% CI 57.7-90.1%). The device was easy to insert, with a mean (SD) difficulty score of 0.9 (1.6) on a 10-cm scale. The mean (SD) airway leak pressure was 35.7 (13.3) cmH(2) O. The incidence of throat pain, dysphonia and dysphagia was low. We conclude that the Baska mask demonstrates a level of utility as an alternative supraglottic airway that is worthy of further clinical study.