Comparative analysis of an automated bone age tool with manual assessment in a multiethnic Southeast Asian paediatric cohort in Singapore.

Background: Bone age assessment is essential for evaluating growth and pubertal disorders, but manual methods such as the Greulich-Pyle atlas are subject to inter-observer variability. Automated tools like BoneXpert may improve accuracy and consistency.

Objective: To validate the accuracy and reliability of BoneXpert, an automated bone age assessment tool, compared to traditional manual methods performed by paediatric endocrinologists and radiologists in a multiethnic paediatric cohort in Singapore.

Can External Neuromodulation Garments Improve Gait and Function in Children With Cerebral Palsy? A Prospective Single-Arm Study.

Introduction: The Exopulse Mollii Suit is an external electrical stimulation garment that is designed to reduce spasticity through electrical stimulation of targeted muscles. Our aims were to study the impact of the garment in improving gait and function in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: Individuals aged 4-18 years with spastic CP, Gross Motor Function Classification System level I-III were included for a prospective single-arm study from January 2021 to January 2022.

Glass injuries seen in a paediatric tertiary hospital in Singapore: An epidemiology study.

Lacerations rank as the most common paediatric injury that requires a physician evaluation. Glass is a frequent cause of such lacerations, however there is currently little to no information on this. Hence, this paper aims to describe the burden and characteristics of such injuries in Singapore.

Complete remodelling post-intralesional resection of an aggressive proximal humerus aneurysmal bone cyst mimicking telangiectatic osteosarcoma.

We describe a case of an aggressive proximal humerus aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) mimicking telangiectatic osteosarcoma with complete remodelling and reconstitution of the bone. A boy in middle childhood presented with a pathological fracture preceded by progressive right shoulder pain and swelling. Imaging and open biopsy supported the diagnosis of primary ABC with positive ubiquitin-specific protease 6 gene fusion.

Systematic review of paediatric pulseless pink humerus supracondylar fractures.

The supracondylar humeral fracture (SCHF) is the most common fracture seen in children, forming up to 70% of all pediatric elbow fractures. The decision to surgically explore the brachial artery in a well-perfused, pulseless arm remains a controversial one among vascular and orthopedic surgeons and is something we seek to explore in this article. We reviewed the literature from electronic databases such as PubMed and Embase for studies focusing on the management of the pink pulseless hand (PPH) following SCHF.

Improved Comfortability and Satisfaction of Hybrid-mesh Casts in the Conservative Management of Pediatric Supracondylar Humeral Fractures: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Cast immobilization is the mainstay of treatment for stable pediatric supracondylar humeral fractures (SCHFs). In recent years, a waterproof and breathable hybrid-mesh (HM) cast has emerged and been marketed to address common complaints such as itch, skin irritation, and malodor. Hence, this randomized controlled trial seeks to assess the overall satisfaction, comfort, and clinical outcomes of using HM casts in the conservative treatment of stable pediatric SCHF.

Wide Resection for Pediatric Extremity Vascular Malformation-A Tertiary Hospital's Experience.

Background: Vascular malformations of the extremities (VM) are common benign lesions that tend to grow throughout the patient's lifetime. They can cause various issues like pain, swelling, and even limb length discrepancies. Sclerotherapy was the preferred treatment choice in previous studies.

Exploiting frequent and specific expression of PRL3 in pediatric solid tumors for first-in-child use of PRL3-zumab humanized antibody.

Phosphatase of regenerating liver 3 (PRL3) is a specific tumor antigen overexpressed in a broad range of adult cancer types. However, its physiological expression in pediatric embryonal and mesenchymal tumors and its association with clinical outcomes in children is unknown. We sought to profile the expression of PRL3 in pediatric tumors in relation to survival outcomes, expression of angiogenesis markers, and G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling targets.

C-reactive protein of ≥ 20 mg/L and ultrasound finding of an effusion ≥ 7 mm has a high specificity and sensitivity in diagnosing paediatric hip septic arthritis.

Purpose: Differentiating septic arthritis (SA) from transient synovitis (TS) in children remains a diagnostic challenge. Several algorithms have been developed to diagnose SA including Kocher's criteria and its subsequent modifications, but reports show variable efficacy. This study aims to examine the diagnostic utility of a novel method only using C-reactive protein (CRP) and ultrasound (US) findings of effusion in differentiating SA from TS, determine the optimal values for these predictors and validate this method against existing clinical predictors.

The utility of ultrasound and plain radiographs in the management of developmental dysplasia of the hip.

The purpose of this study is to assess the utility of follow-up radiological imaging in the management of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in patients successfully treated with the Pavlik harness. A retrospective review was conducted on all children under 6 months diagnosed with DDH at a tertiary pediatric hospital between January 2004 and December 2018. Inclusion criteria included successful Pavlik harness treatment following a standardized protocol with complete radiological documentation at 2 years of age.

Epidemiology and outcome of septic arthritis in childhood: a 16-year experience and review of literature.

Introduction: Septic arthritis (SA) is a devastating infection with a high rate of sequelae. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the epidemiology, clinically significant sequelae and risk factors for developing these sequelae in children admitted to our hospital with SA.

Methods: Patients with bacteriologically and/or radiologically confirmed SA from January 1999 to December 2014 were identified from discharge and laboratory records.

Using the radiocoronoid line for diagnosis of elbow dislocation.

The radiocapitellar line (RCL) has been widely used to diagnose elbow dislocation. However, there are limitations to the RCL, with the cartilaginous portion of bone making interpretation of radiographs difficult. The study aims to show that the radiocoronoid line, which connects two points on the medial aspect of the radius, proximal to the radial tuberosity, is more suited to diagnose elbow dislocations in the anterior-posterior projection.

Retrospective analysis: risk factors predicting failure of closed reduction in pediatric diaphyseal forearm fractures treated with elastic stable intramedullary nails (ESINs).

Level IV.

Epidemiology of paediatric orthopaedic-related trauma injuries sustained across a lockdown period during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: Lockdowns have been implemented by countries to slow down SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Singapore's lockdown was enforced between 7 April 2020 and 1 June 2020. The objective of this study was to compare the epidemiology of paediatric orthopaedic trauma injuries during and immediately after the lockdown, with a non-pandemic period in 2019.

Rare right acetabulum aneurysmal bone cyst treated with curettage and local adjuvants in a 4-year-old girl.

Aneurysmal bone cysts are locally aggressive benign bone tumours with a high risk of recurrence. We describe a case in a 4-year-old girl, involving the right acetabulum. A direct posterior approach was used and the lesion ablated with curettage and local adjuvants with bone grafting.

Evaluation of risk factors associated with fragility fractures and recommendations to optimise bone health in children with long-term neurological condition.

Introduction: The growing years are paramount for bone growth and mineral accrual. Children with long-term neurological condition (LTNC) have multiple risk factors for poor bone health and fragility fractures. In Singapore, this has not been studied systematically.

Dose reduction for minimizing radiation in displaced paediatric supracondylar humerus fractures: single vs. automated pulse mode.

Conventional C-arm image intensifiers (CCA) are an essential and indispensable aid in modern orthopaedic surgery. CCAs are defaulted to auto-pulse mode which emit multiple pulses (or bursts) of radiation to obtain optimum image quality. The number of pulses per shot can be configured manually.

Comparison of K-wire versus screw fixation after open reduction of transitional (Tillaux and triplane) distal tibia fractures.

Our study aimed to compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of transitional distal tibia fractures treated with K-wire fixation versus screw fixation after open reduction. A retrospective study was performed on all displaced transitional distal tibia fractures that underwent operative fixation. Following open reduction, surgical fixation was performed using either percutaneously inserted 2.

Lateral Pinning of the Pediatric Phalangeal Neck Fracture.

Closed reduction and percutaneous pinning is the treatment of choice for displaced pediatric phalangeal neck fractures. Multiple techniques have been described to address challenges in managing these unstable fractures. We describe our technique of closed reduction and percutaneous pinning, which avoids the physis and increases the wire insertion accuracy, minimizing the number of attempts and wire passes made at percutaneous pinning.

Posterior sloping angle of the capital femoral physis in slipped capital femoral epiphysis has poor clinical utility and should not guide treatment on prophylactic fixation.

Background: Prophylactic pinning of the uninvolved side after unilateral slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is controversial as it balances increased surgical risks against the possibility of protecting a normal hip from initial slip and deformity. A posterior sloping angle (PSA) of greater than 12-14.5° has been proposed by various authors as a treatment threshold to predict for contralateral hip progression and prophylactic pinning.

The single visit treatment of pediatric distal radius buckle fractures-A center's experience with the treatment algorithm.

Introduction: This descriptive study aims to review and evaluate the implementation of a single visit treatment protocol for pediatric distal radius buckle fractures at our center - its success, learning points and limitations. It hopes to raise awareness of the efficacy of the protocol and its benefits to promote its utilization.

Methods: Following a pilot study, the protocol was implemented from 1 March 2017.

The utility of mini C-arm in the fixation of unstable paediatric supracondylar humeral fractures.

Background: Pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures have traditionally been reduced and fixed with conventional C-arm (CCA) fluoroscopy guidance. With the increase in popularity of the newer mini C-arm (MCA) system within other fields of surgery due to its ease of use and lower radiation emission, the same adoption should be explored in pediatric orthopedic surgeries. The purpose of this study is to compare the MCA and CCA primarily in reduction and fixation outcomes and secondarily in other perioperative parameters.

Playground-related Extremity Fractures in an Asian Setting over the Last Decade - Are We Safe?

The cost of playground-related injuries remains significant. Measures adopted to prevent such fractures or reduce their severity would translate into appreciable financial savings. Our study looks at the changes in playground-related extremity fracture epidemiology over the past decade after the implementation of latest playground standards.