PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J J Vaughan

Publications and source records attributed to J J Vaughan.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Comparison of the use of supine bending and traction radiographs in the selection of the fusion area in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

STUDY DESIGN: A study was done to evaluate the use of voluntary supine side bending radiographs and Risser table traction radiographs in adolescent patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis. OBJECTIVES: To compare the usefulness of supine side bending and traction radiographs in assessing curve flexibility and determining fusion levels in patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Supine side bending radiographs have been used in the preoperative evaluation of idiopathic scoliosis to determine curve flexibility and fusion area. Traction films have been used to determine the flexibility of large curves and neuromuscular curves where active side bending is not possible. No study to date has compared the use of these films in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis undergoing surgery. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with more than a 2-year follow-up period after surgery were included in this study. Preoperative radiographs included a standing posteroanterior and lateral film and both supine maximal voluntary side bending films and a traction film done on a Risser table. A preoperative review of these radiographs was done to determine curve flexibility and fusion levels. At follow-up evaluation, the patients were examined for any evidence of decompensation or "adding-on" of levels. RESULTS: For curves less than 60 degrees, side bending radiographs showed greater curve correction than traction radiographs, whereas the opposite was true for curves greater than 60 degrees. For King I and II curves, side bending radiographs were superior for determination of lumbar curve flexibility and for distinguishing these two types of curves. On traction radiographs, the stable vertebra was 1.4 vertebral levels higher than on the standing film. When the fusion level was moved proximally because of the traction radiograph, decompensation or "adding-on" commonly occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Supine bending radiographs are superior to traction radiographs for assessing curve flexibility except for curves more than 60 degrees. The selection of the distal extent of fusion based on the traction radiograph gave a large number of poor results. The selection of fusion levels in adolescent Idiopathic scoliosis is best determined by a combination of standing posteroanterior and lateral radiographs and the supine maximum voluntary bend films.

Adolescent↗

Long-term effects of tibial angular malunion on the knee and ankle joints.

Twenty-seven patients with 28 tibial fractures were evaluated for an average of 8.2 years (range 6.0-12.3 years) following their injuries. There were 16 closed and 12 open fractures, all of which healed uneventfully. Overall, 50% of the ankles and 75% of the knees were rated good to excellent. The patients' knee and ankle joint malalignments were extrapolated using a method previously published. This was made possible by knowing both the degree and site of angular deformity. Correlation between joint malalignments and clinical outcome were performed. Analysis showed that greater degrees of ankle malalignment produce poorer clinical results (p = 0.001). Conversely, the patients with lesser degrees of ankle joint malalignment had a higher percentage of good to excellent results (p = 0.006, p = 0.003, p = 0.03). The knee results did not correlate with the degree of joint malalignment (p = 0.82). The findings in this study show that there is merit in reducing tibial fractures as close to anatomical configuration as possible to lessen the chance of early degenerative arthritis.

Adult↗

A method of determining the angular malalignments of the knee and ankle joints resulting from a tibial malunion.

Malalignments of the knee and ankle joints resulting from tibial angular malunion can be determined using mathematical analysis. The angular deformity of the tibia is equal to the sum of the angular malalignments formed by the knee and ankle joints in relation to the horizontal plane. These malalignments are not equal. A larger percentage of the deformity is reflected inferiorly as the deformity approaches the ankle joint. A table was formulated to provide the corresponding degrees of joint malalignment (knee and ankle) for tibial angular deformities at different positions along the tibia. The analysis provides a useful tool to quantify the knee and ankle joint malalignments secondary to tibial angular malunion. Although designation of prognosis at different degrees of angular deformity is beyond the scope of this study, it does provide improved correlation between tibial angular deformities and the clinical outcome, e.g., degenerative arthroses of the adjacent joints, in future studies on tibial fractures.

Ankle Joint↗