Guided Growth for Angular Deformity: A 12 Year Review of Outcomes

Description

In this presentation, Marie Noonan, a nurse specialist at Children's Health Ireland, discusses a 12-year review of outcomes related to guided growth treatment for frontal plane deformities in children. She begins by acknowledging her colleagues and outlining the common challenges of angular deformities in children, which can lead to pain, gait disturbances, and potential long-term joint degeneration.



Noonan describes how traditional treatments like osteotomy and tension band plating have evolved. Tension band plating, initiated by Stevens in 2007, has been recognized as effective and suitable for growing children. The goal of treatment is to normalize the mechanical axis of the knee, yet the review revealed some significant failures prompting further investigation into the variables affecting outcomes.



The retrospective review involved 130 patients and included a detailed analysis of medical records, imaging, and post-operative assessments focusing on various diagnoses leading to knee deformities. Throughout the study period, the authors aim to define success based on correction of mechanical axis deviations and document failures accordingly.



Notably, the review indicated an overall success rate of 80.3%. Among the analyzed conditions, idiopathic genu valgum and genu varum showed promising outcomes, while certain conditions such as Hurler's syndrome and achondroplasia presented higher failure rates. Complications included metalwork failures and infections, with some patients requiring additional corrective surgeries.



Noonan concludes that guided growth remains a viable option for treating skeletally immature patients with limb deformities, emphasizing the importance of informed consent and careful counseling for families, especially in cases with traditionally poorer outcomes. She acknowledges the continuous learning process that allows for better patient management and outcome predictions.

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