Orthopaedic sequelae of meningococcemia in children: options for the correction of lower and upper limb deformities (preliminary message)

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Background. Мeningococcal infection with damage to various organs and systems, including the musculoskeletal system, causes growth plate dysfunction, which usually leads to the formation of orthopedic consequences, including axis deviation and/or limb length discrepancy.
 Aim. This study aimed to analyze the features of limb deformities and methods for their correction in children with consequences of meningococcemia.
 Materials and methods. The retrospective analysis was performed on patients with consequences of meningococcemia who were examined and surgically treated in the clinic between 2012 and 2018. A total of 12 patients (six boys and six girls) were included, with an age range of 215 years. The examination included clinical, X-ray, and physiological methods. Treatment methods consisted of a combination of angular deformity correction and limb lengthening.
 Results. In 12 patients, 76 growth plate arrests of long bones were found. Most frequently (17.1%), growth plate arrests of the distal femur and proximal tibia were observed, which resulted in limb shortening and/or axis deviation. For restoration of limb alignment in 10 (83.3%) patients, transosseous compression-distraction osteosynthesis was performed. For limb deformity correction, guided growth technique was applied by using eight-plate for temporary epiphysiodesis of active functioning part of the growth plate in four (33.3%) patients, whereas partial growth plate arrest resection with following epiphysiodesis was achieved in two (16.6%).
 Conclusions. Meningococcal septicemia leads to long bone growth plate dysfunction. The main complaints in this patient are limb shortening and their deformity. Along with the transosseous compression-distraction osteosynthesis technique, using the guided growth method by carrying out temporary epiphysiodesis of the remaining functioning part of the growth plate of damaged bone was appropriate.