V. Dubravay’s scientific contributions

The spine forms with the shoulders, chest and pelvis like three- -dimensional interconnected unit, unbalancing any component may adversely affect others. Spinal deformity is diagnosed in different age groups, which is directly related to subsequent treatment. In the spectrum spinal surgery performances there are a number of techniques, which use the ideal is often modified work experience and preference of the individual surgical procedures. Separate chapter represent neuromuscular diseases and syndromes in which treatment strategy is very individual, and the result may be, in many cases non - predictive.

Spinal deformity problematics is currently analyzed in detail by specialists. According to the Scoliosis Research Society - an international organization dedicated to education, research and treatment of spinal deformities are the most common adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Involvement of the spine in children is the interdisciplinary medical care which should be coordinated by pediatrician. Observation, bracing or plastering are conservative treatments, current possibilities of spinal surgical techniques allow to correct even very difficult scoliotic and kyphotic curves. The primary goal, however, is slowing the progression of deformity. The spine forms with the shoulders, chest and pelvis like three-dimensional interconnected unit, unbalancing any component may adversely affect others.

Background: Aim of the study was to analyze effectivity of conservative versus surgical treatment (arthroereisis with bioresorbable screw) of flexible painful flatfoot in children. Patients and methods: In 2007-2014, were operated 47 children (83 feet) with this method at Orthopaedic department, Children university hospital in Bratislava. Indication for surgery was pain limiting daily activities, footprint with grade III. flatfoot in Godunov scale, heel valgus ≥ 5°, foot X-raylateral with Meary angle ≥ 10° and calcaneal pitch ≤ 15°. Arthroereses were combined with other soft tissue procedures in all cases. The mean age of the pacients during surgery was 8-13 years. Results of arthroereises were compared with 50 patients (100 feet) treated conservatively using AOFAS midfoot scale test. The mean follow up in group passed arthroereisis was 3.5 years. Results: The mean AOFAS midfoot scale test improved from 52 points preoperatively to 89 points after surgery. Preoperative and postoperative radiological comparison of Meary's angle and calcaneal pitch in 27 feet treated surgically point out excellent results in this group. In the group of patients treated conservatively, no subjective, clinical and radiological improvement were registered. Conclusion: We consider arthroereisis in combination with soft tissue procedures as effective method in the treatment of flexible flatfoot in children, with minimal rate of complications.

Osteochondroma is characterized as cartilage-covered benign bone tumor, usually seen in the second decade of life. The most common locations for these type of lesions are distal femur and proximal tibia. Scapula is an unusual sight to occur with an overall incidence of 3-4.6 % worldwide. Ventral side of scapula is more often affected which is causing scapular asymmetry and should be ruled out as part of a differential diagnosis to a "winged" scapula. Dorsal scapular side is usually asymptomatic. Authors present three cases of osteochondromas which all resulted in painful dislocation of scapula, with need of surgical treatment.