Kinematic Gait Analysis in Children with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy after Selective Posterior Rhizotomy: Long Term Follow Up

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the changes of kinematic gait patterns at long-term follow up study after selective posterior rhizotomy (SPR) in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. METHOD: Eighteen children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy participated in this study. Gait patterns on sagittal plane were studied before and at average 3.5 years after SPR. Kinematic and temporospatial data were obtained by the VICON 370 system. RESULTS: The spasticity of hip adductor and ankle plantar flexor were improved significantly after SPR. The maximal angle of pelvic tilt, ankle dorsiflexion angle at initial contact, peak ankle dorsiflexion angle during stance phase, at toe-off and during swing phase, mid-range point of flexion-extension motion on ankle were significantly improved after SPR. The temporospatial data tended to improve after SPR at long-term follow up. CONCLUSION: The SPR reduced spasticity and the gait pat terns were improved in children with spastic diplegic cere bral palsy at long-term follow up.