Is Gastrocnemius Tightness a Normal Finding in Children?: A Cross-Sectional Study of 204 Norwegian Schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: Isolated gastrocnemius tightness has been associated with several foot conditions. We do not know whether gastrocnemius tightness is a normal finding in the developing child or whether tightness is associated with foot symptoms. Recurrent foot and leg pain is common in children, and more knowledge of gastrocnemius tightness is of interest. METHODS: Passive ankle dorsiflexion was measured with the knee flexed and extended (Silfverskiöld test) in 204 Norwegian schoolchildren (408 feet). School classes from 4 different age groups were recruited (5 to 6 years, 8 to 9 years, 11 to 12 years, and 14 to 15 years). Footprints were also recorded in order to assess for any association between foot morphology and dorsiflexion results, specifically, gastrocnemius tightness. RESULTS: Ankle dorsiflexion decreased with increasing age. The thresholds for equinus contracture were set at either ≤5° or ≤0° of ankle dorsiflexion when measured with the knee extended, and the Silfverskiöld test was considered to be positive when ankle dorsiflexion was reduced by ≥10° from the flexed knee position to the extended knee position. The rate of gastrocnemius tightness was 54.9% if the threshold was set at ≤5° and only 3.7% if the threshold was set at ≤0°. The data did not provide evidence of an association between dorsiflexion and footprints. CONCLUSIONS: Ankle dorsiflexion decreased with increasing age in this population of schoolchildren, highlighting the importance of age-matched norms. A majority had a tight gastrocnemius when the ankle dorsiflexion threshold was set at ≤5°, indicating that isolated gastrocnemius tightness should not be interpreted as a pathological finding. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Outcome in adolescence of brachial plexus birth palsy. 69 individuals re-examined after 10­20 years.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The frequency and severity of a permanent lesion after brachial plexus birth palsy (BPBP) and its impact on activities of daily living are not well documented. We therefore investigated the outcome of BPBP in adolescents, regarding arm function and consequences for activity and participation. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Of 30,574 babies born at St. Olavs University Hospital in 1991-2000, 91 had BPBP (prevalence 3 per 1,000), and 69 of these individuals were examined at a median age of 14 (10-20) years. The examination included the modified Mallet classification, range of motion, shoulder rotation and grip strength, Assisting Hand Assessment, and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. Of the 22 subjects who were not examined, 3 could not be traced and 19 reported having no problems in the affected arm. RESULTS: At follow-up, 17 adolescents had a permanent lesion (i.e. individual Mallet subscore below 4) with a median Mallet total score of 15 (9-19), while 52 had good or normal shoulder function (median Mallet total score 25 (23-25)). All participants with a permanent lesion had reduced active shoulder rotation (≤15°), 16 had elbow extension deficit, and 10 had subnormal grip strength. External rotation was considerably weaker in the affected shoulder. In addition, they had ineffective use of the affected arm in bimanual activities. Even so, all except 1 were independent in activities of daily living, although 15 experienced minor difficulties. INTERPRETATION: Every fourth to fifth child with BPBP had a permanent lesion as an adolescent. External rotation was the most impaired movement. Despite ineffective use of the affected arm in bimanual activities, all of the participants except one were independent in activities of daily living.

A clinical and radiographic 13-year follow-up study of 138 Charnley hip arthroplasties in patients 50-70 years old: comparison of university hospital data and registry data.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Arthroplasty registers provide rates of implant survival in large populations based on implant revision. In an unrevised prosthesis population, some patients may have implants with clinically poor outcome or radiographic failure. We therefore evaluated medium-term clinical and radiographic results in patients with charnley hip arthroplasties and compared our results with data from the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register (NAR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1989 through 1991, 138 Charnley arthroplasties with plain Palacos cement were performed in 123 patients who were 50-70 years old. At follow-up after 13 (12-15) years, 26 patients had died (28 hips). The 84 unrevised patients (93 hips) were interviewed and underwent clinical and radiographic assessment. Prosthesis survival was estimated by the Kaplan- Meier method. RESULTS: At follow-up, 83% of the patients were completely satisfied with their hip replacement. Mean Harris hip score (HHS) was 83 (SD 15), mean EQ-5D index was 0.75 (SD 0.24) and mean EQ-VAS score was 69 (SD 21). Most clinical assessments had poorer scores for Charnley category C (n = 47) than for Charnley category A + B (n = 46). Function, according to Charnley's modified Merle d'Aubigne and Postel scoring system, was improved compared to preoperative values. The survival at 10 years was 89% (95% CI: 84-95) and at 13 years it was 85% (95% CI: 79-92) with revision for any reason as endpoint. In addition to 20 revised hips, 8 implants were radiographically loose and 13 hips had HHS < 70, giving a clinical success rate of 76%. Only 4 primary operations (0.8%) had not been reported to the NAR, but all revisions had been reported. INTERPRETATION: Clinical follow-up studies give essential information that is additional to that gained from revision-based outcome studies. To fully appreciate the clinical effectiveness of an implant, specific hip function, patient satisfaction, quality of life, and radiographic analysis must also be considered. The functional status of the patient has an important influence on the clinical outcome after hip replacement.