Correlation of technical surgical goals to the GDI and investigation of post-operative GDI change in children with cerebral palsy.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to introduce a standardized set of surgical technical achievement goals (TAGs) as part of a comprehensive outcome assessment model for children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) undergoing orthopaedic surgical intervention to improve gait. Examination of relationships of these surgical goals to the Gait Deviation Index (GDI) and use of two assessments in tandem provided a thorough picture of technical surgical outcomes. This study also investigated changes in GDI in children with spastic CP after surgery. METHODS: Data from 269 participants with spastic CP, aged 4 to 19 years with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I, II, and III who underwent lower extremity orthopaedic surgical intervention to improve gait were retrospectively analyzed. Data were examined as one heterogeneous group and sub-grouped based on pattern of involvement and GMFCS level to determine change in GDI and relationships between GDI and TAGs. RESULTS: Differences in TAG achievement and GDI change by GMFCS level suggest a pairing of GDI with another technical measure to be beneficial. Analysis of the outcome tools individually revealed a significant difference between the pre-operative GDI and post-operative GDI mean for the entire group, as well as each of the subgroups. A significant difference in TAG achievement by GMFCS level was also noted. CONCLUSION: This paper provides evidence that lower extremity orthopedic intervention for the ambulatory child with spastic diplegic or hemiplegic CP improves gait and that a pairing of the GDI and TAGs system is beneficial to capture an accurate technical outcome assessment in both higher and lower functioning patients.

The use of dynamic EMG in predicting the outcome of split posterior tibial tendon transfers in spastic hemiplegia.

The purpose of this study was to assess the outcome of split posterior tibial tendon transfers in patients with spastic cerebral palsy to determine whether the use of preoperative dynamic electromyography was predictive of surgical success. The study is a consecutive case series of 25 children with spastic hemiplegia who underwent unilateral split posterior tibial tendon transfers for varus foot deformities. Three patients were considered failures because of residual varus, which required further surgery. An additional 5 patients had mild residual varus. Preoperative dynamic electromyographic data were evaluated to determine the etiology of postoperative undercorrection. Undercorrection seems to be related to unrecognized anterior tibial muscle overactivity and advanced age at surgery. Overcorrection did not occur. Dropfoot was noted postoperatively in 52% of patients and was related to early cessation of anterior tibial muscle activity in swing. Split posterior tibial tendon transfer is a successful surgery on those patients with increased posterior tibial muscle activity. Undercorrection can be avoided by assessing the activity of the anterior tibial muscle before surgery. These results are expected to assist in surgical decision making for the equinovarus foot in cerebral palsy.

Rectus and hamstring surgery in cerebral palsy: a gait analysis study of results by functional ambulation level.

The purpose of this study is to determine if children more severely involved with cerebral palsy respond as well to rectus transfer and hamstring surgery as those with less severe involvement. Ninety-nine children were classified as independent community ambulators, crutch/walker-dependent community ambulators, or household/exercise ambulators. Maximum knee extension in stance and total range of knee motion in gait increased following surgery in all groups. Peak knee flexion in swing was maintained in the independent group only, but timing of knee flexion in swing improved in all groups. All groups showed increases in stride length, and the household/exercise group also showed an increase in walking speed. Four of 39 crutch/walker-dependent community ambulators and 13 of 21 household/exercise ambulators progressed to the next higher functional ambulation group.