Neurological problems such as cerebral palsy, myelomeningocele and others may lead to unstable hips in children and juvenile patients. Major problems may arise due to the inability to treat the underlying condition. Patients may suffer from spasticity, reduced muscular tone, bone loss or bony deformity. Despite these problems several tactics are used to gain long-term reduction of unstable hips. Femoral osteotomies are done alone or in combination with pelvic osteotomies, and/or muscular procedures. The indication of the femoral osteotomy alone is the unstable hip with a normal pelvic anatomy shown in the three-dimensional computed tomography (CT). Long-term follow up (11 to 18 years) of patients with intertrochanteric femoral osteotomy alone resulted in hip centration if patients were younger than four years of age at the time of surgery. In older patients hip centration always improved but femoral osteotomies alone did not result in sufficient coverage of subluxated or dislocated hips. Therefore in these patients with pelvic deformity we perform an intertrochanteric varusderotation and shortening osteotomy to correct the femur deformity in combination with a Pemberton type peri-acetabular pelvic osteotomy, an open reduction of the hip joint and a capsuloraphy.
Introduction: Although hip dislocation is of little functional importance concerning walking ability in most spina bifida patients, relocative surgery may be considered to improve sitting balance or gait pattern in some. The risk for re-dislocation may provide further information to be considered in decision making. Material and methods: A retrospective cohort study included all patients with spina bifida of our unit in which dislocated hip joints were surgically relocated between 1983 and 2000. This procedure including femoral and pelvic corrective surgery, open reduction and soft tissue procedures if necessary, was carried out as a routine in all hip dislocations because hip stability was regarded beneficial for function. The patients were grouped according to the presence of hip dislocation or subluxation: A) within the first year of life, B) later. Group A consisted of 8 (3m, 3f), group B of 10 patients (5m, 5f). In group A 11 (5r, 6l), and in group B 13 hips (7r, 6l) were treated. The neurological levels did not differ between the groups. The hip subluxation or dislocation was diagnosed at age 0.3 years (+0.5 / -0.2 years) in group A and 8.7 years (+6.8 / -5.6 years) in group B. The first corrective hip intervention was done at age 4.6 years (+3.4 / -1.9 years) in group A, at age 9.5 years (+6.6 / -6.2 years) in group B. The follow-up time was 6.8 years (+6.2 / -6.5 years) in group A and 5.0 years (+6.7 / -4.8 years) in group B (p = 0.42) (mean values, range). Results: In group A (n=11 hips) only 1 hip remained stable located. Altogether 14 re- dislocations occurred and 10 additional re-locative operations were performed (some hips were operated on several ocasions). Seven hips were dislocated at final control. In group B (n=13 hips) 10 hips remained stable located, and 3 hips re-dislocated. One re-operation was successful, another one failed. Hence 2 hips were dislocated at final control. The difference between group A and B were statistically significant (p = 0.008). Discussion: Hip deformity present already within the first year of life is a predictor for a poor outcome of relocating surgery, whereas such surgery has a good prognosis in deformities developed later in life. This may be even more important as it has been shown that muscle balance is not a problem .
Introduction: Hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP) children are often treated with ankle-foot orthoses (AFO′s) in order to resist abnormal motion patterns and to restore normal function. It has been shown that AFOs are successful in improving pre-positioning of the foot for initial heel strike in CP patients. The myoelectric signal (EMG) during gait provides valuable information with respect to timing of muscular activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in timing of muscle activation in children with hemipelegic CP during gait with and without wearing AFOs. Patients/Materials and Methods: Eight Children (5 boys, 3 girls; mean age 9.5±1.4 years) with mild to moderate hemiplegic CP and no prior surgeries or fixed contractures were studied. The children were tested barefoot and wearing a hinged AFO and shoes. Only children with an initial toe-strike barefoot and a physiological heel-strike with the AFO were included. All children performed a 3-dimensional gait analysis. At least six trials with clear forceplate data have to be collected for each of the two testing condition. Frontal and sagittal video recording took place. A sSurface EMG of vastus medialis/lateralis, rectus femoris, biceps fem-oris, semimembranosus/semitendinosus, gastrocnemius lateralis (only barefoot), and tibialis anterior was collected. Results: Mean ankle plantarflexion at initial foot contact was 16.1° when walking barefoot and 3.4° with the AFO. EMG data showed reduced tibialis anterior muscle activity with the AFO in all patients, especially in early to mid swing phase. Muscle activation pattern was corrected towards normal for knee extensors and hamstrings. Discussion: Our results show that tibialis anterior muscle activity is reduced by a hinged AFO with plantarflexion block in hemiplegic CP children. These results indicate that the pathological muscle activation pattern present in CP patients are not only due to spastic activation but also to a compensation for the abnormal gait pattern.
The neurogenic clubfoot is composed of several deformities – such as cavus and equinus, hind foot varus, supination and adduction of the forefoot – which develop due to the neurological disease leading to muscle imbalance. Whereas over-activity and spasticity occur after damage of the central nervous system, flaccid paralysis is the result of damage of the spinal motor neuron or the nerve itself. Local overload at the lateral border of the foot, poor stability and small supporting area may interfere with function and hence require treatment of the deformity. The primary aim is a functioning foot. Treatment options are conservative means or surgical procedures. Insoles are applied to correct the foot position: a lateral support forces the foot into valgus and pronation being effective only when loaded and worn in reinforced shoes. They can also be used to distribute pressure in case of local overload and sores. An individually manufactured foot orthosis provides more stability. If the forces are still overly big, the lever arm of an ankle foot orthosis is required. Surgical procedures may be carried out in addition to or instead of conservative means. Skeletal surgery should not be performed early because the neurological disease persists despite the local correction and increases the risk for recurrences. Stiffening of the foot needs to be avoided in order to preserve function. Stiffness due to cavus is reduced by a Steindler release of the plantar fascia. Equinus should not be overstressed. If necessary, it is corrected by heel cord lengthening resulting in a persistent loss of force, or by aponeurotomy maintaining force but being less efficient to gain length. To balance supination, split or complete transfer corrects the pull of hyperactive anterior or posterior tibial muscles. Lacking skeletal deformation is a prerequisite for these soft tissue procedures. Thus their presence requires bony correction alone or in addition to soft tissue surgery. The varus of the os calcis is best corrected by an original or modified Dwyer valgus osteotomy. Cavus, supination and adduction deformity can all be corrected at the midfoot. These procedures preserve mobility and hence function of the foot. Severely contracted feet, however, may need corrective fusions. Nevertheless, stiffness is badly tolerated. An alternative is application of an external fixater of the Ilizarov type to correct the skeletal deformity and followed by an additional corrective osteotomy. Botulinum toxin A paralysing a muscle for three months can be used to switch off overactive anterior or posterior tibial muscles in order to delay surgery or to prevent pull out after transfer. Application of casts to stretch overly short muscles can help to keep the deformity under control, but they need to be followed by splints in order to avoid early recurrence.
