Introduction: It has been proposed that rotational gait abnormalities in the normal child are usually reflections of the anatomic deformity. A decreased acetabular and femoral anteversion have been recognized as a predisposing factor for osteoarthritis of the hip and the McKibbin instability index was introduced to quantify this relationship. Additionally, an increased femoral anteversion has been associated with osteoarthritis of the knee. However, it is well known that compensatory factors influence the dynamic rotational profile during gait. We compared rotational computed tomography data with gait analysis to evaluate their correlation and to elucidate the influence of compensatory mechanisms.

Materials and Methods: In a prospective study conducted between 2001 and 2005 patients presenting with rotational malalignment were sent for 3D gait analysis. Main exclusion criterion was any kind of neurological affection. Patients in whom surgery was considered were referred to rotational computed tomography. The rotational alignment of the pelvis, hip and knee at different times during the gait cycle as evaluated in the 3D gait analysis was compared to the angular values derived from the rotational computed tomography for the femur and tibia and statistically analyzed and correlated.

Results: There were 12 female and 16 male patients with a mean age of 16 (± 9.7) years at the time of gait analysis. After a first evaluation of data 8 limb segments were excluded to increase the quality of data. The mean anteversion of the femur was 29 degrees (2 degrees of retrotorsion to 56 degrees of anteversion) and the mean tibial torsion was 31 degrees (1 to 66 degrees of external torsion). The calculation of the Pearson correlation showed that an increase of femoral anteversion resulted in an increase of pelvic range of motion. An increase of femoral anteversion resulted in an increase of the internal rotation of the hip. Highly significant correlations were found between the rotational–CT values for the tibia and the all parameters describing rotation of the knee. The determination coefficient was high for tibial torsion versus knee rotation (R2 = 0.64), but showed a low value for femoral anteversion versus hip rotation (R2 = 0.2).

Conclusion: The rotation of the hip as found in the gait analysis showed only weak correlation with rotational CT data. This is not surprising as the hips segment offers many possibilities for compensation. The torsion of the tibia was found to correlate very strongly with the gait analysis. The McKibbin index seems questionable as a prognostic factor for the individual patient in the light of a multitude of dynamic compensatory influences. Effort should be made to integrate the static instability index with dynamic gait analysis data.

Introduction: Congenital tarsal coalition is one of the most prevalent (1–6%) anomalies of the hindfoot and midfoot. Its etiology is unknown. By definition there are boney, cartilaginous or fibrous brigdes between 2 bones of the hindfoot and midfoot, which are classified by their localization; the most common coalitions are calcaneonavicular (53%) and talocalcaneal (37%).

Patients and Methods: From 2001 to 2007 28 patients with 37 coalitions had surgery at the Orthopedic Hospital Vienna-Speising.

32 calcaneonavicular coalitions were surgically excised and an autogenous free fat graft was interponed to prevent a relapse. 1 calcaneonavicluar coalition also had an interposition of the extensor digitorum brevis after resection, while 1 calcaneonavicular coalition had lengthening of the short peroneal tendon in addition to excision and autogenous free fat graft. 1 calcaneonavicular coalition had to have an arthrodesis of the talocalcaneal joint.

From 2 talocalcaneal coalitions 1 had excision the other 1 talocalcaneal arthrodesis.

Both of the coalitions that had arthrodesis had short-leg plastercasts for 12 to 13 weeks.

For patients with bilateral coalition pedobarography was performed and the foot that had been treated compared to the untreated contralateral side. For these patients the AOFAS ankle and hind foot score and pain according to the VAS were evaluated.

Results: 22 coalitions that had had surgery were uncomplaining after intervention, including 1 patient who had had arthrodesis. 3 calcaneonavicular coalitions that had had excision and autogenous free fat graft had a relapse within 2 to 3 years. 2 of them had a revision and second-look excision of the bridge.

1 patient showed a suspicious relapse in MRI after excision of a calcaneonavicular coalition. 1 talocalcaneal coaltion that had had excision continued to have pain after surgery. Both patients did not want a revision.

1 patient who was treated by an arthrodesis of the subtalar joint had a fracture of the tibial head, where autogenous bone graft had been taken. Osteosynthesis of the tibia was performed.

4 patients had pain after excision of a calcaneonavicular coalition but could be relieved by conservative treatment.

For 5 patients adequate follow up is still pending due to short interval to surgery.

Pedobarography showed tendecies of improved pressure distribution of the treated feet that were not significant.

Conclusion: Excision and autogenous free fat graft should be first approach to surgery of symptomatical congenital tarsal coalitions for whom conservative treatment was not satisfying. When resected sufficiently the rate of relapse of the boney, cartilaginous or fibrous bridge is 7%. Depending on the patients age, the size of the affected area of the joint (50%) and secondary arthrotic changes of the joint an arthrodesis of the talo-calcaneal joint should be performed.

Aims: Minimal invasive total hip replacement is supposed to allow a quicker rehabilitation in the immediate post-operative period due to reduced soft tissue damage. The aim of this study is to compare gait kinematics after total hip arthroplasty using a one incision minimal invasive approach to a traditional approach.

Matarial and Methods: 21 patients were available for a complete analysis. In 12 patients (MIS group) a minimal invasive, modified Watson-Jones approach was used, in 9 patients (Standard group) a transgluteal approach as described by Bauer was used. All operations were performed by a single surgeon with the patient in supine position. In all cases the same cementless implant (Alloclassic® VariallTM system) with standard instruments was used. 3D gait analysis was carried out pre-operatively, 10 days postoperatively and after 3 months. The variables analysed in this study were velocity, step length, range of hip extension, range of pelvic tilt, Trendelenburg’s sign and Duchenne limp, pelvic rotation and symmetry.

Results: There were no significant differences between the MIS and the Standard group in any of the evaluated variables. In both groups of the patients presented a decrease in the hip extension at the end of stance phase 10 days postoperatively. About half of these patients compensated with an increased sagital pelvic tilt during maximal hip extension. At the 3 months follow-up all patients in both groups had an increased hip extension compared to the preoperative values, reached normative values. The velocity was reduced in both groups at the 10 days follow-up, ¼ reached normative values after 3 months.

Conclusion: Our data show no significant improvement of gait kinematics in patients who underwent a total hip arthroplasty using a minimal invasive approach (modified Watson-Jones) compared to a standard approach (Bauer) during the early postoperative period.

Background: Congenital absence of the cruciate ligaments is a commonly associated pathology of the knee joint in congenital longitudinal deformities. We performed a radiological analysis and investigated gait patterns in patients with congenital absence of one or both cruciate ligaments.

Patients and Methods: Thirty-four knee joints in thirty-one patients with congenital longitudinal deficiency of the lower limb were evaluated. The cruciate ligaments and associated abnormalities of the bony configuration were evaluated on magnetic resonance imaging and tunnel view radiographs. A radiological classification is proposed. Gait analysis was employed to determine kinematic, kinetic and electromyographic data in 24 of these patients and the results were compared to an age-matched control group.

Results: We differentiated 3 main types of absence of the cruciate ligaments with typical associated changes in the femoral intercondylar notch (FIN) and the tibial eminence (TE). In type I (n=19) partial closure of the FIN and hypoplasia of the TE was observed in hypoplasia or absence of the ACL, in type II (n=7) these findings were aggravated by additional underlying hypoplasia of the PCL and in type III (n=8) absence of the FIN and a flat TE was observed in aplasia of both cruciate ligaments. The main findings in gait analysis were significantly increased flexion moment of the hip, increased flexion of the knee in midstance phase and reduced ankle power in comparison to the control group.

Conclusion: The knee joint with aplastic cruciate ligaments shows typical radiological changes, thus, one will be able to distinguish between aplasia of the ACL only or both cruciate ligaments by observing plain tunnel view radiographs. Our obtained data of the gait analysis revealed specific gait patterns as adaption to underlying aplasia of the cruciate ligaments.