The cerebral palsy hip classification is reliable: an inter- and intra-observer reliability study.

We have tested the reliability of a recently reported classification system of hip morphology in adolescents with cerebral palsy in whom the triradiate cartilage was closed. The classification is a six-grade ordinal scale, based on the measurement of the migration percentage and an assessment of Shenton's arch, deformity of the femoral head, acetabular deformity and pelvic obliquity. Four paediatric orthopaedic surgeons and four physiotherapists received training in the use of the classification which they applied to the assessment of 42 hip radiographs, read on two separate occasions. The inter- and intra-observer reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient and found to be excellent, with it ranging from 0.88 to 0.94. The classification in our study was shown to be valid (based on migration percentage), and reliable. As a result we believe that it can now be used in studies describing the natural history of hip displacement in cerebral palsy, in outcome studies and in communication between clinicians.

Proximal femoral geometry in cerebral palsy: a population-based cross-sectional study.

There is much debate about the nature and extent of deformities in the proximal femur in children with cerebral palsy. Most authorities accept that increased femoral anteversion is common, but its incidence, severity and clinical significance are less clear. Coxa valga is more controversial and many authorities state that it is a radiological artefact rather than a true deformity. We measured femoral anteversion clinically and the neck-shaft angle radiologically in 292 children with cerebral palsy. This represented 78% of a large, population-based cohort of children with cerebral palsy which included all motor types, topographical distributions and functional levels as determined by the gross motor function classification system. The mean femoral neck anteversion was 36.5 degrees (11 degrees to 67.5 degrees) and the mean neck-shaft angle 147.5 degrees (130 degrees to 178 degrees). These were both increased compared with values in normally developing children. The mean femoral neck anteversion was 30.4 degrees (11 degrees to 50 degrees) at gross motor function classification system level I, 35.5 degrees (8 degrees to 65 degrees ) at level II and then plateaued at approximately 40.0 degrees (25 degrees to 67.5 degrees) at levels III, IV and V. The mean neck-shaft angle increased in a step-wise manner from 135.9 degrees (130 degrees to 145 degrees) at gross motor function classification system level I to 163.0 degrees (151 degrees to 178 degrees) at level V. The migration percentage increased in a similar pattern and was closely related to femoral deformity. Based on these findings we believe that displacement of the hip in patients with cerebral palsy can be explained mainly by the abnormal shape of the proximal femur, as a result of delayed walking, limited walking or inability to walk. This has clinical implications for the management of hip displacement in children with cerebral palsy.

Lengthening and transfer of hamstrings for a flexion deformity of the knee in children with bilateral cerebral palsy: technique and preliminary results.

Between July 2000 and April 2004, 19 patients with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy who required an assistive device to walk had combined lengthening-transfer of the medial hamstrings as part of multilevel surgery. A standardised physical examination, measurement of the Functional Mobility Scale score and video or instrumented gait analysis were performed pre- and post-operatively. Static parameters (popliteal angle, flexion deformity of the knee) and sagittal knee kinematic parameters (knee flexion at initial contact, minimum knee flexion during stance, mean knee flexion during stance) were recorded. The mean length of follow-up was 25 months (14 to 45). Statistically significant improvements in static and dynamic outcome parameters were found, corresponding to improvements in gait and functional mobility as determined by the Functional Mobility Scale. Mild hyperextension of the knee during gait developed in two patients and was controlled by adjustment of their ankle-foot orthosis. Residual flexion deformity > 10 degrees occurred in both knees of one patient and was treated by anterior distal femoral physeal stapling. Two children also showed an improvement of one level in the Gross Motor Function Classification System.

Supramalleolar derotation osteotomy of the tibia, with T plate fixation. Technique and results in patients with neuromuscular disease.

Torsional deformities of the tibia are common in children, but in the majority both the torsion and the associated disturbance of gait resolve without intervention. There are, however, a significant number of children and adults with neuromuscular disease who present with pathological tibial torsion, which may require surgical correction. We conducted a prospective study in two centres, to investigate the outcome of supramalleolar derotation osteotomy of the tibia, using internal fixation with the AO-ASIF T plate. A range of outcome variables was collected, prospectively, for 57 patients (91 osteotomies), including thigh foot angle, foot progression angle, post-operative complications and serial radiographs. Correction of thigh foot angle and foot progression angle was satisfactory in all patients. Three major complications were recorded; one aseptic nonunion, one fracture through the osteotomy site after removal of the plate and one distal tibial growth arrest. We found that supramalleolar derotation osteotomy of the tibia, with AO-ASIF T plate fixation is an effective method for the correction of torsional deformities of the tibia and the associated disturbances of gait in children and adults with neuromuscular disease, with a 5.3% risk of major complications.

An index for quantifying deviations from normal gait.

A method is derived to calculate the amount by which a subject's gait deviates from an average normal profile, and to represent this deviation as a single number. The method uses principal component analysis to derive a set of 16 independent variables from 16 selected gait variables. The sum of the square of these 16 independent variables is interpreted as the deviation of the subject's gait from normal. Statistical tests of the method's validity and an initial demonstration of its clinical utility are included. It is found that using this index, increasing clinical involvement corresponds to increasing index score.

Sacral-level myelomeningocele: long-term outcome in adults.

We reviewed long-term outcome of 46 adult patients with sacral-level myelomeningocele with an average age of 23 years (range, 18-38). Data were collected from the medical records, computerized database, and a questionnaire. Thirty patients had high sacral lesions (weak gluteus medius, gluteus maximums, and gastroc/soleus), and 16 had low sacral lesions (fair to normal-strength gluteus medius, gluteus maximus, and gastroc/soleus). Thirteen patients had signs of tethered-cord syndrome, and 12 underwent neurosurgical release. Thirty-nine patients underwent a total of 217 orthopaedic surgeries. At the final follow-up, 41 (89.13%) patients were community ambulators. Thirty-two required no external support for walking. Twenty-nine patients used some kind of orthosis. Aggressive management of tethered-cord syndrome, surgical correction of musculoskeletal deformities, and avoidance of arthrodesis at the foot level may be the main factors in accounting for these results.