The analysis of modified hamstring post surgery for the treatment of spastic cerebral palsy with knee flexion deformity

Abstract

Objective To explore the curative effect of knee flexion deformity on spastic cerebral palsy treatment meth-od. Methods All of 30 patients with spastic cerebral and knee flexion deformity were randomly divided into two groups: tradi-tional operation group and modified operation group, using the commonly used operation (In 15 cases, with traditional ham-string post surgery) and) modified operation (In 15 cases, with modified hamstring post surgery), two groups of patients were treated with Ilizarov external fixation drafting device in the correction of knee flexion deformity after soft tissue release. Adjust-ment began 7 days after the soft tissue release operation of external fixation, and stretched approximately 0.2 degrees each time, 3 times/d, until knee flexion deformity was corrected to hyperextension for 10 degree and maintained for 3 weeks, and the flexion contracture degree of knee joint was measured every 2 weeks; then the Ilizarov external fixation drafting device was removed. Then wear a walking straight leg brace for more than 3 months, until the knee walking function is good. Clinical eval-uation included the joint pain index, walking function index, knee flexion deformity degree and range of joint motion score of Dimeglio standard. Results Flexion contracture deformity of knee joint in 30 cases (60 knees) was corrected when Ilizarov ex-ternal fixator was removed, knee extension to 0 degrees-5 degrees. The two groups of patients had the knee flexion angle range of-1.2 degrees to 13.3 degrees, with an average of (7.32°±3.41°) after removed of the walking straight leg brace, in which 4 cases (8 joints) got recurrent deformity of 10°-15° at the time of removing of the walking straight leg brace. Knee ac-tivity significantly was improved at the end of treatment. 60 cases of knee joint activity were close to normal, with flexion of 100 degrees to 135 degrees, extension of 0 degrees to 10 degrees. Two groups of patients were statistically significantly im-proved before and after surgery. Curative effect comparison: The walking function index of the modified operation group was ob-viously superior to that of the traditional operation group, there was significant statistical difference. There were no statistically significant differences in pain index, knee flexion, and range of joint motion. Conclusion For the treatment of flexion deformi-ty of the knee joint in spastic cerebral palsy, traditional surgery using the semitendinosus and gracilis, post and semimembranosus lysis, combined with the Ilizarov draft external fixation could improve the walking function of the patients, simplify the surgical in-cision and reduce trauma. As a result, modified hamstring post surgery is an ideal, effective treatment method. Key words: Cerebral palsy; Knee joint; Tendon transfer; Ilizarov technique