European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Common gait patterns in cerebral palsy are equinus, scissoring, jumping, stiff knee, and crouch. Crouch gait is a very resistant condition, it increases the energy costs of walking and can lead to further joint pain and degeneration if not managed. Hamstrings muscle-tendon lengthening is a standard surgical procedure for the correction of crouch or knee flexion deformity.
Aim of the Study: To compare the efficacy of rehabilitative surgery with conservative management (Medication, exercise, orthosis, gait training)
Materials and Methods: 15 patients in each group are taken. 30 limbs of 15 patients were operated. All patients (study or control) were accessed for any decrease in popliteal angle and improvement of balance at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year on the four-point ordinal scale after surgery and conservative management.
Result: In all surgical patient improvement in popliteal angle was noted but only 25% of patients in the control group achieved improvement by one scale (poor to fair) at 1-year follow-up. 60% of patients showed improvement in balance whereas 33.3% of control group patients improved from poor to fair and after 1-year follow-up.
Conclusion: Fractional hamstring lengthening is a relatively easily done surgical procedure that results in improvement of popliteal angle as well as balance as compared to the routine conservative management.