Diplegia

Benefit most from Treatment

 

Problems

 

1. Tight psoas / Adductors / Hamstrings / T Achilles

2. Increased Femoral Anteversion

3. External Tibial Torsion

4. Valgus Foot

 

Principles

 

Surgery once walking but before school (3-4)

SEML surgery

Gait analysis lab

 

Gait

 

True equinus

Apparent equinus (FFD knee and hip)

Jump

Crouch

 

Hip

 

A.  FFD

 

Contracture of iliopsoas is cause

- preserve iliacus to maintain strength of hip flexors

- lengthen psoas at pelvic brim / Sutherland release not divide at LT

- Sutherland release at brim

 

B.  Adduction Contracture

 

C.  Internal Rotation Deformity

 

Causes intoeing / scissoring gait

- cause unclear

- children with tight hamstring can only sit in W position

- ? causes femoral anteversion

 

Early release of hamstring can decrease intoeing

 

DRVO proximal femur

 

Knee

 

A.  FFD 

- due to hamstring contracture

- often unrecognised co-contracture of quads / rectus femoris

- if hamstrings alone lengthened, stiff flexed knee gait becomes stiff extended knee gait

 

B.  Spastic Crouch Correction

- gait with flexed knees & hips

- release psoas / hamstrings / rectus

 

Ankle & Foot

 

A.  Ankle Equinus

 

True equinus

- tight T Achilles

 

Apparent equinus

- tight hamstrings

- patients use equinus to extend knee

- if release T achilles in this situation will cause crouch gait

 

B.  Ankle Equinovalgus

 

3 Solutions

- Evans Procedure / Lateral Column Lengthening

- STJ fusion & T Achilles lengthening

- Triple Arthrodesis