Recurrence after Achilles tendon lengthening in cerebral palsy.
We performed a retrospective review of all hemiplegic and diplegic cerebral palsy (CP) patients who had tendo-Achillis lengthening by open Z-plasty between 1974 and 1985. Fifty-seven patients with 77 heelcord lengthening were followed approximately 10 years. Our postoperative regimen did not routinely include bracing and physiotherapy, but our recurrence rates of 18 and 41% for diplegic and hemiplegic patients, respectively, are comparable to those reported in the literature. Children aged > or = 6 years at initial operation did not have recurrence. Diplegic patients who were operated on before age 4 years or patients who had longitudinal incisions had statistically significantly higher recurrence rates.
Rattey
T E
TE
Department of Orthopaedics, Dalhousie University, Canada.
Leahey
L
L
Hyndman
J
J
Brown
D C
DC
Gross
M
M
D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000601:surgery*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004863:Equinus Deformity / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000150:complications; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies