[Prevention of development of hip joint instability in patients with the spastic form of juvenile cerebral palsy].
OBJECTIVE
How effective are the hip adductors and flexors tenotomies for the correction of unstable hip joint in cerebral palsy?


METHODS
The study included 45 children with contractures of the hip adductors and flexors and hip subluxations due to spastic cerebral palsy. Thirty three of them were boys and 12 were girls. Their ages ranged from 2 to 13 years. Preoperative and postoperative roentgenograms of 82 hip joints were investigated.


METHODS
Open tenotomies of m. adductor longus and brevis, m. gracilis, m. rectus femoris and m. psoas major. The immobilisation by POP casts lasted for 6 weeks. Abduction and extension bracing followed the plaster removal in all children. The hip joints were radiographed in neutral rotation both before and at least 6 months after the operation. Reimers migration percentage (MP) and Wiberg angle (CE angle) known as the parameters of hip instability were assessed. The obtained data were statistically analysed.


RESULTS
The preoperative MP was below 25% in 25 hips, between 25 and 39% in 33 hips, between 40 and 59% in 14, and over 59% in 10 hips. The analysis of postoperative roentgenograms showed the following MP distribution: 56 less than 25%, 23 between 25 and 39%, and 3 greater than 40%. No postoperative MP was higher than 49%. 54% formerly subluxated hips achieved normal MP. The difference between preoperative and postoperative MP was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Before the tenotomies 24 hips were normal with CE angle over 20 degrees. It was between 20 degrees and 11 degrees in 28 cases and between 10 degrees and 1 degree in 17 cases. The preoperative CE angle was negative in 13 cases. Postoperatively CE angle was higher than 20 degrees in 53 hips. It was between 20 degrees and 11 degrees in 22 cases and between 10 degrees and 1 degree in 7 cases. The minimum CE angle after soft-tissue release was 4 degrees. The difference between preoperative and postoperative CE angles was statistically significant (P < 0.001). MP improved in 93% and CE angles in 96% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Classical tenotomies of the spastic hip adductors used to be recommended in prevention of the hip subluxation in cerebral palsy patients. MP improved in 70% of cases in the Reimers' study (1980) based on selective adductors tenotomies. If the soft tissue release was unsuccessful bony operation was indicated. Kalen and Black claimed in 1985 that if psoas tenotomy was performed in addition to adductors tenotomies MP improvement was attained in 80-100% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Adductors and flexors tenotomies can correct the spastic hip joint instability fully and permanently if the operation is performed prior to bony changes of the hip. The operation being followed by appropriate immobilisation and physiotherapy increases the percentage of good results.
Sindelárová
R
R
Klinika dĕtské ortopedie, Fakultní nemocnice, Brno.
Poul
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006616:Hip Contracture / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006617:Hip Dislocation / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009128:Muscle Spasticity; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000601:surgery*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies