[Ilizarov external fixator for the treatment of severe genuflex deformity in spastic cerebral palsy patients].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the application and efficacy of Ilizarov external fixator in the treatment of severe genuflex deformity in spastic cerebral palsy patients.


METHODS
The individualized Ilizarov external fixtor was designed to have two hinges posteriorly and one hinges anteriorly based on the tension-stress law. Distraction posteriorly and simutaneously compression anteriorly started 3 to 5 days after surgery. Extension on the flexion side was 2 mm every day. Check toe movement, wound and wire tension everyday. The deformity were corrected in 3 to 6 weeks. Then the fixator were kept in overextension of about 10 degrees for about 3 weeks before the Ilizarov external fixator were removed. The patients were encourged to start knee rehabilitation program and discharged. And a long leg brace was prescribed to wear while walking for 2 to 3 months.


RESULTS
The average genuflex deformity was (80.61 +/- 25.51) degrees preoperatively and (8.91 +/- 2.39) degrees postoperatively. The patients were followed up for 5 months, 21 of which got an excellent results, 4 joints had recurrence of the deformity with an average of (9.32 +/- 7.33) degrees.


CONCLUSIONS
The proper use of Ilizarov technique in the treatment of severe genuflex deformity in spastic cerebral palsy patients could get satisfactory results with few complications.
Hu
Wei
W
Department of Orthopaedics, Dongzhimen Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of TCM, Beijing 100700, China. realhuwei@163.com
Xu
Shi-Gang
SG
Cao
Xu
X
Zhang
Peng
P
Xu
Lin
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000601:surgery*; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018889:Ilizarov Technique; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000002:abnormalities*; D008297:Male