title: Effect of selective dorsal rhizotomy on gait in children with bilateral spastic paresis: kinematic and EMG-pattern changes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is an effective treatment for reducing spasticity and improving gait in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Data concerning muscle activity changes after SDR treatment are limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 30 children who underwent SDR a gait analysis was performed before and 12-24 months postoperatively. Subjects walked on a 10-m walkway at comfortable walking speed. Biplanar video was registered and surface EMG was recorded. Sagittal knee angles were measured from video and observational gait assessments were performed using the Edinburgh gait assessment scale (EGAS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The EGAS significantly improved after SDR (p<0.001). There were significant improvements of the knee angle kinematics (p<0.001). Only slight changes in EMG activity were observed. The activity of the m. gastrocnemius (GM) decreased and a late peak appeared in stance, the activity of the m. semitendinosus (ST) increased in stance. The activity of the m. rectus femoris (RF) decreased in swing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SDR improved overall gait performance but EMG changes were only slight. Better timing of the GM in stance and reduced activity of RF in swing may have increased knee flexion in swing. Reduced hamstrings spasticity may have led to postural instability in the hip.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grunt
authors.forename: W J P
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Henneman
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harlaar
authors.forename: W J R
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: van der Ouwerkerk
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Schie
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reeuwijk
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Becher
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Vermeulen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D019051:Rhizotomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014741:Video Recording