title: [Gluteal muscle contracture release for the treatment of gluteal muscle contracture induced knee osteoarthritis: a report of 52 cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate clinical efficacy and significance of gluteal muscle contracture release for the treatment of gluteal muscle contracture induced knee osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2008 to June 2010,52 patients with gluteal muscle contracture induced knee osteoarthritis were reviewed. Among the patients,15 patients were male and 37 patients were female, ranging in age from 15 to 45 years, with an average of 35 years. Eighteen patients had left knee osteoarthritis, 30 patients had right osteoarthritis, and 4 patients had double knee osteoarthritis. All the patients were treated with gluteal muscle contracture release. Lysholm knee score was used to evaluate therapeutic effects before and after operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the patients were followed up,and the duration ranged from 12 to 37 years,with a mean of 15 months. The Lysholm knee score improved from preoperative (68.12 +/- 0.78) points to postoperative (91.23 +/- 0.47) points at the last follow-up, the difference had statistical difference (t=31.269, P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gluteal muscle contracture release is effective to relieve symptoms of gluteal muscles contracture and knee osteoarthritis. The patients with gluteal muscle contracture should be treated early so as to prevent effects of gluteal muscle contracture on knee joint, slow down degeneration of knee joint at early stage, and prevent occurrence of knee osteoarthritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Traditional Chinese Medical College of Gansu, Lanzhou 730050, Gansu, China.
authors.forename: Cheng-xiang
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yu-suo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Sheng-hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hai-ping
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xi-ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Chai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002081:Buttocks; D003286:Contracture / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult