title: Efficiency of flexible derotator in walking cerebral palsy children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The flexible derotator is one of the therapeutic resources used to combat primary and secondary abnormalities in walking cerebral palsy children. It was developed to reduce abnormal femoral and tibial torsions and lessen the latter's negative functional impact.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of wearing a flexible derotator on anatomic and functional parameters in walking cerebral palsy children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective study of walking cerebral palsy children by gathering data on bone-related parameters (femoral and tibial torsion) and functional parameters (distance and speed gait, and the energy expenditure index (EEI)). Fifteen walking cerebral palsy children were treated with the flexible derotator for one year and 15 untreated walking cerebral palsy children were included as controls. The two groups were compared in terms of the various parameters' change over time between the initial examination (the last examination prior to the start of the study or prior to use of the flexible derotator) and the final examination (after one year of follow-up).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Right femoral anteversion and right and left external tibial torsion improved. There was a significant increase in distance and speed gait and a decrease in the EEI in walking cerebral palsy children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our retrospective study revealed a significant improvement in functional parameters in children with cerebral palsy, as a result of wearing the flexible derotator for at least 6 hours a day for a year. Bone parameters only improved slightly. Use of the flexible derotator could improve these children's quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine physique et de réadaptation, hôpital de Bellevue, CHU de Saint-Étienne, France. anais.marcucci@voila.fr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marcucci
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Edouard
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Loustalet
authors.forename: M-C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: d'Anjou
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gautheron
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Degache
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D004867:Equipment Design; D005269:Femur / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013977:Tibia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D054159:Torsion, Mechanical; D016138:Walking