title: Effects of gastrocnemius recession on ankle motion, strength, and functional outcomes: a systematic review and national healthcare database analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this systematic review was to report the effects of gastrocnemius recession on ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, function, and push-off power.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were reviewed with terms "gastrocnemius recession". The inclusion criteria were: (1) clinical studies, (2) published in a peer-reviewed journal within the past 10 years, and (3) published in English. Excluded were: (1) review articles, (2) cadaveric studies, (3) studies including patients under the age of 18 years, (4) studies evaluating a neurologic condition, (5) level of evidence 5, and (6) Quality of Evidence Score <3. Data were then extracted and analysed for trends. The PearlDiver Database was also used to review de-identified patient information retrospectively between 2007 and 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Full-text review yielded 23 articles that fit the inclusion criteria. Twenty-one of 23 (91%) and 2/23 (9%) studies were level of evidence 4 and 3, respectively. Twelve of 23 (52%) studies reported follow-up assessment between 12 and 36 months, and no studies reported longer-term follow-up. Twelve of 12 (100%) studies reported improved dorsiflexion range of motion 9/9 (100%) reported improved AOFAS, and 11/11 (100%) reported improved VAS. Five of 23 (22%) studies reported strength in a measured and controlled fashion with variable results, but of these, no study reported a return to normal power. The mean complication rate was 14%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The available evidence supports that GR improves functional outcomes and increases dorsiflexion range of motion. Furthermore, GR affects gait kinematics, which may cause compensatory effects at the knee, ankle, and subtalar joints. Evidence has shown that power does not return to normal levels. Clinicians may utilize these data clinically to determine whether patients may benefit from GR or not.
  
  
  METHODS
  IV.
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gianakos
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA.|Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Youichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA.|University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Murawski
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA. kennedyj@hss.edu.
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D003286:Contracture / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Gastroc; Gastrocnemius; Gastrocnemius recession