Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
A 90 degree straight leg raising hamstring lengthening was conducted in a consisted and prospective manner in non ambulatory children with Cerebral palsy.
OBJECTIVE:
A particular attention paid to evaluate clinical crouch recurrence, postoperative recurvatum, and overall improvement in functional capacity.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Sixty eight patients ages ranged from four to ten years have spastic neuromuscular involvement. A 90 degree straight leg hamstring lengthening performed in a specified manner. The mean length of follow up was 7 years 3 months (range 2years 4months -13years).
RESULTS:
Fifty-one of the sixty-eight patients had at least one level improvement in their Gross Motor Function Classification score.
The popliteal angle and straight leg raising improved postoperatively measured at the most recent follow up (p<0.0005).Non of our patients had regression of the popliteal angle to the preoperative level.
Nineteen patients (27.9%) had a mean recurvatum of 6 degrees. With the most recent follow up only eleven (16.1%) patients persisted with recurvatum at stance and gait.
CONCLUSION:
The 90 degrees straight hamstring lengthening may be considered a safe, simple and effective procedure with comparable or lesser complication rate.