Simultaneous Multiple Operations for the Lower Extremity Contractures of Spastic Cerebral Palsied Patients

Abstract

Spasticity around the hip, knee and ankle in cerebral palsy patients interferes with ambulation, sitting and hygiene. Surgical release of the spastic muscles is frequently needed. Eight patients, three girls and five boys, ages ranging from 7 to 17, had simultaneous multiple operations for their lower extremity contractures. Two patients were quadriplegics and 6 were diplegics. The mean number of operations performed at a single session were 6.6 (range 4 to 10). The mean operation time was 105 minutes (range 35 to 180 minutes) and the mean hospital stay was 3.4 days (range 2 to 6 days). There were no serious complications during and after the operations. Rehabilitation was started by physiotherapists soon after surgery. All the diplegics attended sessions of hippotherapy, therapy by horse riding. At latest follow-up at a mean of 24 months all the patients had increase at their level of activities. Simultaneous correction of the lower extremity deformities of the cerebral palsied'patients decreases costs and simplifies postoperative rehabilitation without increasing the risks for the patients.