Summary
We have utilised a scoring system with the aid of a specially designed worksheet to measure gait ability in spastic children with cerebral palsy before and after corrective soft tissue operations. Postoperatively, there were obvious improvements in gait especially in the mobility of the leg and the foot. Comparison between a visually assessed score and objectively recorded values using foot-switches showed a good correlation. The postoperative improvement was most obvious in hemiplegic children, but was also present in diplegic children following both single and complex one-stage operations.
Résumé
Afin de mesurer les possibilités de marche chez les enfants spastiques atteints de paralysie cérébrale, nous avons utilisé une cotation obtenue grâce à une abaque spécialement réalisée pour cette investigation. Les mesures ont été faites avant et après les opérations correctrices portant sur les parties molles.
En post-opératoire on a noté une amélioration indiscutable de la marche, notamment en ce qui concernait la mobilité de la jambe et du pied. La comparaison entre l'estimation visuelle et les enregistrements objectifs a montré une bonne corrélation. L'amélioration post-opératoire est plus marquée chez les enfants hémiplégiques, mais elle existe aussi chez les enfants diplégiques, tant après des interventions simples que complexes.
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Larsson, L.E., Miller, M., Norlin, R. et al. Changes in gait patterns after operations in children with spastic cerebral palsy. International Orthopaedics 10, 155–162 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00266202
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00266202