Summary
Hamstring tendon release was performed in thirty-one children for correction of true knee flexion deformity due to neurological disease. The long-term results in the thirty cases (55 knees) available for review were encouraging. Functional walking capacity and independence improved in nearly all cases. No complication occurred and there was no recurrence of the deformity despite an average follow-up period of five years. The results suggest that distal hamstring tendon release can be recommended in the management of true knee flexion deformity in selected cases of cerebral palsy and meningomyelocele.
Résumé
L'allongement des tendons des muscles ischio-jambiers a été réalisé chez 31 enfants pour la correction d'une attitude vicieuse du genou en flexion, causée par un déficit neurologique. Les résultats à long terme dans les trente cas (55 genoux) qui ont pu être revus étaient encourageants. La capacité fonctionnelle de la marche ainsi que l'indépendance des malades ont été améliorées dans presque tous les cas. Aucune complication n'a été constatée. Malgré une période moyenne de cinq années d'observation aucune récidive n'a été enregistrée. Ces résultats permettent de penser que l'allongement des tendons distaux des muscles ischiojambiers peut être recommandé pour traiter le flessum du genou dans des cas sélectionnés d'infirmité motrice cérébrale et de spina bifida.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abraham, E., Verinder, D.G.R., Sharrard, W.J.W.: The treatment of flexion contracture of the knee in myelomeningocele. J. Bone Joint Surg. [Br.] 59, 433–438 (1977)
Banks, H.H.: The knee and cerebral palsy, Orthop. Clin. North Am. Vol 3, 1, 113–129 (1972)
Drummond, D.S., Rogala, E., Templeton, J., Cruess, R.: Proximal hamstring release for knee flexion and crouched posture in cerebral palsy. J. Bone Joint Surg. [Am.] 56, 1598–1602 (1974)
Eggers, G.W.N.: Transplantation of the hamstring tendons to femoral condyles in order to improve hip extension and to decrease knee flexion in cerebral spastic paralysis. J. Bone Joint Surg. [Am.] 34, 827–830 (1952)
Evans, E.B.: The status of surgery of the lower extremities in cerebral palsy. Clin. Orthop. 47, 127–139 (1966)
Evans, E.B., Julian, J.D.: Modifications of the hamstring transfer. Develop. Med. Child. Neurol. 8, 539–551 (1966)
Green, W.T., McDermott, L.J.: Operative treatment of cerebral palsy of spastic type. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 118, 434–439 (1942)
Keats, S., Kambin, P.: An evaluation of surgery for the correction of knee flexion contracture in children with cerebral spastic paralysis. J. Bone Joint Surg. [Am.] 44, 1146–1154 (1962)
Lotman, D.B.: Knee flexion deformity and patella alta in spastic cerebral palsy. Develop. Med. Child. Neurol. 18, 315–319 (1976)
Masse, P., Audic, B.: Etude critique de l'opération d'Eggers dans l'infirmité motrice cérébrale. Rev. Chir. Orthop. 52, 137–146 (1966)
Phelps, W.M.: Long-term results of orthopaedic surgery in cerebral palsy. J. Bone Joint Surg. [Am.] 39, 53–59 (1957)
Reimers, J.: Contracture of the hamstrings in spastic cerebral palsy. J. Bone Joint Surg. [Br.] 56, 102–109 (1974)
Seymour, N., Sharrard, W.J.W.: Bilateral proximal release of the hamstrings in cerebral palsy. J. Bone Joint Surg. [Br.] 50, 274–277 (1968)
Silfverskiöld, N.: Reduction of the uncrossed two-joints muscles of the leg to one-joint muscles in spastic conditions. Acta Chir. Scand. 56, 315–330 (1923)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Grujic, H., Aparisi, T. Distal hamstring tendon release in knee flexion deformity. International Orthopaedics 6, 103–106 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00268652
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00268652