Single-stage multilevel soft-tissue surgery in the lower limbs with spastic cerebral palsy: Experience from a rehabilitation unit

Background:

To assess the effect of single-stage multilevel soft-tissue surgery (Single Event Multiple Level Resections, SEMLR) on deformities and locomotion in patients with cerebral palsy (CP) with static contracture(s) in lower limbs.

Patients and Methods:

Study included 34 patients (M:F, 23:11) with mean age of 9.53 ± 3.92 years (4–16 years). Among them 22 had diplegia and four each had quadriplegia and right and left hemiplegia. Fourteen patients (41.2%) had their intelligence quotient (IQ) in the normal range (IQ ≥ 80), while others had mental retardation (MR) of varying severity: borderline MR (IQ = 70–79) in 12, mild MR (IQ = 50–69) in 5, and moderate MR (IQ = 35–49) in patients 3. All patients underwent surgery (total number of procedures 153, average 4.5 procedures/patient) over a period of 30 months (April 2005 to September 2007). Improvement in functional abilities and locomotion was assessed using Gross Motor Functional Classification Scale (GMFCS) scores and by physical examination.

Results:

Significant improvement in function was observed (P = 0.000) after surgery when comparing the preoperative and postoperative GMFCS scores. All patients were maintaining ambulation at a mean follow-up duration of 13.12 ± 6.07 months (3–24 months), with five patients using knee-ankle-foot orthoses (KAFO), 22 using ankle-foot orthoses (AFO), and six patients using knee gaiters. Sixteen patients were using walker, and two were using crutches as assistive devices.

Conclusion:

This study suggests that CP patients with good trunk control and static contractures at multiple joints in the lower limbs can be made ambulant with single-stage multilevel soft-tissue surgery. It has to be a team effort of the surgeon and the rehabilitation team in the postoperative period for the attainment of satisfactory goal.     

脑瘫多种手术治疗研究

[目的]通过分析痉挛性脑瘫病人采用肌腱延长、畸形骨矫形和神经选择性部分切断等不同手术的治疗效果,探讨单一或多种手术组合治疗痉挛性脑瘫病人的适应证和注意事项,提高脑瘫的手术治疗效果。[方法]应用传统的软组织松解延长手术、截骨手术、选择性脊神经后根切断术、脊神经后根选择性切断逆向吻合术,以及选择性周围神经切断等手术,对642例年龄在10个月~37岁的脑瘫病人采用不同的手术组合治疗,随访6个月~4年,平均18个月。[结果]传统的软组织松解延长手术仍然是痉挛性脑瘫病人肢体矫形的主要手术,传统的软组织手术虽然不能降低高肌张力,但可矫正固定性挛缩和畸形。能降低肌张力的决定性手术是在神经部位手术,选择性脊神经后根切断术和选择性周围神经切断术早期有部分的肌张力下降,由于降低了肌张力,使关节活动度和肢体控制能力增强,功能明显好转。[结论]手术前仔细分类,严格掌握各种术式的适应证,充分了解不同手术的潜在并发症,采用各种术式互补可提高手术治疗的综合效果,减少痉挛和畸形复发以及防止并发症的发生,术后加强功能训练也是治疗的基本方法。     

皮肤针叩刺联合康复训练治疗小儿痉挛型脑性瘫痪临床观察

目的探讨皮肤针叩刺联合康复训练治疗小儿痉挛型脑性瘫痪临床疗效。方法选取2011年2月～2013年2月来我院就诊的65例小儿脑性瘫痪患儿,根据治疗方法的不同,分为观察组32例与对照组33例。对两组患者的临床疗效、治疗前后痉挛评分、关节活动度进行比较。结果观察组临床疗效的总有效率为93．75％,对照组总有效率为81．81％,两组比较,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。治疗前两组痉挛评分比较,差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;两组治疗前后痉挛评分比较,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。观察组痉挛评分下降程度明显优于对照组（P〈0．05）。观察组关节活动度的总有效率为84．38％,对照组总有效率为72．72％,两组比较,差异显著（P〈0．05）。结论对小儿痉挛型脑瘫采用皮肤针叩刺结合康复训练治疗,可明显降低患儿肌张力,减轻痉挛程度,提高临床疗效,值得临床推广应用。     

选择性脊神经后根切断术的临床应用

目的：选择性脊神经后根切断术治疗痉挛性脑瘫的临床应用。方法：对经过SPR手术的58例患术后情况进行分析。：SPR手术对解除肌痉挛、降低异常的肌张力效果显，但术后的下肢乏力和脊柱不稳不容忽视。结论：SPR手术是治疗痉挛性脑瘫的有效方法，但应配合术后的康复训练。     

针灸治疗脑瘫患儿语言障碍的分析

目的：探讨针灸治疗脑瘫患儿语言障碍的研究进展。方法选择2013年1~12月我院收治的脑瘫患儿30例,将这30例患儿随机分成两组,每组15例患儿,分别命名为治疗组和对照组,对照组的15例患儿采取常规语言训练,治疗组的15例患者在采取常规语言训练的基础上,进行针灸治疗,观察两组患儿的临床治疗效果。结果治疗组临床治疗的总有效率为96.8%。对照组临床治疗的总有效率为77.4%。治疗组患儿临床治疗的总有效率明显的高于对照组。两组总有效率比较,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论针灸治疗脑瘫患儿的语言障碍具有良好的效果,该种方法值得临床推广。     

Effect of caudal block on sevoflurane requirement for lower limb surgery in children with cerebral palsy

Background: Caudal block is a widely used technique for providing perioperative pain management in children. In this randomized double‐blinded study, we evaluated the effects of preoperative caudal block on sevoflurane requirements in children with cerebral palsy (CP) undergoing lower limb surgery while bispectral index (BIS) values were maintained between 45 and 55. Methods: 52 children undergoing Achilles‐tendon lengthening were randomized to receive combined general–caudal anesthesia (caudal group, n = 27) or general anesthesia alone (control group, n = 25). Caudal block was performed with a single dose of 0.7 ml·kg^?1 of 1.0% lidocaine containing epinephrine at 5 μg·ml^?1. The control group received no preoperative caudal block. The endtidal sevoflurane concentrations (ET_sev) were adjusted every minute to maintain the BIS values between 45 and 55. Results: The ET_sev required to maintain the BIS values were not significantly different between the control and caudal groups after induction of anesthesia [2.1 (0.2) vs 2.2 (0.4); P = 0.773]. However, significantly higher ET_sev was observed in the control group before surgical incision [2.0 (0.2) vs 1.8 (0.3); P = 0.013] and during the first 20 min after surgical incision [2.2 (0.3) vs 1.4 (0.3); P < 0.001]. There was no significant difference in BIS values between the control and caudal groups throughout the study period (P > 0.05). In the caudal group, the caudal block was successful in 25 of 27 (92.6%) patients. Conclusions: Caudal block effectively reduced sevoflurane requirements by 36% compared to general anesthesia alone in children with CP undergoing lower limb surgery while BIS values were maintained between 45 and 55.     

Treatment of spastic diplegia in patients with cerebral palsy

Appropriate treatment, which includes orthopaedic surgery, physical and occupational therapy, recreational therapy, orthotics, and utilization of assistive devices, will improve the functional outcomes of children with cerebral palsy. Medical modalities such as intramuscular injections of botulinum toxin, and constant intrathecal administration of Baclofen via an implanted pump may also be of benefit. There is a defined set of orthopaedic surgical procedures that can enhance function, and the challenge for the surgeon is to identify which combination of procedures is appropriate for each individual patient and at what point during development to implement them. Some surgeons prefer to wait until patients are older (8-10 years) and perform all of their surgical interventions in one sitting. We, however, favor a different approach wherein surgical procedures are done as indicated during childhood development to enhance function and allow further improvement of motor skills. We refer to this approach as 'Staged Multilevel Interventions in the Lower Extremity' or 'SMILE'. This paper will discuss the rationale for this approach and our recommendations regarding the indications and timing of surgical interventions, as well as techniques and outcomes as reported in the literature.     

Long-term outcome of hamstring lengthening versus transfer and the role of biceps femoris lengthening in patients with spastic diplegia and dynamic knee flexion in gait

Background:Orthopedic treatment of flexed-knee gait consists of hamstring lengthening along with surgery at other levels. Transfer of the semitendinosus (hamstring transfer) was introduced to avoid increase of anterior pelvic tilt as well as reduce risk of recurrence.Methods:We retrospectively assessed children with spastic cerebral palsy and flexed-knee gait pre-operatively, 1 year post-operatively, and at a minimum of 7 years post-operatively.Results:The 39 patients were a mean 9.4 ± 3.4 years at the time of surgery, 20 subjects underwent hamstring transfer, and 19 subjects had hamstring lengthening with mean follow-up 9.1 years. Passive range of motion improved initially, but regressed at long term. Dynamic minimum knee flexion in stance decreased in both groups at the first post-operative study, and was maintained at final follow-up in 64-67% of patients. There was a small increase in anterior pelvic tilt at the 1-year follow-up which subsequently decreased to less than pre-operative in the hamstring lengthening group but remained mildly increased (5°) in the hamstring transfer group at final follow-up. Success in correcting stance knee flexion of the entire group was 69% of the Gross Motor Function Classification System grades I and II and 60% of the Gross Motor Function Classification System grade III subjects. Gait profile Score and sagittal knee Gait Variable Score both showed clinically important improvement after surgery and was mostly maintained long term for both groups. Lateral hamstring lengthening was beneficial in more severe patients, with minimal risk of adverse effects.Conclusion:Hamstring surgery as part of single event multi-level surgery (SEMLS) is effective in correcting flexed-knee gait in 60%–70% of patients with minimal effect on anterior pelvic tilt. There was no added advantage to hamstring transfer. Biceps Femoris lengthening may be beneficial and without significant additional risk.Level of evidence:level III.     

1090例脑性瘫痪外科手术治疗统计分析

目的分析我国脑性瘫痪（cerebralpalsy,CP）的病因、手术年龄分布、临床特征和外科治疗方法,为了解我国CP发病情况、病情特点、外科治疗状况等提供大样本的临床参考资料。方法回顾性分析1990年9月至2007年12月行外科手术治疗的CP患者1090例,采用SPSSl2软件对资料进行统计学分析。结果1090例脑瘫患者中,男760例,女330例;手术时年龄3～41岁,其中3～5岁167例,6～10岁356例,11—15岁304例,16～25岁218例,26岁以上45例;CP病因中早产占29％、难产窒息占23．9％,明显高于出生后的其他原因,有16％不确定发病原因;CP分型中双下肢痉挛型最多占41％,其次是偏瘫痉挛型25．5％和四肢瘫痉挛型12．1％;20．09％合并流涎,4．59％合并癫痫;术前徒手跛行53％,扶物站立行走31．5％,不能站立行走者15．5％;51．2％智力低于正常,重度智力障碍者占4．1％;语言表达能力低于正常者占53．2％,完全失语占2．8％。1090例cP共实施手术2885术次,其中下肢矫形手术为2535术次,上肢矫形手术59术次,颈总动脉外膜交感神经网剥脱切除术269术次,选择性脊神经后根切断术（selective posterior rhizotomy,SPR）22术次。结论早产、难产和窒息为痉挛型CP发生的最常见原因。我国存在大量未能在学龄前实施矫形手术的CP患者,甚至到成年期仍未接受正确的手术治疗,致使下肢畸形发展到严重程度,说明对CP进行综合外科治疗的专科医师十分缺乏。CP是一个综合征,矫形手术主要适用于痉挛型。根据患者的年龄、类型和病情特点,选择相应的手术方法;病情复杂者,优化组合不同的手术方法,术后配合合理的康复,以提高外科治疗效果。