Vulpius and Z-Lengthening
- Resource Type
- Authors
- David Yngve; Carol Chambers
- Source
- Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. :759-764
- Subject
- medicine.medical_specialty
medicine.medical_treatment
Achilles Tendon
Fasciotomy
Cerebral palsy
medicine
Humans
Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Range of Motion, Articular
Child
Muscle, Skeletal
Gait
Achilles tendon
business.industry
Cerebral Palsy
General Medicine
Fascia
medicine.disease
Surgery
Treatment Outcome
medicine.anatomical_structure
Surgical Procedures, Operative
Gait analysis
Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
Ankle
Range of motion
business
Ankle Joint
- Language
- ISSN
- 0271-6798
An evaluation of ankle function in gait after 22 Vulpius lengthenings of the gastrocnemius fascia and 27 Z-lengthenings of the Achilles tendon was performed in 33 ambulatory cerebral palsy patients. Simultaneous hip or knee surgeries or both were performed in most instances. Gait analysis including ankle motion, moment, and power data was obtained before surgery and approximately 1 year after. The ankle moments were improved and approached normal in the majority of cases in each group. There were no significant differences between the Vulpius and Z-lengthening groups at follow-up in any of the parameters. There were significant differences between the initial and follow-up measurements of each group. The Vulpius group showed a notable presence of abnormal midstance work initially and had a significant decrease at follow-up. The Z-lengthening group showed a notable presence of equinus and a notable lack of push-off work initially and had a significant decrease in equinus and a significant increase in push-off work at follow-up. Each procedure appears to give satisfactory results because the follow-up results were similar.