Dynamic limb length discrepancy at heel strike is a better indicator of walking performance than static limb length discrepancy among patients with hemiplegic cerebral palsy

Introduction: Limb length discrepancy (LLD) of lower extremities is underdiagnosed due to compensatory mechanisms during locomotion. The natural course of compensation leads to biomechanical alteration in human musculoskeletal system leading to adverse effects. General consensus accepts LLD more than 2 cm as significant to cause biomechanical alteration. No studies were conducted correlating height and lower extremities true length (TL) to signify LLD. Examining significant LLD in relation to height and TL using dynamic gait analysis with primary focus on kinematics and secondary focus on kinetics would provide an objective evaluation method. Methodology: Forty participants with no evidence of LLD were recruited. Height and TL were measured. Reflective markers were attached at specific points in lower extremity and subjects walked in gait lab at a self-selected normal walking pace with artificial LLDs of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 cm simulated using shoe raise. Accommodation period of 30 min was given. Infrared cameras were used to capture the motion. Primary kinematic (knee flexion and pelvic obliquity (PO)) and secondary kinetic (ground reaction force (GRF)) were measured at right heel strike and left heel strike. Functional adaptation was analyzed and the postulated predictor indices (PIs) were used as a screening tool using height, LLD, and TL to notify significance. Results: There was a significant knee flexion component seen in height category of less than 170 cm. There was significant difference between LLD 3 cm and 4 cm. No significant changes were seen in PO and GRF. PIs of LLD/height and LLD/TL were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curve. LLD/height as a PI with value of 1.75 was determined with specificity of 80% and sensitivity of 76%. Conclusion: A height of less than 170 cm has significant changes in relation to LLD. PI using LLD/height appears to be a promising tool to identify patients at risk.

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Bone age in unilateral spastic cerebral palsy: is there a correlation with hand function and limb length?

Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism ◽

10.1515/jpem-2016-0349 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Je-Sang Lee ◽

Im Jeong Choi ◽

Myung Jun Shin ◽

Jin-A Yoon ◽

Sung Hwa Ko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Upper Limb ◽

Hand Function ◽

Bone Age ◽

Limb Length Discrepancy ◽

Limb Length ◽

Spastic Cerebral Palsy ◽

Unaffected Side ◽

Length Discrepancy ◽

The Difference

AbstractBackground:The purpose of this study was to analyze the bone age and the upper extremity segmental lengths between the affected and the unaffected side and to reveal the correlation between the difference of bone age and the upper limb length discrepancy in the unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP). We also evaluated the relationship between difference of bone age and hand function.Methods:Seventy-eight patients participated in this study. The bone ages of hand-wrists of the patients were determined by the Greulich and Pyle atlas. Upper extremity segmental lengths were measured by radiograph. The side-to side length discrepancy was calculated as a percentage. Hand function was classified according to the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS).Results:There was significant difference in the bone age between the affected and unaffected side (p<0.001). Segmental lengths of the upper extremities showed significant differences between the affected and unaffected side (p<0.001). The hand function of 56 patients was evaluated by MACS and the MACS level showed correlation with difference of side-to-side bone age (r=0.29, p=0.03) and all segmental upper limb length discrepancies (p<0.05). The hand function in the bone-age-delayed group was significantly better than the hand function in the bone-age-symmetrical group (p<0.01).Conclusions:The bone age of the affected side compared to the unaffected side is delayed and the hand function of the affected side is correlated with the difference of side-to-side bone age and the upper limb length discrepancy. Hand function might be helpful for predicting potential limb shortness and delayed bone age.

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Intramedullary Bone Lengthening Following Preceding Hip Surgery—A Case Series

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm9124104 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 4104

Author(s):

Lukas Zak ◽

Thomas Manfred Tiefenboeck ◽

Gerald Eliot Wozasek

Keyword(s):

Hip Dysplasia ◽

Young Patients ◽

Limb Lengthening ◽

Limb Length Discrepancy ◽

Limb Length ◽

Hip Surgery ◽

Bone Lengthening ◽

Safe Procedure ◽

Length Discrepancy ◽

Healing Index

Limb length discrepancy (LLD) is a common problem after joint-preserving hip surgeries, hip dysplasia, and hip deformities. Limping, pain, sciatica, paresthesia, and hip instability are common clinical findings and may necessitate limb-lengthening procedures. The study included five patients (two female and three male, mean age of 28 years (20–49; SD: 12)) with symptomatic limb length discrepancy greater than 2.5 cm (mean: 3.6 cm) after total hip arthroplasty (THA), hip dysplasia, or post-traumatic hip surgery. They underwent either ipsi- or contralateral intramedullary limb-lengthening surgeries using the PRECICE™ telescopic nail. All patients achieved complete bone healing and correction of the pelvic obliquity after intramedullary lengthening. None of the patients had a loss of proximal or distal joint motion. The mean distraction-consolidation time (DCT) was 3.8 months, the distraction index (DI) 0.7 mm/day, the lengthening index (LI) 1.8 months/cm, the consolidation index (CI) 49.2 days/cm, the healing index (HI) 1.1 months/cm, and the modified healing index (HI*) 34 days/cm. Intramedullary limb lengthening after LLD in cases of hip dysplasia, hip deformity, and various kinds of hip surgery is a useful and safe procedure in young patients to achieve equal limb length. No functional impairment of the preceded hip surgery was seen.

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