Gait analysis in myelomeningocele: possibilities and applications

Gait analysis with a fully integrated laboratory is a relatively new instrument in the armamentarium of the pediatric orthopedic surgeon. The introduction of it has been especially successful in neuromuscular pathology and, particularly, in cerebral palsy. In spina bifida, however, it also enhances substantially the possibilities of detailed analysis of the locomotion problem. It is, furthermore, a very useful instrument in evaluating treatment and in follow-up. With a few examples, this paper tries to show the possibilities and advantages of a gait laboratory in the evaluation of patients with ambulatory spina bifida.