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Long-term results and outcome predictors in one-stage hip reconstruction in children with cerebral palsy
Erich Rutz1, Patrick Vavken2, Carlo Camathias1
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Children's Hospital Basel, Spitalstrasse 33, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
Insights
One-stage hip reconstruction significantly improves pain and hip coverage in children with cerebral palsy. Preoperative hip migration percentage is the key predictor of successful outcomes, outweighing other factors like age or head shape.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Cerebral Palsy Research
- Surgical Outcomes Analysis
Background:
- One-stage hip reconstruction is the standard surgical approach for hip displacement in pediatric cerebral palsy.
- Understanding predictors of surgical success is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate subjective, objective, and radiographic outcomes of one-stage hip reconstruction.
- To identify predictors of surgical success, including femoral head shape, migration percentage, migration direction, and age at surgery.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 168 hip reconstructions in 121 children with cerebral palsy.
- Outcomes assessed via pain scales, GMFCS, MCPHCS scores, and migration percentage.
- Multivariate regression analysis used to identify outcome predictors.
Main Results:
- Significant reductions in pain intensity and frequency were observed post-surgery.
- Preoperative migration percentage was the most significant predictor of surgical outcome.
- Femoral head shape and age at surgery did not significantly impact outcomes.
Conclusions:
- One-stage hip reconstruction yields significant, clinically meaningful improvements in pain and hip coverage.
- Preoperative hip migration percentage is the primary factor influencing the success of hip reconstruction in this population.
Background:
One-stage hip reconstruction is the gold standard for treatment of hip displacement in children with cerebral palsy. The aims of this study were (1) to report the subjective clinical, objective clinical, and radiographic outcomes; and (2) to investigate outcome predictors, including the influence of the following risk factors: femoral head shape, migration percentage, direction of migration, and age at surgery.
Methods:
We reviewed 168 hip reconstructions (eighty-two right, eighty-six left) in 121 patients (101 male, twenty female) at a mean follow-up of 7.3 ± 4.6 years (range, four to eighteen years). Surgical outcomes were assessed on the basis of the pain intensity and frequency (measured on 10-point visual analog scales) as well as GMFCS (Gross Motor Function Classification System) and MCPHCS (Melbourne Cerebral Palsy Hip Classification System) scores and postoperative migration percentage. The effects of femoral head shape, preoperative migration percentage, direction of migration, and age at surgery on surgical outcome were assessed by multivariate regression adjusting for potential confounders including sex, triradiate cartilage status, type of cerebral palsy, and surgical technique.
Results:
Pain intensity and frequency were reduced significantly. Preoperative femoral head shape had no significant effect on the changes in pain, MCPHCS grade, and GMFCS level. The preoperative migration percentage was the most influential risk factor with respect to postoperative outcome. Age at surgery had no effect on the changes in pain score and GMFCS level. The overall surgical complication rate was 10.5%.
Conclusions:
Our data on 168 hip reconstructions at a mean follow-up of seven years showed significant and clinically meaningful improvements in pain intensity and frequency as well as in clinical scores and hip coverage. Analysis of potential risk factors showed only the preoperative migration percentage to have a relevant influence on outcomes.
