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Updated: Apr 15, 2026
Clinical-oriented Three-dimensional Gait Analysis Method for Evaluating Gait Disorder
Published on: March 4, 2018
The transverse Vulpius gastrocsoleus recession for equinus gait in children with cerebral palsy
A Tinney1, P Thomason2, M Sangeux2
1The University of Melbourne, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
Insights
The Vulpius transverse gastrocsoleus recession effectively treats equinus gait in children with cerebral palsy (CP). This surgical procedure significantly improved gait function, offering a clinically meaningful benefit for affected children.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Pediatric Surgery
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Equinus gait is a common motor impairment in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
- Fixed contractures of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles contribute to equinus deformity.
- Objective gait analysis is crucial for evaluating surgical outcomes in CP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the Vulpius transverse gastrocsoleus recession for equinus gait in children with CP.
- To assess pre- and post-operative changes in gait using quantitative measures.
- To determine the clinical significance of surgical intervention for this condition.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 26 children with CP and equinus gait underwent Vulpius transverse gastrocsoleus recession.
- Three-dimensional gait analysis, including Gait Profile Score (GPS) and Gait Variable Scores (GVS), was performed pre- and post-operatively.
- Statistical analysis compared pre-operative and post-operative gait parameters.
Main Results:
- Gait function significantly improved post-surgery, with a mean GPS decrease from 13.4° to 9.0° (p < 0.001).
- The observed improvement in GPS was 2.8 times the minimal clinically important difference (MCID).
- The procedure demonstrated statistically and clinically significant improvements in gait for the cohort.
Conclusions:
- The Vulpius transverse gastrocsoleus recession is an effective surgical option for selected children with CP presenting with fixed gastrocnemius and soleus contractures causing equinus gait.
- The study highlights the importance of objective gait analysis in demonstrating surgical efficacy.
- This surgical technique offers a valuable intervention for improving ambulatory function in children with cerebral palsy.
Abstract:
We report the results of Vulpius transverse gastrocsoleus recession for equinus gait in 26 children with cerebral palsy (CP), using the Gait Profile Score (GPS), Gait Variable Scores (GVS) and movement analysis profile. All children had an equinus deformity on physical examination and equinus gait on three-dimensional gait analysis prior to surgery. The pre-operative and post-operative GPS and GVS were statistically analysed. There were 20 boys and 6 girls in the study cohort with a mean age at surgery of 9.2 years (5.1 to 17.7) and 11.5 years (7.3 to 20.8) at follow-up. Of the 26 children, 14 had spastic diplegia and 12 spastic hemiplegia. Gait function improved for the cohort, confirmed by a decrease in mean GPS from 13.4° pre-operatively to 9.0° final review (p < 0.001). The change was 2.8 times the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Thus the improvements in gait were both clinically and statistically significant. The transverse gastrocsoleus recession described by Vulpius is an effective procedure for equinus gait in selected children with CP, when there is a fixed contracture of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles.
