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Defining Equinus Foot in Cerebral Palsy.
Axel Horsch1, Lara Petzinger1, Maher Ghandour1
1Department of Orthopedics, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany.
Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 27, 2022
Summary
A maximum clinical dorsiflexion of 5° or less is recommended to define functionally relevant equinus foot in cerebral palsy (CP) patients. This finding aids in understanding gait deviations in CP.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Neurology
- Biomechanical Engineering
Background:
- Equinus foot is a common deformity in cerebral palsy (CP).
- A precise clinical definition for equinus foot has been lacking.
- This study investigates functional gait changes related to equinus foot severity in CP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate functional gait changes using 3D analysis in relation to maximum dorsiflexion.
- To identify the degree of maximum clinical dorsiflexion where gait alterations are most significant.
- To compare gait parameters between unilateral and bilateral CP subgroups and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of CP patients with varying degrees of maximum dorsiflexion.
- Inclusion of unilateral, bilateral CP subgroups, and a healthy control group.
- 3D gait analysis to assess range of motion (ROM), ankle moment, and power.
Main Results:
- Analysis of 71 (unilateral) and 84 (bilateral) limbs in CP subgroups.
- CP patients with 0° dorsiflexion showed limited plantigrade positioning.
- Reduced ankle power was observed in all CP patients compared to controls; ROM differed between subgroups.
Conclusions:
- A clinical cutoff of ≤ 5° dorsiflexion is proposed for defining functionally relevant equinus foot in CP.
- This definition aids in clinical assessment and treatment planning for CP patients.
- Understanding these gait parameters is crucial for targeted interventions.
