Outcome of medial hamstring lengthening in children with spastic paresis: A biomechanical and morphological observational study.

Helga Haberfehlner; Richard T Jaspers; Erich Rutz; Jaap Harlaar; Johannes A van der Sluijs; Melinda M Witbreuk; Kim van Hutten; Jacqueline Romkes; Marie Freslier; Reinald Brunner; Jules G Becher; Huub Maas; Annemieke I Buizer

Journal article

Outcome of medial hamstring lengthening in children with spastic paresis: A biomechanical and morphological observational study.

Helga Haberfehlner, Richard T Jaspers, Erich Rutz, Jaap Harlaar, Johannes A van der Sluijs, Melinda M Witbreuk, Kim van Hutten, Jacqueline Romkes, Marie Freslier, Reinald Brunner, Jules G Becher, Huub Maas, Annemieke I Buizer

PLoS One | Public Library of Science (PLoS) | Published : 2018

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192573

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Abstract

To improve gait in children with spastic paresis due to cerebral palsy or hereditary spastic paresis, the semitendinosus muscle is frequently lengthened amongst other medial hamstring muscles by orthopaedic surgery. Side effects on gait due to weakening of the hamstring muscles and overcorrections have been reported. How these side effects relate to semitendinosus morphology is unknown. This study assessed the effects of bilateral medial hamstring lengthening as part of single-event multilevel surgery (SEMLS) on (1) knee joint mechanics (2) semitendinosus muscle morphology and (3) gait kinematics. All variables were assessed for the right side only. Six children with spastic paresis selected..

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