Rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy after single-event multilevel surgery

Abstract

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) experience a delay in achieving gross motor milestones and have a largely dynamic movement disorder, which is characterized by spasticity, weakness, and impaired selective motor control [1]. With time, the majority of children develop a range of secondary problems, collectively referred to as “progressive musculoskeletal pathology” [2]. These include contractures of muscle-tendon units, particularly muscles which cross two joints such as the gastrocnemius, hamstrings, and iliopsoas. In addition, many children have bony torsional deformities, most frequently increased femoral neck anteversion, and external tibial torsion [3]. Instability of joints is also com..