Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a static disorder of movement and posture secondary to an insult to the developing central nervous system. The peripheral manifestations and functional impairments of this condition vary in severity from mild-to-profound. In hemiplegic CP, 1 side of the body is affected more than the other. Spastic hemiplegia is the most common type and that for which upper extremity surgery is most indicated. Treatment options range from physical therapy and splinting to botulinum toxin A injections (Botox) to tendon transfers to arthrodeses. This article will discuss the indications, preoperative evaluation, our preferred surgical technique, and postoperative protocol for the most commonly used tendon transfers in the upper extremity in spastic hemiplegia.
The numbers of complications, both major and minor, were significantly greater in the plate group. Therefore, the results of this study did not support our hypothesis that percutaneous pin fixation of supramalleolar osteotomies would have comparable outcomes to plate and screw fixation.
The abductor digiti minimi is one of several muscles described as transfers for restoration of thumb opposition, a critically important function. This operation, also known as the Huber opponensplasty, is most commonly used for reconstruction of opposition in children with type 2 or 3a thumb deficiency, when it is often combined with Z-plasty of the thumb-index web space and metacarpophalangeal ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction. In our experience this operation reliably improves thumb opposition for children with this thumb deficiency.
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