The treatment of flexion contracture of the knee in myelomeningocele

Abstract

A follow-up study, on average four years after operation, of seventy-six children with myelomeningocele who had surgical treatment for flexion contracture of the knee, is reported. After a single operation sixty-eight knees (55 per cent) had a contracture of less than 20 degrees, which was the main criterion of success. About half of the cases of transplantation of the hamstrings to the femur, division or elongation of the hamstrings, or supracondylar osteotomy had successful results. Transfer of the hamstring tendons to the patella was successful in nine out of twelve instances, so giving the lowest rate of failure. Forty-five patients were active walkers at follow-up as compared to eighteen before operation. However, only one of the eleven patients over twelve years of age with a motor level above T.12 was an active walker at review. Several conclusions are drawn. A flexion contracture of the hip greater than 30 degrees should be corrected before operation on the knee. Supracondylar osteotomy as a primary procedure should only be used to correct flexion contracture of the knee secondary to malunited fractures. Faradic stimulation is useful in the elevation of muscle function before operation. An intelligence quotient below 65 and weakness of the arms are relative contraindications for correction of the deformity of the knee.