Lower extremity soft tissue surgery in spastic cerebral palsy: experience from a government rehabilitation unit

Background: Spastic cerebral palsy (CP) remains the most common type of CP and may be managed surgically or non-surgically depending upon its severity. Recent advances have replaced single-level surgery by the concept of multilevel surgery where multiple levels of musculoskeletal pathology, in one/both lower limbs, are addressed during one operative procedure, requiring only one hospital admission and one period of rehabilitation. This study assessed the outcome of lower limb soft tissue surgery in children with spastic CP in a government rehabilitation unit and measured its feasibility with limited infrastructure facilities and patient compliance.Methods: The study comprised of 26 patients aged between 2-12 years. Physical examination and GMFCS scores were recorded and evaluation of sitting balance, standing balance and gait were done. Musculotendinous soft tissue lower limb surgery was performed at one or more levels unilaterally or bilaterally and the results were interpreted.Results: Complete or near complete correction of deformities were attained by all children postoperatively. Significant improvements were noted in the gross motor functional classification system (GMFCS) scores. All parents and children were satisfied with the surgical outcome and reported improvement in functional abilities and locomotion in the follow-up along with better quality of life and mobility. Conclusions: Lower limb soft tissue surgery is a valuable aid in improving functional abilities and locomotion in children with spastic CP. Surgery should be undertaken depending upon clinical indications and can be successfully carried out in government hospitals with ordinary infrastructure in developing countries as well

Single intra-articular steroid injection of the glenohumeral joint in management of adhesive capsulitis: a comparison between approaches

Background: Adhesive capsulitis is a common, painful musculoskeletal condition of the shoulder associated with loss of range of motion in the glenohumeral joint resulting from contraction of the glenohumeral joint capsule and adherence to the humeral head. Earlier stages of adhesive capsulitis can be treated by intra-articular steroid injections into the glenohumeral joint. This study was designed to study the role of long acting intra-articular corticosteroid injections in combination with simple therapeutic exercises while comparing the outcome of blinded anterior and posterior injection approaches in the management of adhesive capsulitis.Methods: The study comprised of 60 subjects aged 18 years and above who were diagnosed with primary adhesive capsulitis. They were randomly divided into 2 groups i.e., Group A who received blind intra-articular steroid injections via standard anterior approach and group B who received blind intra-articular steroid injection via standard posterior approach. Both groups followed up with a simple home based exercise program. Outcome measures assessed were visual analog scale (VAS) score, shoulder pain assessment disability index (SPADI) and passive shoulder range of motion (ROM).Results: At last follow up, both groups showed statistically significant improvements in all outcome measures i.e., VAS score, SPADI, shoulder ROM. However, comparison between groups did not reveal any statistically significant differences between the two groups.Conclusions: Intra-articular steroid injections into the glenohumeral joint in conjunction with simple physiotherapy are effective in improving pain, function and shoulder ROM in adhesive capsulitis. Both the anterior and posterior injection approaches provide good results

Lower extremity soft tissue surgery in spastic cerebral palsy: experience from a government rehabilitation unit

Background: Spastic cerebral palsy (CP) remains the most common type of CP and may be managed surgically or non-surgically depending upon its severity. Recent advances have replaced single-level surgery by the concept of multilevel surgery where multiple levels of musculoskeletal pathology, in one/both lower limbs, are addressed during one operative procedure, requiring only one hospital admission and one period of rehabilitation. This study assessed the outcome of lower limb soft tissue surgery in children with spastic CP in a government rehabilitation unit and measured its feasibility with limited infrastructure facilities and patient compliance.Methods: The study comprised of 26 patients aged between 2-12 years. Physical examination and GMFCS scores were recorded and evaluation of sitting balance, standing balance and gait were done. Musculotendinous soft tissue lower limb surgery was performed at one or more levels unilaterally or bilaterally and the results were interpreted.Results: Complete or near complete correction of deformities were attained by all children postoperatively. Significant improvements were noted in the gross motor functional classification system (GMFCS) scores. All parents and children were satisfied with the surgical outcome and reported improvement in functional abilities and locomotion in the follow-up along with better quality of life and mobility. Conclusions: Lower limb soft tissue surgery is a valuable aid in improving functional abilities and locomotion in children with spastic CP. Surgery should be undertaken depending upon clinical indications and can be successfully carried out in government hospitals with ordinary infrastructure in developing countries as well

Single intra-articular steroid injection of the glenohumeral joint in management of adhesive capsulitis: a comparison between approaches

Background: Adhesive capsulitis is a common, painful musculoskeletal condition of the shoulder associated with loss of range of motion in the glenohumeral joint resulting from contraction of the glenohumeral joint capsule and adherence to the humeral head. Earlier stages of adhesive capsulitis can be treated by intra-articular steroid injections into the glenohumeral joint. This study was designed to study the role of long acting intra-articular corticosteroid injections in combination with simple therapeutic exercises while comparing the outcome of blinded anterior and posterior injection approaches in the management of adhesive capsulitis.Methods: The study comprised of 60 subjects aged 18 years and above who were diagnosed with primary adhesive capsulitis. They were randomly divided into 2 groups i.e., Group A who received blind intra-articular steroid injections via standard anterior approach and group B who received blind intra-articular steroid injection via standard posterior approach. Both groups followed up with a simple home based exercise program. Outcome measures assessed were visual analog scale (VAS) score, shoulder pain assessment disability index (SPADI) and passive shoulder range of motion (ROM).Results: At last follow up, both groups showed statistically significant improvements in all outcome measures i.e., VAS score, SPADI, shoulder ROM. However, comparison between groups did not reveal any statistically significant differences between the two groups.Conclusions: Intra-articular steroid injections into the glenohumeral joint in conjunction with simple physiotherapy are effective in improving pain, function and shoulder ROM in adhesive capsulitis. Both the anterior and posterior injection approaches provide good results