Jean L. Stout

An index for quantifying deviations from normal gait

A method is derived to calculate the amount by which a subjects gait deviates from an average normal profile, and to represent this deviation as a single number. The method uses principal component analysis to derive a set of 16 independent variables from 16 selected gait variables. The sum of the square of these 16 independent variables is interpreted as the deviation of the subjects gait from normal. Statistical tests of the methods validity and an initial demonstration of its clinical utility are included. It is found that using this index, increasing clinical involvement corresponds to increasing index score.

Reliability and validity of the Gillette functional assessment questionnaire as an outcome measure in children with walking disabilities

A 10-level, parent-report walking scale encompassing a range of walking abilities from nonambulatory to ambulatory in all community settings and terrains was developed at Gillette Childrens Specialty Healthcare (GCSH) as part of the Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire (FAQ). The reliability and validity of the walking-scale portion of the FAQ were tested on a group of individuals seen in the Motion Analysis Laboratory at GCSH between May 1996 and January 1997. A complete data set on 41 individuals with neuromuscular conditions represented the community ambulation levels (6-10) of the walking scale. Good test-retest reliability among parents and good interrater reliability between parents and community caregivers was demonstrated. Content and concurrent validity were also high, as assessed by correlation to standardized functional outcome measures, energy expenditure, and gait-analysis information. A reliable and valid scale specific to the task of walking such as the FAQ can assist clinicians in documenting functional change in children with chronic neuromuscular conditions.

Comprehensive treatment of ambulatory children with cerebral palsy: an outcome assessment.

A retrospective study was used to evaluate the outcome of treatment of 135 ambulatory children with cerebral palsy. Diplegic subjects were selected from the existing database at the Gillette Childrens Specialty Healthcare Motion Analysis Laboratory. All subjects had undergone gait analysis before and after intervention, which included orthopaedic surgery, selective dorsal rhizotomy, or both treatments. Outcome was based on gait pathology, gait efficiency, functional walking ability, and higher-level functional skills. Gait pathology was assessed using 16 clinically relevant kinematic parameters. Gait efficiency was assessed with steady-state oxygen consumption. Walking ability and higher-level functional skills were based on patient report surveys. Improvements were seen in all outcome measures. A significant majority of subjects (79%) improved on a predominance of outcome measures; only 7% of subjects worsened. Within the restrictions of this study design, the results indicate that surgical intervention, guided by preoperative gait analysis, is effective and safe for children with cerebral palsy.

Distal Femoral Extension Osteotomy and Patellar Tendon Advancement to Treat Persistent Crouch Gait in Cerebral Palsy

BACKGROUND Hallmarks of a persistent crouched walking pattern exhibited by individuals with cerebral palsy usually include loss of an adequate plantar flexion/knee extension couple, hamstring and/or psoas tightness, or contracture in conjunction with quadriceps insufficiency. Traditional treatment addresses the muscle-tightness component, but not the contracture or the muscle insufficiency. This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of distal femoral extension osteotomy and/or patellar tendon advancement in the treatment of crouch gait in patients with cerebral palsy. METHODS A retrospective, nonrandomized, repeated-measures design was used. Individuals with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy were included if they had had (1) a distal femoral extension osteotomy in combination with a distal patellar tendon advancement (thirty-three patients), (2) a distal femoral extension osteotomy without patellar tendon advancement (sixteen), or (3) a distal patellar tendon advancement only (twenty-four). All subjects were evaluated with preoperative and postoperative gait analysis. Gait, radiographic, strength, and functional measures were included in the analysis to assess changes in knee function. RESULTS Seventy-three individuals met the criteria for inclusion. A single side was chosen for the analysis of each subject. Ninety percent of the subjects had additional, concurrent surgery. Improvements were noted in the index assessing the level of gait pathology and in functional variables across all groups, and pain was consistently decreased. All preoperative stress fractures healed. Strength levels were maintained across all groups. The Koshino index of patellar height improved from 1.4 to -2.3 in the group treated with patellar tendon advancement only and from 1.5 to -2.9 in the group treated with both osteotomy and tendon advancement. The range of knee flexion improved an average of 15 degrees to 20 degrees, and stance-phase knee flexion was restored to the typical range (9 degrees to 10 degrees) in the groups that had advancement of the patellar tendon as part of the procedure. Individuals who underwent a distal femoral osteotomy only were still in a crouch (a mean of 31 degrees of knee flexion in midstance) at the final assessment. CONCLUSIONS Inclusion of patellar tendon advancement is necessary to achieve optimal results in the surgical management of a persistent crouch gait exhibited by adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy. When this procedure is done alone or in combination with a distal femoral extension osteotomy (for the treatment of a knee flexion contracture), knee function in gait can be restored to values within typical limits, with gains in community function.

Correlation between physical functioning and gait measures in children with cerebral palsy

The primary aim of this investigation was to assess the correlation between the POSNA Musculoskeletal Functional Health Questionnaire (POSNA) and gait analysis in children with cerebral palsy (CP). POSNA and computerized gait analysis were used to evaluate individuals with CP. Correlations were investigated between POSNA scales, gait parameters, and the Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire (FAQ) in 63 children (31 males, 32 females; mean age 9.17 years [SD 3.06], age range 3.75 to 16.44 years) with spastic CP. Twelve participants had hemiplegia, 29 diplegia, 12 quadriplegia, and 10 triplegia. The result of backwards stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that the Log normalcy index (NI) was a significant predictor of the POSNA Global Function and Comfort scale. Energy expenditure (EE) did not add significantly to the prediction. The POSNA scales differentiated between the different topographical types of CP. The POSNA scale is a valid and useful clinical measure. Used in conjunction with the NI, EE, and FAQ, the POSNA scale provides a more complete appraisal of change in functioning.

Distal femoral extension osteotomy and patellar tendon advancement to treat persistent crouch gait in cerebral palsy. Surgical technique.

BACKGROUND Hallmarks of a persistent crouched walking pattern exhibited by individuals with cerebral palsy usually include loss of an adequate plantar flexion/knee extension couple, hamstring and/or psoas tightness, or contracture in conjunction with quadriceps insufficiency. Traditional treatment addresses the muscle-tightness component, but not the contracture or the muscle insufficiency. This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of distal femoral extension osteotomy and/or patellar tendon advancement in the treatment of crouch gait in patients with cerebral palsy. METHODS A retrospective, nonrandomized, repeated-measures design was used. Individuals with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy were included if they had had (1) a distal femoral extension osteotomy in combination with a distal patellar tendon advancement (thirty-three patients), (2) a distal femoral extension osteotomy without patellar tendon advancement (sixteen), or (3) a distal patellar tendon advancement only (twenty-four). All subjects were evaluated with preoperative and postoperative gait analysis. Gait, radiographic, strength, and functional measures were included in the analysis to assess changes in knee function. RESULTS Seventy-three individuals met the criteria for inclusion. A single side was chosen for the analysis of each subject. Ninety percent of the subjects had additional, concurrent surgery. Improvements were noted in the index assessing the level of gait pathology and in functional variables across all groups, and pain was consistently decreased. All preoperative stress fractures healed. Strength levels were maintained across all groups. The Koshino index of patellar height improved from 1.4 to -2.3 in the group treated with patellar tendon advancement only and from 1.5 to -2.9 in the group treated with both osteotomy and tendon advancement. The range of knee flexion improved an average of 15 degrees to 20 degrees , and stance-phase knee flexion was restored to the typical range (9 degrees to 10 degrees ) in the groups that had advancement of the patellar tendon as part of the procedure. Individuals who underwent a distal femoral osteotomy only were still in a crouch (a mean of 31 degrees of knee flexion in midstance) at the final assessment. CONCLUSIONS Inclusion of patellar tendon advancement is necessary to achieve optimal results in the surgical management of a persistent crouch gait exhibited by adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy. When this procedure is done alone or in combination with a distal femoral extension osteotomy (for the treatment of a knee flexion contracture), knee function in gait can be restored to values within typical limits, with gains in community function.

Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire 22-item skill set: factor and Rasch analyses

Aim  To determine dimensionality and item‐level properties of the Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire (FAQ) 22‐item skill set using factor and Rasch analyses.

Is simultaneous hamstring lengthening necessary when performing distal femoral extension osteotomy and patellar tendon advancement

Crouch gait is common in individuals with cerebral palsy. Recently published data has shown that distal femoral extension osteotomy with patellar tendon advancement (DFEO/PTA) is an effective procedure to correct crouch gait in the presence of a knee flexion contracture and quadriceps insufficiency. Short length and slow lengthening rate (velocity) of the hamstrings are indications for hamstrings surgery. We empirically believed that hamstrings surgery would not be necessary to improve hamstring function when DFEO/PTA are performed. This hypothesis was examined in a retrospective review of hamstrings length and velocity before and after DFEO/PTA. 51 limbs in 32 individuals with a diagnosis of CP who underwent DFEO/PTA without concomitant hamstring surgery were included in the study. Pre and post-operative peak medial hamstring length and velocity z-scores were calculated using a musculoskeletal model. A subset of limbs with pre-operative values above or below two SD from the control mean emerged and were called long or short respectively. Members of this subset would often be considered candidates for hamstrings surgery. Categorical length outcomes were derived, with analogous categories for velocity. The mean peak hamstring length z-score improved pre- to post-operatively from -2.2 to -0.76 (p<0.001). The mean peak velocity z-score improved from -3.1 to -1.5 (p<0.001) [Figure 1]. DFEO/PTA surgery without concomitant hamstrings surgery led to significantly longer or faster hamstrings. Specifically, we saw 94% good or neutral results for length correction and 80% good or neutral results for velocity correction. Because crouch improved without posterior pelvic tilting, and because both hamstring length and velocity increased substantially, we conclude that concomitant hamstring surgery is rarely needed when performing DFEO/PTA.

Rectus femoris transfer—Gracilis versus Sartorius

Abstract In order to determine the effectiveness of a new technique of rectus femoris transfer and to compare the effectiveness between the two transfer sites (gracilis versus sartorius), we evaluated the results of pre- and post-operative gait analyses in 46 limbs in 35 cerebral palsy patients who had been treated with the rectus femoris transfer either to the gracilis (gracilis group) or to the sartorius (sartorius group). Preoperatively, there were no significant differences between the two groups in any of the parameters measured. Post-operatively there were significant improvements in stride length, dynamic knee range of motion (ROM), knee angle at initial contact, and maximum knee extension in stance in both groups ( P P

Rasch analysis of items from two self-report measures of motor function: determination of item difficulty and relationships with children's ability levels.

Aim  The aim of this article was to determine item measurement properties of a set of items selected from the Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire (FAQ) and the Pediatric Outcome Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) using Rasch analysis, and to explore relationships between the FAQ/PODCI combined set of items, FAQ walking scale level, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels, and the Gait Deviation Index on a common measurement scale.