[Ilizarov external fixator for the treatment of severe genuflex deformity in spastic cerebral palsy patients].

Objective: To explore the application and efficacy of Ilizarov external fixator in the treatment of severe genuflex deformity in spastic cerebral palsy patients.

Methods: The individualized Ilizarov external fixtor was designed to have two hinges posteriorly and one hinges anteriorly based on the tension-stress law. Distraction posteriorly and simutaneously compression anteriorly started 3 to 5 days after surgery. Extension on the flexion side was 2 mm every day. Check toe movement, wound and wire tension everyday. The deformity were corrected in 3 to 6 weeks. Then the fixator were kept in overextension of about 10 degrees for about 3 weeks before the Ilizarov external fixator were removed. The patients were encourged to start knee rehabilitation program and discharged. And a long leg brace was prescribed to wear while walking for 2 to 3 months.

Results: The average genuflex deformity was (80.61 +/- 25.51) degrees preoperatively and (8.91 +/- 2.39) degrees postoperatively. The patients were followed up for 5 months, 21 of which got an excellent results, 4 joints had recurrence of the deformity with an average of (9.32 +/- 7.33) degrees.

Conclusion: The proper use of Ilizarov technique in the treatment of severe genuflex deformity in spastic cerebral palsy patients could get satisfactory results with few complications.