Open Versus Percutaneous Tendo-Achilles Lengthening in Spastic Cerebral Palsy With Equines Deformity of the Foot in Children

The purpose of this study was to compare open to percutaneous tendo-achilles lengthening (TAL) as treatment for equinus deformity (ED) in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Eighteen ambulatory spastic CP children (28 feet) with isolated primary fixed ED were randomized to these two methods and prospectively followed up 7 to 18 months postoperatively (mean 11 months). The study found that the percutaneous TAL gave shorter operative time, shorter hospitalization period, better active dorsal and plantarflexion abilities, better parent satisfaction, and lower complication rate. It was concluded that percutaneous TAL seemed to be superior to the open TAL regarding the studied parameters. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 19(4):196–199, 2010)