The effects of femoral anteversion on knee power in children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

The knee is the most adversely a ected joint in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The aim is to assess wheter a correlation can be found between femoral anteversion (FA) and knee power in children with CP. If there is a relation, the surgery to x FA may better control an arthosis, which occurs at very young ages in children patients with CP. The measurements conducted using motion analysis techniques allowed determination of the degree of FA without doing a CT scan. 23 children with CP participated. Human gait analysis was performed using the Vicon System with the Berthec force plates. The particular analysis is done at the instant the knee atteins a full extension position because of presence of a neglectable muscle activity occurring at that time. Data of this research led to the conclusion that the Pearson and Covariance coe cients do show a perfect correlation. However, Covariance coe cients also de ne the direction that the variables move. Direction of the variables may not have signi - cance in anatomical correlations as in FA and knee power relation. In this research, a relationship between the increase in knee extension and the loading on the knee may conclude to one of FA's e ects on knee. This result contributes to the thought that states the increased femoral anteversion (IFA) can develop early arthosis. Since there isn't a linear relationship, the ndings suggest that the surgery to x FA to delay the arthosis may not be a priority action to take on CP children who have IFA.|Keywords : cerebral palsy, femoral anteversion, knee power, arthosis, linear correlation, human gait analysis.