MULTIPLE SIMULTANEOUS APPROACH IN LOWER EXTREMITY SPASTICITY SURGERY
Lower extremity spasticity in CP interferes with daily living activities, such as ambulation and sitting as well as hygiene. Orthopedic surgery may be needed in the prevention and correction of the deformities and malalignments. Seven girls and nine boys with ages ranging from 7 to 17 years who had at least four surgeries at different levels of their lower extremities in a single stage were presented. Minimum follow-up was two years. The mean number of surgeries performed simultaneously was 6 (4 to 11). The mean operation time was 115 minutes (35 to 225 minutes) and the mean blood loss was 200 ml (100 to 600 ml) during surgery. The hospital stay ranged from two to six days. No complication which may be related to multiple simultaneous surgery was observed. Rehabilitation was begun as soon as the pain permitted. In the postoperative period, the diplegics attended sessions of hippotherapy — therapy by horse riding — in addition to formal therapy modalities. At the latest follow-up postoperatively, all the patients had increase in their level of activities. As a conclusion, whenever needed, simultaneous correction of the lower extremity deformities in spastic CP patients decreases costs and simplifies postoperative rehabilitation without increasing surgical risk for the patients.