Correction of Foot Deformities using Triple Arthrodesis and Its Effect on Soft Tissue Blood Supply at Surgical Site in Patients with Cerebral Palsy

The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficiency of triple arthrodesis of foot and its effect on soft tissues blood supply at the surgical site during simultaneous correction of segment deformity in patients with cerebral palsy.

Material and Methods. The present study reflects the authors’ experience of triple arthrodesis for correction and stabilization of foot multicomponent deformities of varying severity in 75 patients (136 feet) with cerebral palsy (IIIV level by Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS)) treated in the Ilizarov center in the period from April 2012 to December 2016. The average age of the patients was 16.4±4.3 years (from 11 years 8 months to 43 years 3 months). All patients included into the study had severe arthrosis of hind and midfoot. The main option of foot fixation in this group of patients was internal fixation (elastic threaded wires, compression screws) together with plaster cast immobilization for 6–8 weeks. All patients underwent average of 4.59 surgical elements during a procedure as part of simultaneous multilevel interventions. The blood supply at the surgical site was evaluated by laser and high-frequency Doppler flowmetry before and after all stages of the surgery.

Results. Long-term outcomes were evaluated at the average of 19 months after the surgery in 56 (74.7%) patients. 37 patients (66.1%) demonstrated good treatment outcomes and 19 patients (33.9%) — satisfactory outcomes. No unsatisfactory outcomes were observed. The clinical outcome of foot surgery was evaluated using the Angus-Cowell criteria. The obtained significant x-ray enhancement was maintained at the control stages of the follow up. Despite large simultaneous correction of foot deformity, there was no decrease in the parameters of microcirculatory blood supply of the skin, muscles and subcutaneous fat of the foot. The authors observed a stabilized or an increased perfusion of soft tissues.

Conclusion. Triple arthrodesis for correction of foot deformities in patients with cerebral palsy and severe arthrosis in hind and midfoot is an efficient method which allows to correct and stabilize gained position of segments. The data of physiological research testify the sparing approach of such procedure and a possibility of an earlier weight-bearing on operated limb.