Objective: Simple measures of gait for routine clinical use could be useful when the complex gait analysis systems are not available. The aim of this study was to quantify asymmetry in children with spastic hemiplegia using a two-dimensional gait analysis by videography and to relate the asymmetry to motor function. Methods: Twenty-four children with spastic hemiplegia (19 males, 5 females; mean age 49 months [SD 5 months], range from 39 to 60 months) were assessed with a two-dimensional gait analysis by videography and the analyzed parameters were compared with normal values and with clinical and functional data. results: There were significant differences in swing time (p = 0.002), stance time (p = 0.01) and stance/swing time ratio (p < 0.001). The comparison with the normal values described by Sutherland also demonstrated gait asymmetry. There was no direct relationship between the motor function and asymmetry but a score analysis for specific Gross Motor Function Measure items could quantify it in terms of age of gait acquisition. Children with more adequate muscle tone presented longer stance time in the involved limb than those with more spasticity (p = 0.03). conclusions: These results suggest that the best performance is associated with the smallest asymmetry in this sample. Although two-dimensional gait analysis does not provide as much data as three dimensional gait analyses, we believe it can contribute significantly to the gait assessment of children with cerebral palsy.Keywords: Gait; Cerebral palsy; Hemiplegia; Child reSUMO Objetivo: Medidas simples para mensuração da marcha na rotina clínica podem ser úteis quando os sistemas complexos para a análise da marcha não estão disponíveis. O objetivo deste estudo foi quantificar a assimetria na marcha de crianças com hemiplegia espástica por meio de uma análise bidimensional por videografia e relacionar a assimetria à função motora. Métodos: Vinte e quatro crianças com paralisia cerebral do tipo hemiplégica espástica (19 do sexo masculino, 5 feminino; média de idade de 49 meses [± 5 meses], variando de 39 a 60 m) foram avaliadas por meio da análise bidimensional por videografia, e os parâmetros analisados foram comparados a valores normais e com dados clínicos e funcionais. resultados: Foram observadas diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre as médias do tempo de balanço (p = 0,002), tempo de apoio (p = 0,01) e da relação apoio/balanço (p < 0,001). A comparação aos valores normais de Sutherland também demonstrou a assimetria na marcha. Não foi observada relação direta entre a função motora avaliada pela escala GMFM e a assimetria. Já a análise do escore para itens específicos dessa escala pôde relacionar a assimetria à idade de aquisição da marcha independente. Crianças com tônus muscular mais adequado apresentaram maior tempo de apoio no lado envolvido do que aqueles com maior espasticidade (p = 0,03). conclusões: Esses resultados sugerem que a melhor performance está associada à menor assimetria nesta amostra. Mesmo que a análise bidime...

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Supracondylar humeral fractures account for 60% of elbow fractures in childhood, with cubitus varus being its most common complication. It can be avoided by accurate assessment of distal humeral alignment after fracture reduction, and the Baumann angle is the usual measurement for this purpose. However, several reports demonstrate an inconsistency of this angle, and our hypothesis is that reliability could be improved with angles drawn between the trochlear physeal line and the humeral longitudinal axis. The aim of the study was to compare intra- and interobserver reliability between the Baumann angle and angles drawn between the trochlear physeal line and (1) humeral longitudinal axis (X-angle), (2) humeral lateral cortex line (Y-angle), (3) humeral medial cortex line (Z-angle). Angle measurements were performed on 141 distal humerus’ radiographs of children aged 3–10 years by five observers in a tertiary hospital. The measurements were compared for their intra- and interobserver agreement. All measurements showed good or excellent intraobserver agreement levels, with the highest for Z-angle [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.906] and the lowest for Baumann angle. There were also excellent interobserver agreement levels for all angles, the highest for Z-angle (ICC = 0.885). There are indications that Z-angle had higher agreement levels when compared to the others (ICC = 0.954; 0.936–0.969) in the group aged 7–10 years. The angle drawn between the humeral medial cortex and trochlear physeal line showed greater agreement than the other angles analysed, becoming a potentially useful tool for evaluation of children with supracondylar humeral fractures in daily practice.

PURPOSE:The purpose of this study was to evaluate a low-cost and easily reproducible technique for biomechanical studies in cadavers. In this kind of study, the natural effect of loading of the joint and shear forces are not taken into account. The objective is to describe the plastic deformation of the ligaments into 3-dimensional space. METHOD: For 18 intact human cadaver knees, the cruciate ligaments were divided into 3 fiber bundles, the tibial or femoral fixation points were marked, and 2 perpendicular different x-ray exposures were performed, thus obtaining radiographs of spatial projections of the bundle in 3 anatomic planes (frontal, sagittal, and transversal). From the measurements made on the x-ray films, we obtained the average distance between the 2 fixation points of the cruciate ligaments on the tibia and the femur at 4 different flexion angles. RESULTS:The distance between the fixation points of the medial and lateral fiber bundles of the cruciate ligaments did not change significantly during movement. There were, however, significant variations (P < .05) in the distance between the fixation points of the posterior fiber bundles of the anterior cruciate ligament and the anterior fiber bundles of the posterior cruciate ligament. CONCLUSIONS: This technique was efficient for demonstrating the plastic deformability of the cruciate ligaments. The results proceeding from this type of study can assist in the planning of physical rehabilitation programs.

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ObjectiveTo evaluate the correlation between physical examination data concerning hip rotation and tibial torsion with transverse plane kinematics in children with cerebral palsy; and to determine which time points and events of the gait cycle present higher correlation with physical examination findings.MethodsA total of 195 children with cerebral palsy seen at two gait laboratories from 2008 and 2016 were included in this study. Physical examination measurements included internal hip rotation, external hip rotation, mid-point hip rotation and the transmalleolar axis angle. Six kinematic parameters were selected for each segment to assess hip rotation and shank-based foot rotation. Correlations between physical examination and kinematic measures were analyzed by Spearman correlation coefficients, and a significance level of 5% was considered.ResultsComparing physical examination measurements of hip rotation and hip kinematics, we found moderate to strong correlations for all variables (p<0.001). The highest coefficients were seen between the mid-point hip rotation on physical examination and hip rotation kinematics (rho range: 0.48-0.61). Moderate correlations were also found between the transmalleolar axis angle measurement on physical examination and foot rotation kinematics (rho range 0.44-0.56; p<0.001).ConclusionThese findings may have clinical implications in the assessment and management of transverse plane gait deviations in children with cerebral palsy.

Objective: To measure and compare tibial torsion values as assessed by goniometry and three-dimensional kinematics. In addition, the impact of each one of these measurements on kinematic and kinetic results for normal gait was determined. Methods: Twenty-three healthy and fully ambulatory patients were assessed, 11 women and 12 men, from 20 to 40 years old. Data were collected at a laboratory for the three-dimensional analysis of movement with 10 cameras and two force plates. Tibial torsion measurements were obtained using goniometry and three-dimensional kinematics based on the Plug-in Gait model. Afterwards, both procedures were compared, and the impact of each result was assessed on the kinematic and kinetic modeling of the knee and ankle. Results: Pearson's linear correlation coefficient (r=0,504) showed a moderate correlation between the three-dimensional kinematics and goniometry, and between the changes in the measurements. Regarding the processed kinematic and kinetic results for every torsion position, no significant differences were noticed among any of the studied variables (p>0.05). Conclusion: Although statistical correlation among tibial torsion angles by goniometry and three-dimensional kinematic were moderate, kinematic and kinetic analysis of the joints did not reveal any significant changes. Level of Evidence I, Diagnostic Studies - Investigating a Diagnostic Test.

SUMMARYVariations and deformities of lower limbs involving rotation in the transverse plane are associated with many clinical problems, ranging from harmless in-toing in children to disabling degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee in adult patients.While the bone alterations located in the transverse plane are difficult to be assessed, the frontal and sagittal deformities can be easily assessed , for instance, with the conventional radiographies.In this context, among the most available methods for the leg rotational study, there is not any clinical or image procedure which is more accurate, practical or with low cost.In order to solve this problem, the authors present a new device to indirect clinical standard of the leg torsion angle in adults and children. In this study, 40 lower limbs from human cadavers were assessed and analyzed.