• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.48-54
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• 2024

Purpose: Foot alignment affects the overall balance and alignment of the body. This study examined the relationship between the foot parameters and scoliosis in children and adolescents through simple radiographs. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and forty-one outpatients under 15 years old from 2013 to 2022 were evaluated. Patients with an abnormal leg length discrepancy or pelvic tilt were screened. The patients included were divided into four groups. Each group was tested to determine if they had scoliosis. The foot anterior-posterior/lateral X-rays were selected for the foot parameters, and the EOS system was used for the spline and pelvis parameters. Results: A t-test of all groups showed no statistically significant difference as the p-value exceeded 0.05. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) comparing the Cobb's angle and foot parameters did not show a significant correlation. On the other hand, female and older patients had a higher Cobb's angle. Conclusion: No direct relationship was noted between scoliosis and the foot parameters that could be measured radiographically among children and adolescents. In addition, no correction between the Cobb's angle and foot parameters was found.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.127-145
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• 1997

The purpose of this study wa9 to analyse the gait patterns of two female children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy by using the three-dimensional video motion analysis technique. Case 1 has mild spastic hemiplegia on the right side while Case 3 has moderate spastic hemiplegia on the left side. A group of 10, normal female children of the same age(7-8 years old) were selected as the control group for comparison. Time and distance variables as well as the Center of Mass displacement, and the pelvic and joint motions in three anatomical planes were analysed for this purpose. The following observations were made through the analysis : Case 1 revealed an asymmetrical gait pattern in which the step length of the unaffected side was shorter than that of the affected side, which wan a result of the effort to minimize loading on the affected leg by shortening the swing phase of the unaffected leg. Case 1 scored similar phase ratios, cadence and walking velocity to the normal group. A slight posterior tilt of the pelvis was observed throughout the gait cycle. Less hip and knee flexion than the normal group was observed, and demonstrated hyperextension of the knee in the terminal stance phase. The main problem in case 1 originated from the insufficient dorsiflexion of the affected foot during the swing phase. Therefore, Case 1 has difficulty with foot clearance in the swing phase. Usually, this is compensated for by using exessive hip abduction and medial rotation in conjuction with trunk elevation as well as increased vortical displacement of the center of mass. Case 1 revealed a foot-flat initial contact pattern. Case 2 was characterized by a consistent retraction ef the affected aide of the body througout the gait cycle, As a result, an asymmetrical gait pattern with increased stance phase ratios of the unaffected side was observed. In spite of this the step lengths of both sieds were similar. Case 2 scored lower cadence and walking speed than the normal group with lower gait stability. The main problem in Case 2 originated from an excessive plantaflexion of the affected foot which, in turn, rebutted in high hip and knee flexion. Hyperextension of the knee was observed at mid-stance, and execessive anterior tilt of the pelvis throughout the gait cycle was noticed. A gait pattern with high hip abduction and medial circumduction was maintained for the stability in the stance phase and foot clearance in the swing phase. Case 2 revealed a forefoot-contact initial contact pattern.

• Asian Spine Journal
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.1060-1068
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• 2018

Study Design: Retrospective study. Purpose: Lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration is an important cause of low back pain. Overview of Literature: Spinal fusion is often reported to have a good course for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, many studies have reported that adjacent segment degeneration is accelerated after lumbar spinal fusion. Radiography is a simple method used to evaluate the orientation of the vertebral column. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the method most often used to specifically evaluate intervertebral disc degeneration. The Pfirrmann classification is a well-known method used to evaluate degenerative lumbar disease. After spinal fusion, an increase in stress, excess mobility, increased intra-disc pressure, and posterior displacement of the axis of motion have been observed in the adjacent segments. Methods: we retrospectively secured and analyzed the data of 15 patients (four boys and 11 girls) with AIS who underwent a spinal fusion surgery. We studied the full-length view of the spine (anterior-posterior and lateral) from the X-ray and MRI obtained from all patients before surgery. Postoperatively, another full-length spine X-ray and lumbosacral MRI were obtained from all participants. Then, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, curve correction, and fused and free segments before and after surgery were calculated based on X-ray studies. MRI images were used to estimate the degree to which intervertebral discs were degenerated using Pfirrmann grading system. Pfirrmann grade before and after surgery were compared with Wilcoxon signed rank test. While analyzing the contribution of potential risk factors for the post-spinal fusion Pfirrmann grade of disc degeneration, we used generalized linear models with robust standard error estimates to account for intraclass correlation that may have been present between discs of the same patient. Results: The mean age of the participant was 14 years, and the mean curvature before and after surgery were 67.8 and 23.8, respectively (p<0.05). During the median follow-up of 5 years, the mean degree of the disc degeneration significantly increased in all patients after surgery (p<0.05) with a Pfirrmann grade of 1 and 2.8 in the L2-L3 before and after surgery, respectively. The corresponding figures at L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1 levels were 1.28 and 2.43, 1.07 and 2.35, and 1 and 2.33, respectively. The lower was the number of free discs below the fusion level, the higher was the Pfirrmann grade of degeneration (p<0.001). Conversely, the higher was the number of the discs fused together, the higher was the Pfirrmann grade. Conclusions: we observed that the disc degeneration aggravated after spinal fusion for scoliosis. While the degree of degeneration as measured by Pfirrmann grade was directly correlated by the number of fused segments, it was negatively correlated with the number of discs that remained free below the lowermost level of the fusion.