Distal lengthening of the hamstrings in patients who have cerebral palsy. Long-term retrospective analysis.

One hundred and twenty-six patients who had cerebral palsy and who had been managed with distal lengthening of the hamstrings were followed for three to fourteen years so that the long-term results of the procedure could be determined. Twenty-four of sixty-two patients who could not walk before the procedure were able to walk about the house postoperatively. Mild recurvatum developed in only ten patients, and twenty-two patients had a reoperation because of recurrence. Although straight-leg raising and the popliteal angle had improved markedly at one year in all but two patients, both parameters regressed gradually over time. Of several selected variables, only limitation of straight-leg raising preoperatively was of statistical significance (p < 0.001) for the prediction of recurrence. Age, preoperative walking ability, concomitant operations, and postoperative immobilization had no significant effect on the rates of recurrence or recurvatum.