Hamstring tenotomies in cerebral palsy: long-term retrospective analysis.

One hundred seventeen cerebral palsy patients were followed for a mean of 3.4 years after undergoing hamstring tenotomy by proximal semimembranosus release in conjunction with distal semitendinosus and biceps femoris release. Range of motion was significantly improved 1 year after the operation and remained so for 4 years. Thirty percent of nonambulatory patients improved at least one level in activity, some at up to 12 years of age. Minor recurvatum was observed at 1 year but became nearly nonexistent after 3-5 years.