Treatment of stiff-knee gait in cerebral palsy: a comparison by gait analysis of distal rectus femoris transfer versus proximal rectus release.

Two groups of patients with cerebral palsy (CP) were studied pre- and postoperatively by gait analysis after proximal release or distal transfer of the rectus femoris for treatment of knee stiffness in swing phase. In the first group studied, 12 patients underwent proximal rectus femoris muscle release. In the second group, 10 patients underwent distal rectus femoris transfer. After surgery, peak knee flexion was increased 9.1 degrees in swing phase by proximal rectus release and 16.2 degrees by distal rectus transfer. Hip motion throughout the gait cycle was not significantly affected by either operation, and no tendency for a crouch gait was observed after either procedure.