Division of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
Sensors (Basel). 2021 Nov 18;21(22):7661. doi: 10.3390/s21227661.
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a non-progressive, neurological disorder often resulting in secondary musculoskeletal impairments affecting alignment and function which can result in orthopaedic surgery. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is a modality that can be used for rehabilitation; however, NMES immediately following orthopaedic surgery in children with CP using surface electrodes has not been previously reported. The purpose of this case series is to describe the novel use of NMES in the acute rehabilitation phase directly after orthopaedic surgery. This case series included three children with spastic diplegia CP, Gross Motor Function Classification System level II who underwent Single Event Multi-Level orthopaedic Surgery. Each long leg cast contained window cast cut-outs to allow for surface electrode placement for daily NMES intervention to the quadriceps muscles while immobilized. Children were assessed pre- and post-operatively using the Functional Mobility Scale (FMS), Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66), and 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). All children demonstrated no adverse effects using NMES intervention and had improvements in the 6MWT. Most children demonstrated gains in the FMS and GMFM-66. Use of NMES through window cast-cuts in a long leg cast is a novel practice approach for delivery of early rehabilitation following lower extremity orthopaedic surgery.
脑性瘫痪（CP）是一种非进行性的神经障碍，常导致继发性肌肉骨骼损伤，影响姿势和功能，从而导致矫形手术。神经肌肉电刺激（NMES）是一种可用于康复的方法；然而，在 CP 儿童接受矫形手术后立即使用表面电极进行 NMES 尚未有报道。本病例系列的目的是描述在矫形手术后的急性康复阶段直接使用 NMES 的新方法。本病例系列包括 3 名痉挛性双瘫 CP 儿童，GMFCS 水平 II，接受了单事件多水平矫形手术。每个长腿石膏都有窗口石膏切口，允许在固定时对股四头肌进行日常 NMES 干预。使用功能移动量表（FMS）、GMFM-66 和 6 分钟步行测试（6MWT）在术前和术后对儿童进行评估。所有儿童在使用 NMES 干预时均未出现不良反应，并在 6MWT 中有所改善。大多数儿童在 FMS 和 GMFM-66 中均有获益。在长腿石膏中通过窗口石膏切口使用 NMES 是一种在下肢矫形手术后进行早期康复的新实践方法。
