EC Paediatrics

Objective: To analyze 2 surgical techniques in the treatment of rectus femoris in children.

Materials and Methods: Data were analyzed on 208 patients (218 knees) from July 2008 to December 2020. Clinical signs were knee stiffness in the swing phase, positive Ely and Ober test, abnormal knee and hip flexion angles. Patients were operated on according to one of two variants: Variant A, to release the proximal tendon; and Variant B, to release the medial axis of the rectus femoris.

Results: There were 208 patients (218 knees). There were 132 females (63.5%) and 76 males (36.5%). The left knee was affected in 51 patients (24.5%) and the right knee in 157 patients (75.5%). The mean age at the time of surgery was 7 years, 8 months. The mean follow-up period was 8 years, 3 months. Postoperatively, the knee flexion angle with a positive Ely test result was significantly improved. Long-term follow-up showed excellent results in 148 knees (67.8%), good results in 35 knees (16.1%), fair results in 17 knees (7.8%), poor results in 18 knees (8.3%). The postoperative results of the two techniques were similar (Pvaluate = 0.26870)

Conclusion: Overall, surgical treatment of knee stiffness in the swing stage due to rectus femoris fibrosis by a simple and safe surgical procedure significantly improved knee and hip function, stooped gait, and anterior pelvic tilt.

 Keywords: Intramuscular Antibiotic Injection; Fibroma; Fibroma and Contracture; Stiffness; Surgical Treatment

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