Functional outcome of upper limb tendon transfers performed in children with spastic hemiplegia.

Children with spastic hemiplegia often present with upper limb muscle imbalance. The purpose of this paper was to determine whether reconstructive surgery improved their functional ability. 17 children under the age of 16 years with spastic hemiplegia underwent reconstruction that included tendon transfers, tendon lengthenings and thumb metacarpophalangeal fusion. They were assessed pre-operatively and at an average follow-up period of 2.6 years. Children's abilities were classified according to House's functional rating scale. Tendon transfers improved functional grading by two grades, from good passive assist to fair active assist. Improvement in the arc of wrist motion and forearm rotation was also seen. Parental satisfaction was high. Reconstructive surgery improved the functional abilities in this group of children with spastic hemiplegia.