Knee flexion deformity and patella alta in spastic cerebral palsy.

A study on spastic knee flexion deformity has revealed a recurrence rate of 32 per cent following attempted surgical correction on 170 knees (103 patients). This rate appeared to be unrelated to concomitant surgery for correction of hip and ankle deformity. An additional study demonstrated patella alta in 72 per cent of 100 spastic knees (50 patients) and only 2 per cent and 50 knees of a comparable group of 25 non-spastic patients. It is suggested that restoration of a normal patello-femoral relationship may reduce both the functional disability and recurrence rate of spastic knee flexion deformity when this disease is managed surgically.