Comparison of tendo-Achilles lengthening alone and combined with neurectomy of the gastrocnemius muscle in the treatment of equinus deformity of the foot associated with clonus in children with cerebral palsy.

In a prospective study of 12 children with spastic cerebral palsy and equinus deformity (21 extremities) complicated by clonus, the results of two surgical techniques were compared. Six children had tendo-Achilles lengthening (TAL) alone and six had TAL combined with neurectomy of the gastrocnemius muscle. The equinus deformity was corrected in all children, but of those with neurectomy clonus subsided in 50%, compared to only 27% in those with TAL alone.