The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 58, Issue 2 201-208, Copyright © 1976 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
Electromyography before and after surgery for hip deformity in children with cerebral palsy. A comparison of clinical and electromyographic findings
J Perry, MM Hoffer, D Antonelli, J Plut, G Lewis and R Greenberg
Twenty-three ambulatory children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy were
evaluated clinically and by electromyography before and after hip-muscle
surgery. The stretch tests originally designed to distinguish specific
muscle tightness and spasticity were found to be non-specific when tested
by electromyography. Ambulatory electromyograms using needle electrodes and
telemetry generally showed decreased activity in the released muscles and,
on occasion, changes in activity in muscles not operated on. These
unanticipated changes after release may explain some of the
unpredictability of results of such procedures in cerebral palsy.