Correct knee flexion deformity

[mkoller]

Hello,

I am a mother of a 10 year old girl with spina bifida and was wondering if anyone on this forum has had their knee flexion deformity corrected. My daughter left knee doesn't not straighten fully and her ortho. doctor recommended this surgery. I am hoping to get any results of the surgery from the patients themselves. This would help us make sure that it is the right thing to do for our daughter.

Thank you for any help.

Michelle:)

[trekman]

You should ask your surgeon if surgery is the only option. I have a book called 'living with Spina Bifida' by Adrian Sandler M.D. He discusses this condition in his book and says that surgery is not the only option. In a lot of cases bracing and physiotherapy can help with this common problem. If you haven't already got it then I would suggest you try to find this very informative and interesting book. I got my copy from Amazon uk.

[rachiebaby]

the only option I've heard of is surgery but that all they do is rearrange your bones to make the legs look straight and it usually only lasts a few years I've never heard of physiotherapy and I don't know how bracing could work since it's the tendon tightened up and they can't cut it or you wouldn't be able to walk but if there is more information that I don't know I would love to know about it

[Dodger67]

Unless she is a walker and will be for the long term, IMHO its unecessary.
I had many such surgeries, none lasted more than a couple of years. Since I stopped walking in my early teens (when my weight hit about 100pounds) I have come to see the whole effort as a complete waste of my time. My knees now don't straighten beyond about 45degrees and I don't care! It makes absolutely no difference to my quality of life.