Use of Murphy-Pierrot Procedure in Treatment of Pediatric Neurologic Equinus Deformities

Use of Murphy-Pierrot Procedure in Treatment of Pediatric Neurologic Equinus Deformities

Uncompensated Neurospastic Equinus is a deformity which is commonly seen among children born with Cerebral Palsy. This neurological complication becomes a vital delimiter of a child's capacity for independent ambulation. As such, the deformity carries with it both physical and social infirmities, which significantly affect productivity and quality of life. Over the last 10 years, outcomes have been tracked in pediatric patients (aged 2 years to 17 years) presenting with this disabling physical impairment, seen through the Yucatan Crippled Children's Project. Treatment on the majority of these patients has consisted of a Murphy-Pierrot Tendo Achilles tendon transfer procedure, which appears to have effectively brought the heel to the ground with a retained positional reduction in contrast to Tendo-Achilles lengthening procedures, which have uniformly resulted in recurrence of the deformity over time. Favorable outcomes have been evaluated and can be associated directly with increasing individual productivity and social enhancement.