Characteristic pelvic, hip, and knee kinematic patterns in children with lumbosacral myelomeningocele

The purpose of this study was to distinguish characteristic gait patterns in children with lumbosacral level myelomeningocele. Twenty-one patients were evaluated using gait analysis; kinematic patterns were analysed for the pelvis, hip, and knee. The patients were divided into two groups based upon presence (group I) or absence (group II) of muscle strength for the ankle plantarflexors. Distinguishable kinematic patterns were identified. The results showed that deviations in the patterns were most apparent at the pelvis and knee and were related to muscle weakness. The identification of these kinematic patterns is the first step towards establishing a framework from which improved evaluation and treatment of this patient population can be realized.