Seventy-eight posterior transfers of the adductors of the hip in
forty-two children who has spastic cerebral palsy were reviewed an average
of 5.7 years after the operation (range, two to 14.6 years). The results
were assessed on the basis of the patient's ability to walk, the range of
motion of the affected hip or hips, and the radiographic measurements. In
88 per cent of the patients, the transfer was successful in improving or
maintaining abduction, extension, functional walking, and stability of the
hip. The failures were all in patients who were unable to walk and who had
spastic quadriplegia. Tenotomy of the iliopsoas tendon at the time of the
transfer procedure resulted in an improved range of motion of the hip.