Purpose. The authors have used the Edinburgh Visual Gait Score (VGS) in the management of diplegic cerebral palsy patients treated with Botulinum toxoid injections into their hamstrings muscles. Video-filmed gait episodes were recorded before and after Botox injections over a treatment period of 6 years from 2007 to 2012. Method. The video-recordings of 32 patients were available for VGS analysis. Ages ranged from 5 to 22 years, with 17 patients under the age of 12 years, and 15 over 12 years. Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFSC) levels were accorded to: 8 patients level 1, 10 patients level 2, and 14 patients level 3; 15 were boys and 17 girls. The indication for hamstring injections were a GMFCS level of 1 to 3, age five years or older, no previous hamstring surgery, and a patient keen to have the Botox treatment. Video-recordings were taken with a Sony and a Canon Digital camera in a back-front-back view and a lateral left-right view; walking distance ap was 10 metres, lateral camera distance 5 metres. All injections of Botox were done by the senior author without anaesthetic or sedation. All assessments were done by the junior authors; they did not know the patients, the status before or after injections or repeat injections, or the dates of injections and filming of the episodes. Results. After the Botox injections into the hamstrings bilaterally, no patient changed GMFCS level status, nobody deteriorated; all could be classified in the GMFCS. Conclusion. The Edinburgh VGS is a reliable analysis method for classifying GMF levels in diplegic walking cerebral palsy patients. Video-recordings are permanent and can repeatedly be re-assessed in future; different visual parameters may be chosen for assessment. ONE DISCLOSURE

Aims

Despite the increase in the surgical repair of proximal hamstring tears, there exists a lack of consensus in the optimal timing for surgery. There is also disagreement on how partial tears managed surgically compare with complete tears repaired surgically. This study aims to compare the mid-term functional outcomes in, and operating time required for, complete and partial proximal hamstring avulsions, that are repaired both acutely and chronically.