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Principles of orthopedic surgery on patients with cerebral palsy and spasticity include the following:
- Single event, multilevel surgery
- Delay the operation for as long as possible, preferably until a child is at least 6 years old.
- Use spasticity management tools as an adjuvant to surgical intervention.
A variety of surgical techniques can be used to help correct the static and dynamic defects that occur in the patient with cerebral palsy and spasticity. These include:
- Procedures to lengthen, transfer, or divide tendons
- Relocate joints
- Fuse joints
- Rotate bones
- Transect specific nerves, correct bony abnormalities, and release contracted skin.