Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

About 10% of Turner's syndrome (TS) patients complain on persistent knee pain, and seek the orthopaedic help because of it.

AIM OF STUDY:

To evaluate the gait pattern of girls with TS.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Gait analysis was performed using VICON 460 system in 15 patients aged 7 to 20 years. The maximal isometric flexion and extension moments of the knee joints were measured. The knees were examined with X-ray and USG for possible anatomical or degenerative changes.

RESULTS:

All spatio-temporal parameters of the gait were within normal values. Only 3 patients had proper pelvic tilt, all the others had decreased tilt (from 2 to 9). Only 40% had proper knee flexion at initial contact, 1 patient had knee hyperextension, all the others increased knee flexion. In 50% of the patients the decreased knee range of motion together with decreased maximum knee flexion in swing phase was observed. In 30% there was a decreased hip range of motion. Clinical evaluation of body posture revealed that nearly all patients had trunk asymmetry, and various deformities of knees and feet.

DISCUSSION:

Nearly all TS patients had decreased pelvic tilt, which could be sign of the weakness of the muscles responsible for the pelvis orientation. The abnormalities of upper and lower body found during clinical evaluation of body posture also suggested decreased muscular strength. It is known that girls with TS have poorer motor development, which could result in decreased muscular strength and our findings support this thesis. Decreased muscular strength could also negatively influence the locomotor abilities.