Soft Tissue Lengthening — Adductor Tendon Lengthening (Percutaneous)

Children's Colorado / Center for Gait and Movement Analysis (CGMA) · CGMA Physical Therapy Team, Children's Colorado

Weight-Bearing

WBAT with wide stance in long leg casts x 3 weeks; no scissoring

Key Restrictions

Avoid active/forceful adduction and flexion x 3 weeks; no impact x 3 weeks; abduction pillow or long leg casts with spreader bar x 3 weeks; abduction pillow worn for sleep/majority of day (remove only for hygiene/toileting/PT); avoid windswept posturing

Timeline & Phases

Phase 1 (days 1-7): prone, gravity-assisted hip abduction, avoid adduction, isometrics, ankle PROM/AAROM; Phase 2 (days 8-21): wide-based gait training, side stepping with support, slow treadmill; Phase 3 (day 22+): scar mobility, hip abductor strengthening, quality gait pattern without scissoring; return to full activity ~3 months

Notes

Pediatric; indication is hip adductor contracture and scissor gait; percutaneous incisions into adductor longus, gracilis, occasionally adductor brevis; Children's Colorado CGMA

Surgeon / Author

CGMA Physical Therapy Team, Children's Colorado

Published

October 2007