Objective To study the effect of scalp acupuncture plus facilitation technique on the temporal and spatial parameters of gait in spastic cerebral palsy. Method Thirty eligible patients with spastic cerebral palsy were randomized into a treatment group and a control group based on the inter-group balance in age, palsy type, and the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), 15 cases in each group. The treatment group was intervened by scalp acupuncture, together with the facilitation technique during the retaining of the needles; the control group was also by scalp acupuncture and facilitation techniques but with over 1 h interval between the two methods. The treatment was given once a day, totally for 3 months. The walking, running, and jumping items (E category) of the Gross Motor Function Measure-66 (GMFM-66), temporal and spatial parameters of gait, and vertical ground reaction force during stance were compared before and after the treatment. Result There were no significant inter-group differences in comparing the rates of E category of the GMFM-66 before the treatment (P>0.05), the rates were significantly changed after the treatment in both groups (P<0.05), and there were significant differences in comparing the rates between the two groups after the intervention (P<0.05);after the intervention, the step length, walking speed, and step frequency were increased significantly in both groups (P<0.05), while the double-stance phase was decreased significantly, and swing phase was increased significantly (P<0.05); after the intervention, the step length, walking speed, and step frequency of the treatment group were significantly better than that of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture plus facilitation technique can mitigate the spasticity in spastic cerebral palsy, improve the gross motor function, especially the function of standing and walking, enhance the activities, and benefit the improvement of the step length, step width, and walk speed.

Objective:To evaluate the preliminary clinical application of our self-designed posterior reduction forceps for atlantoaxial dislocation in the reduction and fixation of irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation with simple posterior screw-rod system.Methods:Our posterior reduction forceps was self-designed and developed to assist simple posterior screw-rod system in the treatment of irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation based on the posterior atlantoaxial screw-rod system. A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 5 patients with irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation who had been treated from January 2021 to October 2022 at Department of Spine Surgery, General Hospital of Southern Theatre Command of PLA with our self-designed posterior reduction forceps. There were 2 males and 3 females, aged 53, 62, 45, 32 and 48 years, respectively. Diagnosis: 1 case of free odontoid process combined with atlantoaxial dislocation, 2 cases of atlantoaxial dislocation, and 2 cases of old odontoid process fracture combined with atlantoaxial dislocation. Respectively, their preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores were 9, 11, 12, 13 and 10 points and their atlanto-dental intervals (ADI) 9.8, 7.4, 6.6, 6.4 and 8.5 mm. Postoperatively, atlantoaxial reduction and spinal cord compression were evaluated by X-ray, CT, and MRI examinations, and internal fixation, atlanto-axial sequence, and bone graft fusion by X-ray and CT examinations. One week after surgery, the JOA scores were used to evaluate the patients' neurological function and the ADI was measured to evaluate the atlantoaxial reduction.Results:The surgery was successfully performed in the 5 patients, with no intraoperative complications like neurovascular injuries to the spinal cord. The postoperative atlantoaxial reduction was satisfactory, the position of internal fixation was good, the compression to the spinal cord was relieved, and the clinical symptoms were significantly improved. At 1 week after surgery, respectively, the JOA score: 13, 14, 14, 15 and 13; the ADI: 2.6, 2.1, 1.8, 1.5 and 2.2 mm; the follow-up time: 3, 6, 12, 9 and 6 months; the bone fusion time: 3, 3, 6, 6 and 3 months. Follow-ups revealed no loosening or fracture of internal fixation, good atlanto-axial sequence, and no recurrence of dislocation.Conclusion:Our self-designed posterior reduction forceps for atlantoaxial dislocation can assist the simple posterior screw-rod system to treat irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation, leading to good preliminary clinical outcomes.