Kinematics-based studies before and after selective tibial neurotomy (STN) gait have not been performed. It is very important for spastic patients before and after STN to evaluate quality of gait motion. We examined the quantitative changes in kinetic and kinematic parameters in the gait of a hemiplegic patient after STN. A patient with stroke-related hemiplegia who did not require aids to walk underwent a three-dimensional gait analysis (3DGA) before and after STN. 3DGA system was used to obtain spatiotemporal, kinetic and kinematic parameters of the lower extremities. Postoperative increases in walking speed and the single leg support ratio were detected in the paralyzed limb. Kinetic and kinematic analyses of the stance phase performed after STN detected dorsiflexion in the ankle, the appearance of generation power during plantar flexion, an extension of the range of hip movement during the gait cycle, and the disappearance of genu recurvatum. The acquisition of a normalized ankle joint gait pattern after STN might result in coordinated improvements in the kinetic and kinematic parameters of other joints. The measurement of spatiotemporal, kinetic, and kinematic gait parameters using 3DGA systems might aid decisions regarding the optimal post-STN rehabilitation strategies for spastic patients who hope to improve their gaits.

Kinematics-based studies before and after selective tibial neurotomy (STN) gait have not been performed. It is very important for spastic patients before and after STN to evaluate quality of gait motion. We examined the quantitative changes in kinetic and kinematic parameters in the gait of a hemiplegic patient after STN. A patient with stroke-related hemiplegia who did not require aids to walk underwent a three-dimensional gait analysis (3DGA) before and after STN. 3DGA system was used to obtain spatiotemporal, kinetic and kinematic parameters of the lower extremities. Postoperative increases in walking speed and the single leg support ratio were detected in the paralyzed limb. Kinetic and kinematic analyses of the stance phase performed after STN detected dorsiflexion in the ankle, the appearance of generation power during plantar flexion, an extension of the range of hip movement during the gait cycle, and the disappearance of genu recurvatum. The acquisition of a normalized ankle joint gait pattern after STN might result in coordinated improvements in the kinetic and kinematic parameters of other joints. The measurement of spatiotemporal, kinetic, and kinematic gait parameters using 3DGA systems might aid decisions regarding the optimal post-STN rehabilitation strategies for spastic patients who hope to improve their gaits.
Muscle Spasticity

BACKGROUNDIn an earlier study, we identified a locus for Moyamoya disease (MMD) on 17q25.3.

METHODSLinkage analysis and fine mapping were conducted for two new families in additional to the previously studied 15 families. Three genes, CARD14, Raptor, and AATK, were selected based on key words, namely, "inflammation", "apoptosis", "proliferation", and "vascular system", for further sequencing. A segregation analysis of 34 pedigrees was performed, followed by a case-control study in Japanese (90 cases vs. 384 controls), Korean (41 cases vs. 223 controls), Chinese (23 cases and 100 controls), and Caucasian (25 cases and 164 controls) populations.

RESULTSLinkage analysis increased the LOD score from 8.07 to 9.67 on 17q25.3. Fine mapping narrowed the linkage signal to a 2.1-Mb region. Sequencing revealed that only one newly identified polymorphism, ss161110142, which was located at position -1480 from the transcription site of the Raptor gene, was common to all four unrelated sequenced familial affected individuals. ss161110142 was then shown to segregate in the 34 pedigrees studied, resulting in a two-point LOD score of 14.2 (P = 3.89 × 10(-8)). Its penetrance was estimated to be 74.0%. Among the Asian populations tested (Japanese, Korean, and Chinese), the rare allele was much more frequent in cases (26, 33, and 4%, respectively) than in controls (1, 1, and 0%, respectively) and was associated with an increased odds ratio of 52.2 (95% confidence interval 27.2-100.2) (P = 2.5 × 10(-49)). This allele was, however, not detected in the Caucasian samples. Its population attributable risk was estimated to be 49% in the Japanese population, 66% in the Korean population, and 9% in the Chinese population.

CONCLUSIONss161110142 may confer susceptibility to MMD among East Asian populations.

ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12199-009-0116-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.