Pii: S0387-7604(00)00200-x

Sequential changes in gait patterns were investigated retrospectively by analyzing the videotape recordings of 20 children with spastic diplegia and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). The subjects began to walk at 1±5 years of age, and their walking was examined to 6±16 years of age. Many of the ambulatory children with spastic diplegia walked with ̄exed hips, knees and ankles. At the ®nal walking examination, the knee was ̄exed during the stance phase in both legs and in all cases. In addition, the ankle was over-plantar ̄exed during the stance phase in nine cases or 14 legs, and dorsi ̄exed in 15 cases or 26 legs. At the initial walking, the knee was over-extended during the stance phase in seven cases or 12 legs, and was ̄exed in 15 cases or 28 legs. Also, the ankle was over-plantar ̄exed during the stance phase in 14 cases or 22 legs, and dorsi ̄exed in ten cases or 18 legs. Bilateral excessive ankle plantar ̄exion or a recurvatum knee was observed in a portion of the children at the initial phase of walking only. In the diplegic children with PVL, the gait pattern was variable. q 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.