Trendelenburg Gait

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Definition/ Description:
The trendelenburg gait or gluteus medius gait is an abnormal gait who is observed in patients that have weak hip abductor muscles. This condition makes it difficult to support the body's weight on the affected side. The abductor muscles themselves are normal but they have a mechanical disadvantage. During the stance phase of gait, the hip abductors function ineffectively and the pelvis tilts away from the affected side. In an attempt to lessen this effect, the child compensates by leaning over the affected hip. This brings the center of gravity over the hip and reduces the degree of pelvic drop. [1,2]

Clinically Relevant Anatomy:
The gait cycle is divided into two main phases, a stance and a swing phase, each consisting of numerous sub phases. The human gait cycle has six determinants that function independently, to generate the normally fluid, continuous movements of ambulation. [3,4,5]

Epidemiology/ Etiology:
Trendelenburg gait occurs when the patient has to deal with weakness of the abductors of the hip (Musculus gluteus medius). [1] Patients who have e significant shorter height and greater body mass index sustained the trendelenburg gait. [6]

Characteristics / Clinical Presentation:

Differential Diagnosis:
This disturbance in the gait cycle is frequently observed in children with the development of congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH), dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and congenital coxa vara. Coxa vara can also occur from other disorders like Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease or slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). These are 2 of the most common causes of pain in the hip or limp. [1,7,8]The trendelenburg gait mostly occurs when we have to deal with a neuronal injury. A lesion of the superior gluteal nerve (SGN) is the main nerve stimulating the hip abductors. [6,9] This nerve is the supplies the gluteus medius, gluteus minimus and tensor fascia lata. [10]

Diagnostic Procedures:
When pain in the hip is diagnosed, the surgeon will base the diagnose on data obtained from clinical and X-ray assessment. These 2 factors will provide an answers to: (A) the level of the proximal osteotomy, (B) the amount of valgus, extension and derotation at the proximal osteotomy, (C) the level of the distal osteotomy, and (D) the amount of varus and lengthening at the distal osteotomy. [16,17,18]

Examination:
The modified McKay criteria is useful to assess whether a patient has Trendelenburg gait or not. This criteria measure pain symptoms, gait pattern, Trendelenburg sign status, and the range of hip joint movement. [11,12]

Grade	Criteria
Excellent	Stable, painless hip; no limp; negative Trendelenburg sign; full range of movement
Good	Stable, painless hip; slight limp; slight decrease in range of movement
Fair	Stable, painless hip; limp; positive Trendelenburg sign; and limited range of movement, or a combination of these
Poor	Unstable or painful hip or both; positive Trendelenburg sign

Medical Management:
Currently, no treatment modalities exist for patients with compensated Trendelenburg gait. What we can do is try to deal with the causes who develop Trendelenburg gait. Open reduction and Salter innominate osteotomy (SIO) without preoperative traction is effective in the management of development dysplasia of the hip in children younger than 6 years. [13] Pelvic support osteotomies cause a significant improvement in terms like posture, gait and walking tolerance to patients who have to deal with untreated congenital dislocations. [14,15]

Physical Therapy Management:

References:

[1] Hensinger RN: Limp. Pediatr Clin North Am 1986; 33:1355.