Surgery Helps Young Kids With Cerebral Palsy Walk, Regardless of Age [Video]

Key Takeaways

Older kids with cerebral palsy can get good results from corrective surgery, a preliminary study showsThe procedure is typically done between 7 and 10 years of ageBut it also helped patients as old as 21, researchers said

FRIDAY, June 21, 2024 (HealthDay News) — A surgery that helps 7- to 10-year-olds with cerebral palsy walk also helps older kids and teens with the condition, a groundbreaking study shows.

“We had thought that the older kids would not do as well, but there was really no difference in outcomes between the two groups,” said senior study author Dr. Robert Kay, director of the Jackie and Gene Autry Orthopedic Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

The procedure in question is dubbed SEMLS, short for single-event multilevel surgery. It is the standard of care for helping kids with cerebral palsy improve.

The new study looked at 126 young people with cerebral palsy who were seen …