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Soft Tissue Release for Elbow Pronation in Cerebral Palsy

NCT07601165 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 28

Last updated 2026-05-22

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Upper extremity deformities are highly common in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) as a result of motor control impairment and muscle imbalance. Among these deformities, elbow pronation deformities are frequently observed, particularly in spastic-type CP (Koman et al., 2004). The imbalance between the pronator muscle group (pronator teres, pronator quadratus) and the supinator muscle group (supinator, biceps brachii) leads to the forearm remaining in a persistent pronated position (Sahoo et al., 2017). This deformity is not only aesthetically concerning but also results in significant functional limitations. Both fine and gross motor skills-such as washing the face, handshaking, and clapping-are adversely affected (Soutar \& McComas, 1990). Additionally, children may experience difficulty using assistive devices such as walkers, which in turn can negatively impact ambulation (Flett, 2003).

An elbow fixed in pronation forces children to compensate for limited range of motion by using shoulder and trunk movements, which over time predisposes them to abnormal postural development (Gracies, 2005). In advanced cases, structural alterations such as posterolateral radial head dislocations may also occur (Van Heest \& House, 2000). Both conservative (orthoses, botulinum toxin injections, physical therapy) and surgical interventions are employed in the treatment of pronation deformities. Surgical options include tenotomy of the pronator teres and pronator quadratus, muscle transfers, or combined procedures (Zancolli, 1975). However, there is no consensus in the literature regarding which surgical method should be applied to which patient group and at what stage (House et al., 1981).

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of distal soft-tissue release surgery for the treatment of elbow pronation deformity on upper extremity function in children with cerebral palsy.

Conditions

  • Cerebral Palsy

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Upper extremity soft-tissue release

Surgical tenotomy of the pronator teres and pronator quadratus muscles accompanied by distal soft-tissue release

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
6 Years
Max Age
16 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-06-30
Primary Completion
2026-08-30
Completion
2028-01-30

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07601165 on ClinicalTrials.gov