[box type=”bio”] What to Learn from this Article?[/box]
1. Description of a rare entity called bilateral gluetus maximus contracture.
2.Simple Surgical technique to correct this deformity leading to dramatic improvement in patients life?
Case Report | Volume 3 | Issue 1 | JOCR Jan – March 2013 | Page 19-22
Authors: Abhishek Pathak [1], Jiten Shukla [1]
[1] Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology. Gandhi Medical College Bhopal M.P, India.
Address of Correspondence:Dr Abhishek Pathak MS Ortho. Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Gandhi Medical College Bhopal M.P, Email abhishek.dr@gmail.com.
Abstract
Introduction: Bilateral gluteus muscle contracture is a rare entity. “Idiopathic contracture of gluteus maximus” a term proposed by Gao is a rare condition.It present as typical complain of inability to squat with patient assuming a typical frog leg position.
Case Report: We report a case of idiopathic gluteal muscle contracture in adolescent female presenting with inability to squat, sit cross legged and painless awkward gait. The patient could not sit comfortably except in a high chair position. No history of repeated intramuscular injections in the buttocks or signs suggestive of post-polio residual paralysis. All her investigations were within normal limit. Our patient belonged to type III according to GMC classification and underwent surgical release of fibrotic band of gluteal maximus muscle. Patient had remarkable recovery with patient able to squat and sit cross-legged within 4 weeks of surgery.
Conclusion: Gluteal maximus contracture, though rare, present with characteristic clinical symptom and should not be missed. Our patient though presented late showed excellent result after surgical release.
Keywords: Idiopathaic, bilateral, gluteus maximus, contracture.
Introduction
Contractures of deltoid or quadriceps are well known, leading to the limitation of shoulder or knee joint movement. “Idiopathic contracture of gluteus maximus” a term proposed by Gao is a rare condition [1] there are only four case reports from the Indian subcontinent [2-5].
Case Report
A 16-year old female presented to the orthopedics outpatient department with complain of inability to squat, sit cross-legged and painless awkward gait for about last six years. Detailed birth history could only reveal that she was delivered through normal vaginal route at home and cried immediately after birth. She was normal at birth but when she started walking at the age of 15 months, there was a waddle. She had difficulty in walking and running since early childhood because of the need to abduct and externally rotate the limb in every step. The patient could not sit comfortably except in a high chair position. No history of repeated intramuscular injections in the buttocks was forthcoming. There was no history or signs suggestive of post-polio residual paralysis.
On examination she had an abnormal gait with lower limb kept in the attitude of external rotation and abduction while taking each step. Inspection showed a depressed groove over the skin of the buttock running along the course of the gluteus maximus muscle bilaterally, and no skin puckering was observed There was a typical restriction of movement, so that both hips could not be flexed or extended in the usual saggital plane (between 30° to 90°) with the hip in neutral position, adduction was limited and squatting was possible in typical frog leg position (Figure 1). In 0-30° both hips could be flexed in saggital plane but while attempting more flexion there was external rotation and abduction. On flexion of the hip the knee was going to the ipsilateral axilla. However the hip joint could be flexed to 110° in wide abduction (Video 1). Hip rotations were full and free. According to GMC (Gluteal muscle contracture) classification [5] the patient belonged to severe/level III type. Radiographic findings were within normal limit no iliac hyperdense line was seen and fibrosis of postero-inferior fibers of gluteal maximus was seen in MRI.
There was no other associated abnormal contracture of deltoid or quadriceps. No abnormality was detected during spine examination. Surgical release of bilateral contracture was planned in two separate identical operations for each side with a gap of one week to reduce the operative trauma. The procedures were done through postero-lateral approach with incision extending over the visible skin groove. The skin and subcutaneous tissues are reflected to expose gluteal aponeurosis at its attachment to iliotibial band. A dense fibrotic band extending from the gluteal fascia into the gluteus maximus muscle in the postero-inferior part of the muscle was found. The band was divided after visualization of the sciatic nerve. The hip was progressively flexed in saggital plane intraoperatively to ascertain the effectiveness of release. No immobilization or traction is given in immediate postoperative period. Patient was encouraged to sit on bed from second postoperative day. The patient was hospitalised till stitch removal (11th post op day) and graduated exercise was begun. There was remarkable recovery with patient able to squat and sit cross-legged within 4 weeks of surgery with hip flexion of 120ᵒ and hip adduction being 10ᵒ (Figure 2).There was no loss in gained movement till 12 months postoperatively after which the patient was lost to follow up.
Discussion
Idiopathic bilateral gluteal muscle contracture is a rare occurrence, though other muscle such as quadriceps and deltoid are involved more frequently. Few ethinicities, especially Chinese have a relatively high prevalence of gluteal maximus muscle contracture [7, 8]. Various etiological causes have been proposed for muscle contracture irrespective of location viz. genetic or congenital and post natal, but still disease origin seems to be obscure. In all reported cases of gluteal muscle contracture repeated intramuscular injection is most widely documented.[7,8,9] The inflammatory reaction incited by intramuscular injections of antibiotics may play an important role in the quadriceps contracture [6,7,10]. Though no such history could be elicited in our case, but it cannot be ruled out. In our patient a detailed history did not revealed any incidence of suppurative infection in buttock region. None of the family member had any such complaints. Gluteus maximus contracture produces a backward pull on the three pronged attachment of iliotibial tract displacing its axis posteriorly in relation to femur. Contracted gluteus maximus act as a checkrein decreasing the forward flexion of femur producing the characteristic deformity [7, 10]. Flexion at hip is grossly restricted in saggital plane and hip could only be flexed while keeping it in abduction and external rotation producing the frog leg position. Previous studies on Gluteal maximus contracture had patients in younger age group at the time of intervention [1, 6, 8, 10] as compared to our patient (Table 3). Age was one important factor which influenced the final result, which suggested that either non operative method or surgery should be carried out as early as possible [6]. But our patient being 16 years old showed remarkable result and was able to sit cross legged and squat within 4 weeks of surgery probably due to rigrous physiotherapy regimen. Treatment guidelines have been delineated quite precisely by Zhao CG et al. according to the severity of disease [6]. The diagnosis of GMC mainly depends on anamnesis, and typical clinical manifestations; X-ray and MRI studies would not be requisite, but could always help eliminate other osteopathologic changes and make available additional information before surgery [6]. Passive stretching and manipulation is of no value in treating the deformity in severe/level III gluteal muscle contracture. Complete surgical release of the fibrotic band is only way to correct the deformity. In our case fibrotic band was along the postero-inferior aspect of gluteus maximus contracture, but Gao had reported it to be located in anterior part of the muscle [2]. We did open surgical release of gluteal contracture with on table assessment of release by flexing the hip in saggital plane. Arthroscopic gluteal maximus muscle contracture release by radiofrequency energy has been tried recently with encouraging result [11].
Conclusion
Idiopathic bilateral gluteal maximus contracture is an uncommon entity, should be managed by operative release of the fibrotic band so as to obtain gratifying results. Our patient, though presented late, showed excellent result which points that even late intervention can give good results and should be offered to the patient.
References
1. Gao GX. Idiopathic contracture of the gluteus maximus muscle in children. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 1988; 107: 277-279.
2. Pandey S, Jha SS. Congenital bilateral contracture of the gluteus maximus. Int Surg. 1976 Jan;61(1):49-50
3. Yadav SS. Extension contracture of the hip due to idiopathic fibrosis of the gluteus maximus. Int Surg. 1978 Jan;63(1):27-8.
4. Patel DA, Patel BJ. Gluteal maximus contracture. Ind J Orthop 1987; 21: 57-60
5. Aggarwal A, Singh S, Singh M, Chauhan R. Idiopathic bilateral gluteus maximus contracture: a case report and review of literature. Acta Orthop Belg. 2005 Aug; 71(4):493-5.
6. Zhao CG, He XJ, Lu B, Li HP, Wang D, Zhu ZZ. Classification of gluteal muscle contracture in children and outcome of different treatments. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2009
7. Peter F. Williams Quadriceps Contracture J Bone Joint Surg Br, May 1968; 50-B: 278 – 284.
8. Hang YS. Contracture of the hip secondary to fibrosis of the gluteus maximus muscle. J Bone Joint Surg 1979; 61- A: 52-55.
9. Ni B, Li M. [The effect of children’s gluteal muscle contracture on skeleton development]. Sichuan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2007 Jul;38(4):657-9, 677.
10. Peiro A, Fernandez CI, Gomar F Gluteal Fibrosis J Bone Joint Surg Am 1975 Oct; 57 (7); 987-990.
11. Liu YJ, Wang Y, Xue J, Lui PP, Chan KM. Arthroscopic gluteal muscle contracture release with radiofrequency energy Clin Orthop Relat Res (2009) 467:799–804.
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How to Cite This Article: Pathak A & Shukla J. Idiopathic bilateral gluteus maximus contracture in adolescent female: A case report. Journal of Orthopaedic Case Reports 2013 Jan-March;3(1):19-22. Available from: https://www.jocr.co.in/wp/wp-content/uploads/Jan-March-2013-Article-6.pdf |
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