Scissor gait is a form of gait abnormality primarily associated with spastic cerebral palsy. It is associated with an upper motor neuron lesion.^[1]

[edit] Presentation

This gait pattern is reminiscent of a marionette. Hypertonia in the legs, hips and pelvis means these areas become flexed, to various degrees, giving the appearance of crouching, while tight adductors produce extreme adduction, presented by knees and thighs hitting or crossing in a scissors-like movement, while the opposing muscles, the abductors, become comparatively weak from lack of use. Most common in patients with spastic cerebral palsy, usually diplegic and paraplegic varieties. The individual is forced to walk on tiptoe unless the plantarflexor muscles are released by an orthaepedic surgical procedure.

These features are typical, and usually result in some form and to some degree regardless of the mildness or severity of the spastic CP condition.

• rigidity and excessive adduction of the leg in swing
• plantar flexion of the ankle
• flexion at the knee
• adduction and internal rotation at the hip
• progressive contractures of all spastic muscles
• complicated assisting movements of the upper limbs when walking ^[2].^[3]

When not severe enough to interfere significantly with movement, function, longevity, energy levels or comfort, the scissor gait may be considered to be little more than a different walking "style".

[edit] Conditions associated with a scissor gait

• Arthrogryposis
• Spastic diplegia
• Pernicious anemia
• Cerebrovascular accident
• Cervical spondylosis with myelopathy (a problem with the vertebrae in the neck)
• Liver failure
• Multiple sclerosis
• Spinal cord trauma
• Spinal cord tumor
• Syphilitic meningomyelitis
• Syringomyelia
• other forms of Cerebral palsy

[edit] References

v • d • e Symptoms and signs: nervous and musculoskeletal systems (R25-R29, 781.0, 781.2-9) Primarily nervous system Primarily CNS Movement disorders Dyskinesia: Athetosis · Tremor Gait abnormality Scissor gait · Cerebellar ataxia · Festinating gait · Propulsive gait · Stomping gait · Spastic gait · Magnetic gait Lack of coordination Dyskinesia: Ataxia (Cerebellar ataxia/Dysmetria, Sensory ataxia) Dysdiadochokinesia · Asterixis Other Abnormal posturing: Opisthotonus Perceptual disorder: Hemispatial neglect Facial weakness · Hyperreflexia Primarily PNS Gait abnormality Steppage gait · Antalgic gait Primarily muscular Movement disorders Spasm (Trismus) · Fasciculation · Fibrillation · Myokymia · Cramp  · Restless legs syndrome Gait abnormality Myopathic gait · Trendelenburg gait · Pigeon gait Other Tetany · Meningism Primarily skeletal Rachitic rosary · Clubbing central nervous system navs: anat/physio/dev, noncongen/congen/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc peripheral nervous system navs: anat/histo/physio/dev, noncongen PNS somatic/autonomic/congen/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc muscle, DF+DRCT navs: anat/hist/physio, acquired myopathy/congenital myopathy/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc bone and cartilage navs: anat/physio/dev, noncongen/congen/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous signs, proc

This medical sign article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e