Orthopedic surgery for adult paralytic poliomyelitis residua requires careful decision-making, as an estimated 40% of polio victims will suffer from Post-Polio syndrome in their 50s and 60s.
Surgical treatment of adult polio survivors requires cautious, staged decision-making due to delayed healing, need for extended rehabilitation, and the risk of Post-Polio syndrome.
Summary: In the developed world paralytic poliomyelitis is almost extinct. This is clearly not the case elsewhere While immunization has markedly decreased the incidence it has no effect on those who already have had the disease. These children are now mostly adults. This has a number of important orthopedic implications: 1) Adults do not heal as readily; 2) Postoperative regimens need to be extended; 3) Postoperative rehabilitation facilities will be in more demand; 3) Adults will have a more difficult time accommodating alterations in the mechanics that follows some operations. Well-intended surgery may not have the results expected; 4) What will be the worldwide impact of “Post-Polio syndrome (new functional loss that may occur many decades after the disease first occurred in childhood). By some estimates 40% of polio victims will suffer from Post-Polio syndrome as they reach their 50s and 60s. The decisions in the surgical treatment of polio are more difficult than the procedures themselves. Hurried decisions are frequently bad—if in doubt, proceed cautiously and in stages.
Hugh G. Watts (Thu,) conducted a review in Paralytic poliomyelitis. Orthopedic surgery was evaluated. Orthopedic surgery for adult paralytic poliomyelitis residua requires careful decision-making, as an estimated 40% of polio victims will suffer from Post-Polio syndrome in their 50s and 60s.
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