Background and purpose: Gait disturbances resulting from the normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) syndrome significantly restrain locomotion, which in serious cases can lead to a total loss of the ability to move. Hence the need to create an objective method of evaluating gait disturbances described by values of gait parameters and changes of these parameters resulting from neurosurgical treatment. The aim of this project is to create an effective, non-invasive diagnostics method describing movement disorders in patients with NPH before and after surgery.
Material and methods: An evaluation of the effectiveness of gait analysis was carried out with Ultraflex, which uses the Computer Dyno Graphy (CDG) system to measure the distribution of forces of reaction on the ground during walking. The control group consisted of 17 healthy individuals (age range 50-65 years) and the treatment group included 17 patients with enlargement of the ventricular system (9 females and 8 males, mean age 58.6 years, range 50-65 years), 8 of whom were qualified for surgical treatment. Analyzed parameters: ground reaction force, single and double support, stance.
Results: Changes of parameters reflected gait improvement.
Conclusions: The results obtained indicate that gait analysis using the CDG system might be a good method for assessing the effectiveness of NPH surgery.