Allowing Standing and Assisted Steps in a Patient With Renshaw Type IV Sacral Agenesis

Abstract

Case: A 6-year-old boy with a Renshaw type 4 sacral agenesis presented paraplegia and rigid, “Buddha-like” lower-limb contractures, including severe knee pterygia, which made crawling and sitting difficult. Staged surgical treatment involved bilateral knee disarticulation, soft tissue surgery, and bifocal femoral osteotomies for lower-limb reorientation. At 18 months postoperatively and after prosthetic fitting, the patient can stand and take steps with assistance. Conclusion: This effective surgical strategy achieves standing in a troublesome orthopaedic congenital condition. The intervention should be tailored to specific orthopaedic disorders and the wishes of patients and families, aiming to improve function.