Comparison of the Gross Motor Function Measure and Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory in assessing motor...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Rehabilitation
• Neurology
• Clinical Assessment

Background:

• Cerebral palsy (CP) significantly impacts motor function in children.
• Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) combined with physiotherapy is a common intervention for CP.
• Accurate functional outcome measures are crucial for evaluating treatment efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the sensitivity and timing of functional changes detected by the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) and the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI).
• To assess these measures in children with spastic diplegia undergoing SDR and physiotherapy.
• To determine the complementary roles of GMFM and PEDI in evaluating functional recovery.

Main Methods:

• 18 children with spastic diplegia, classified by Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) into mild and severe impairment groups.
• Functional outcomes assessed using GMFM and PEDI preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively.
• Comparative analysis of GMFM and PEDI sensitivity to changes over time within and between severity groups.

Main Results:

• Both GMFM and PEDI detected functional changes over time in the overall cohort and the milder impairment group.
• The PEDI identified significant changes earlier than the GMFM.
• In the more severe impairment group, only the PEDI detected significant functional improvements, while the GMFM did not.
• The findings suggest GMFM and PEDI measure different functional aspects.

Conclusions:

• GMFM and PEDI are complementary functional outcome measures for children with CP post-SDR.
• PEDI demonstrates greater sensitivity in detecting earlier and more significant changes, particularly in children with severe motor impairment.
• These measures are essential for comprehensive assessment of functional recovery in pediatric CP rehabilitation.