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Cerebral palsy in southern Sweden II. Gross motor function and disabilities
E Nordmark1, G Hägglund, J Lagergren
1Department of Physical Therapy, Lund University, Sweden. eva.nordmark@sjukgym.lu.se
Insights
This study analyzed gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Sweden. Children with CP born abroad showed more severe disabilities, highlighting disparities in care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder affecting motor function.
- Understanding gross motor function and its relation to clinical features is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gross motor function and disabilities in children with CP in southern Sweden.
- To correlate motor function with clinical features and demographic factors.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 167 children born between 1990-1993 with CP was studied.
- Gross motor function was assessed using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS).
- Clinical data were collected from a healthcare follow-up program.
Main Results:
- 86% of hemiplegic children could walk independently, compared to 21% of dyskinetic and none of the tetraplegic children.
- 59% of children had mild disabilities (GMFCS levels I-II), 14% moderate (level III), and 27% severe (levels IV-V).
- Children born abroad exhibited more severe motor disabilities.
Conclusions:
- The GMFCS provides a standardized method for describing gross motor function in relation to clinical features.
- Significant associations were found between GMFCS levels and diagnosis, etiology, intellectual capacity, epilepsy, and visual impairment.
Unlabelled:
The gross motor function and disabilities in children with cerebral palsy in southern Sweden were investigated and related to clinical features. The study covered the birth year period 1990-1993 and comprised 167 children, 145 of them born in Sweden and 22 born abroad. The clinical features and gross motor function were analysed at a mean age of 6.8 y. Clinical features were obtained from a continuing healthcare follow-up programme. Gross motor function was classified according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Walking independently was possible for 86% of the hemiplegic, 63% of the pure ataxic, 61% of the diplegic and 21% of the dyskinetic children. None of the tetraplegic children was able to walk. The classification of gross motor function revealed that 59% of the children were categorized into levels I and II (mildly disabled), 14% into level III (moderately disabled) and 27% into levels IV and V (severely disabled). Children born abroad were more severely disabled.
Conclusion:
The standardized age-related classification system GMFCS enabled a specific description of gross motor function in relation to clinical features. Significant differences between GMFCS levels and subgroups of diagnosis, aetiology. intellectual capacity, epilepsy and visual impairment were found.