Upper limb cerebellar motor function in children with spina bifida

To investigate upper limb cerebellar motor function in children with spina bifida myelomeningocele (SBM) and in typically developing controls.

Participants with SBM, who had either upper level spinal lesions (n = 23) or lower level spinal lesions (n = 65), and controls (n = 37) completed four upper limb motor function tasks (posture, rebound, limb dysmetria, and diadochokinesis) under four different physical and cognitive challenge conditions. Functional independence was assessed by parental questionnaire.

Fewer SBM participants were able to complete the posture task, and they were less likely than controls to obtain a perfect rebound score. Participants with SBM showed impaired performance in either time, accuracy, or both, on the limb dysmetria and diadochokinesis tasks but responded like controls to physical and cognitive challenges.

Because upper limb motor performance predicted aspects of functional independence, we conclude that upper limb impairments in children with SBM are significant and have direct implications for the level of independent functioning in children with SBM.