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Bone health in children with cerebral palsy
Susan D Apkon1, Heidi H Kecskemethy
1University of Colorado School of Medicine, The Children's Hospital, Denver, CO, USA.
Insights
Children with cerebral palsy often have low bone mass, increasing fracture risk. This review covers fracture prevalence, factors affecting bone density, and interventions for osteopenia and osteoporosis in this population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Bone Metabolism
- Neuromuscular Disorders
Background:
- Children with cerebral palsy (CP) exhibit a high prevalence of low bone mass, leading to an increased risk of fractures.
- Bone health in pediatric CP is a growing area of research with significant clinical implications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current literature on fracture prevalence in children with cerebral palsy.
- To identify factors associated with diminished bone mineral density in this population.
- To summarize interventions aimed at improving osteopenia and osteoporosis in pediatric CP.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies published over the last decade.
- Analysis of prevalence data for fractures in children with CP.
- Examination of risk factors for reduced bone mineral density.
- Synthesis of reported interventions for bone health in pediatric CP.
Main Results:
- Fracture incidence is notably higher in children with CP compared to typically developing peers.
- Key factors contributing to low bone density include immobility, nutritional deficiencies, and certain medications.
- Various interventions, including physical therapy, nutritional support, and pharmacological treatments, show promise.
Conclusions:
- Low bone mass and fractures are significant complications in children with cerebral palsy.
- Understanding associated risk factors is crucial for targeted prevention and management strategies.
- Further research is needed to optimize interventions for improving bone health in pediatric CP.
Abstract:
Low bone mass and subsequent increased risk of fractures is a common finding in children with cerebral palsy. The available literature on this topic has increased over the last decade. The following is a review of the prevalence of fractures in this population, a description of the factors that are associated with reduced bone mineral density, and a summary of the interventions that have been reported to improve osteopenia and osteoporosis in children with cerebral palsy.
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