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Quality of life in youngsters with cerebral palsy after single-event multilevel surgery
Insights
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) report high quality of life after single event-multilevel surgery (SEMLS). Patient age and functional level influenced specific QOL aspects, with children reporting better QOL than their parents.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Pediatric Surgery
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Single Event Multilevel Surgery (SEMLS) is a standard treatment for children with cerebral palsy (CP).
- While functional outcomes of SEMLS are well-documented, its impact on Quality of Life (QOL) remains less understood.
- This study investigates the QOL of children and adolescents with CP following SEMLS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the Quality of Life (QOL) in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) after undergoing Single Event Multilevel Surgery (SEMLS).
- To compare QOL scores reported by patients versus their parents.
- To explore the influence of Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels and age at surgery on QOL outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Forty pediatric patients with CP (GMFCS levels II-V) completed the Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life Questionnaire for Children (CP QOL-Child) and a custom questionnaire post-SEMLS.
- Data were analyzed considering GMFCS levels, age at surgery, and time since surgery.
- Statistical comparisons were made between patient and parent-reported QOL, and between different GMFCS and age subgroups.
Main Results:
- Patients reported high overall QOL scores on the CP QOL-Child post-SEMLS.
- Children's QOL scores were significantly higher than their parents' scores across all domains (p < 0.05).
- Significant differences in functional QOL domains were observed between GMFCS level III and levels IV-V (p < 0.05). Older children (15-18 years) reported less pain and fewer feelings about disability compared to younger operated children (10-14 years).
Conclusions:
- Children with CP experience a high QOL after SEMLS, with their self-reported scores exceeding parental perceptions.
- Functional status (GMFCS level) and age at the time of surgery are significant factors influencing specific aspects of QOL post-SEMLS.
- SEMLS demonstrates positive impacts on various QOL domains for children with CP.
Unlabelled:
A single event-multilevel surgery (SEMLS) is today a well-established modality of treatment in children with cerebral palsy (CP). It comprises muscle lengthening/transfers and correction of bony deformities in a single surgical session. Functional improvements after SEMLS have been examined thoroughly, however little is known about the impact of SEMLS on the quality of life (QOL) of children with CP. This study reports on the QOL of children/adolescents with CP after SEMLS. Forty patients underwent SEMLS and were classified according GMFCS levels II-V, age and time span between surgery and questioning. The Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life Questionnaire for Children (CP QOL-Child) and an author developed questionnaire were completed to evaluate QOL. Overall, children/adolescents reported high quality of life scores after SEMLS on the CP QOL-Child. For all the domains of the CP QOL-Child the children reported significant higher scores than their parents (p < 0.05). Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found for the functional-related domains of the CP QOL-Child between GMFCS level III and levels IV-V, but not for the socio-emotional domains. Older children at the moment of surgery (15y0m-18y11m) reported significantly less 'pain and feeling about disability' than children who were younger when operated on (10y0m-14y11m). Almost all aspects included in the author developed questionnaire improved for the majority of the children after SEMLS.
Conclusion:
After SEMLS, children with CP report high quality of life, significantly higher than their parents perceived. Function and age may influence specific aspects of QOL after SEMLS.
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