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Updated: Nov 7, 2025
Behavioral Assessment of Manual Dexterity in Non-Human Primates
Published on: November 11, 2011
Exploring hand dexterity in children with myelomeningocele
Shoshana Steinhart1, Emmanuel Kornitzer1, Patrice L Weiss1,2
1Rehabilitation Department, ALYN Hospital Pediatric and Adolescent Rehabilitation Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
Insights
Children with myelomeningocele (MMC) have poorer hand dexterity compared to peers. Factors like shunt presence and neurological level significantly impact their hand function, highlighting the need for tailored rehabilitation and parent education.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric rehabilitation
- Neurology
- Developmental pediatrics
Background:
- Myelomeningocele (MMC) is a complex congenital condition affecting neurological development.
- Hand dexterity is crucial for daily activities and independence in children.
- Limited research exists on factors influencing hand dexterity specifically in children with MMC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate hand dexterity in children with myelomeningocele (MMC).
- To identify factors associated with hand dexterity in this population.
Main Methods:
- Ninety-four children (4-18 years) with MMC were assessed.
- Hand dexterity measured using the Nine-Hole Peg Test (9HPT).
- Correlations explored with demographic, disease, visual-motor, cognitive, and self-care factors.
Main Results:
- Children with MMC demonstrated significantly slower 9HPT performance than age norms.
- Absence of a shunt correlated with better hand function.
- Key influencing factors included neurological level, shunt presence, age, cognition, and maternal education.
Conclusions:
- Children with MMC exhibit impaired hand skills due to their condition.
- Rehabilitation should adapt to age and emphasize parent education with tailored materials.
- Addressing underlying pathology and environmental factors is vital for improving hand function.
Purpose:
To assess hand dexterity in children with myelomeningocele (MMC) and to explore factors related to hand dexterity in these children.
Methods:
Ninety-four children with myelomeningocele, aged 4 to 18 years, were assessed. Demographic characteristics, disease factors, visual perception (Beery test of Visual Motor Integration), cognition (WeeFunctional Independence Measure), and self-care (Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory) were assessed in relation to the Nine-Hole Peg Test (9HPT) for hand dexterity using Spearmen correlations and linear regressions.
Results:
The children's performance on the 9HPT in both hands was significantly slower than the norms for their age groups. Children without a shunt showed significantly better function in both hands (p = .005) than those with a shunt. Factors most related to hand dexterity were neurological spinal level of MMC, presence of shunt, age, cognitive ability, and years of mother's education.
Conclusion:
Children with MMC appear to have poorer hand skills than typically developed children, which was related to pathology as well as functional and environmental factors. When addressing hand dexterity in children with MMC, it is important that rehabilitation professionals continue to work with these children as they get older, and put greater emphasis on parent education using materials that are adapted to varying educational levels.
