Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 16, 2025
Author Spotlight: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined with Movement Observation in Cerebral Palsy
Published on: August 9, 2024
Using both electromyography and movement disorder assessment improved the classification of children with dyskinetic
Jakob Lorentzen1, Alfred P Born2, Christian Svane1
1Department of Neuroscience, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Insights
Children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP) exhibit diverse characteristics, often requiring reclassification after comprehensive evaluations. This highlights the need for detailed assessments to understand their complex movement disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Movement Disorders
Background:
- Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP) presents significant challenges due to heterogeneous underlying mechanisms.
- Effective treatment for dyskinetic CP is complex and requires a thorough understanding of individual patient characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct comprehensive, systematic movement disorder evaluations in children with dyskinetic CP.
- To characterize the heterogeneity of dyskinetic CP and identify potential reclassifications.
Main Methods:
- Systematic movement disorder evaluations were performed on 25 children with dyskinetic CP (born 1995-2007).
- Classifications included gross motor function, manual ability, communication, dystonia, and spasticity.
- Electromyography, MRI, and etiological searches for genetic disorders were utilized.
Main Results:
- Evaluations revealed heterogeneous characteristics in children with dyskinetic CP.
- Dystonia, spasticity, and rigidity were prevalent in upper and lower limbs.
- A significant proportion (40%) of children were reclassified following the systematic evaluation.
Conclusions:
- Children with dyskinetic CP display significant heterogeneity.
- Systematic movement disorder evaluations are crucial for accurate diagnosis and potential reclassification in dyskinetic CP.
- Findings underscore the complexity of dyskinetic CP and the need for individualized assessment.
Aim:
Children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP) are often severely affected and effective treatment is difficult, due to different underlying disease mechanisms. Comprehensive systematic movement disorder evaluations were carried out on patients with this disorder.
Methods:
Patients born from 1995 to 2007 were identified from the Danish Cerebral Palsy Register and referrals to the neuropaediatric centre, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen. They were classified by gross motor function, manual functional ability, communication ability, dystonia and spasticity. Electromyography was carried out on the upper and lower limbs. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were revised, and aetiological searches for underlying genetic disorders were performed.
Results:
We investigated 25 patients with dyskinetic CP at a mean age of 11.7 years. Dystonia, spasticity and rigidity were found in the upper limbs of 21, four and six children, respectively, and in the lower limbs of 18, 18 and three children. The mean total Burke-Fahn-Marsden score for dystonia was 45.02, and the mean Disability Impairment Scale level was 38% for dystonia and 13% for choreoathetosis. Sustained electromyography activity was observed in 20/25 children. Stretching increased electromyography activity more in children with spasticity. There were 10 re-classifications.
Conclusion:
The children had heterogenic characteristics, and 40% were reclassified after systematic movement disorder evaluation.
More Related Videos
09:18Measurements of Motor Function and Other Clinical Outcome Parameters in Ambulant Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Published on: January 12, 2019
08:26Event-related Potentials During Target-response Tasks to Study Cognitive Processes of Upper Limb Use in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
Published on: January 11, 2016