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The effects of non-nutritional factors on growth in cerebral palsy

R D Stevenson1, C D Roberts, L Vogtle

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine.

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
|February 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Non-nutritional factors significantly impact growth in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Even without malnutrition, affected limbs in children with CP show smaller measurements compared to unaffected limbs.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Neurology
  • Human Growth and Development

Background:

  • Cerebral palsy (CP) is a complex neurological disorder affecting movement and posture.
  • Growth disturbances are common in children with CP, often attributed to nutritional deficits.
  • The independent role of non-nutritional factors in CP-related growth alterations requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and evaluate the impact of non-nutritional factors on the anthropometric measurements of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
  • To compare growth parameters between the affected and unaffected sides of the body in children with CP.

Main Methods:

  • Anthropometric measurements were taken on both affected and unaffected sides of 20 children with hemiplegic CP.
  • Participants had normal stature and triceps skinfold measurements, controlling for general malnutrition.
  • Sixteen distinct anthropometric measures, including breadth, length, circumference, and skinfold thickness, were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Significant reductions in breadth, circumference, and length were observed on the affected side compared to the unaffected side.
  • Skinfold measurements showed a trend towards being larger on the affected side.
  • These findings indicate asymmetry in growth related to the hemiplegic condition.

Conclusions:

  • Non-nutritional factors, intrinsically linked to the severity of cerebral palsy, exert a significant influence on child growth.
  • Disease-related factors, rather than solely nutritional status, contribute to observed growth disparities in children with CP.
  • The study highlights the importance of considering disease-specific non-nutritional influences on growth in pediatric populations with CP.

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