MedWorm: Cerebral Palsy

Changes in neurodevelopmental outcome at age eight in geographic cohorts of children born at 22-27 weeks' gestational age during the 1990s

Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:33:26 +0100

Conclusions The high prevalence of adverse neurodevelopmental outcome in children born at 22–27 weeks compared with term controls at school age persists, and may even be increasing over time. (Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition)

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Modifying the effects of cerebral palsy: The Gregg Mozgala story

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:18:51 +0100

Summary: In response to a news report of the rehabilitation of a New York-based dancer/actor with cerebral palsy, to the point where a ballet performance was scheduled, it was determined that a report based on the individuals involved would be commissioned. The resulting reports from the choreographer responsible for the rehabilitation exercises, and the dancer, were circulated to an interdisciplinary selection of physical medicine experts, for commentary as to what clinicians might learn from the case, and what mechanisms might be involved. (Source: Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies)

Man with cerebral palsy can claim for damages after 35 years

BMJ Online First — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:16:40 +0100

(Source: BMJ Online First)

An investigation of the factors affecting handwriting skill in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy*.

Disability and Rehabilitation — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:54:03 +0100

Conclusions. The results showed that left-hemiplegic children with cerebral palsy whose right sides were dominant were significantly less competent at handwriting than their right-dominant, healthy peers. It was found that the impairment in proprioception seen in the non-hemiplegic side in children with cerebral palsy, and also the impairment in bilateral coordination, speed and dexterity of the upper extremities, visual and spatial perception, visual-motor organization, and tactile-sensory impairments negatively affected their handwriting skills. In the treatment approaches for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, comprehensive sensory-perceptual-motor assessments that involve both extremities must be performed in detail at the earliest possible stage, in order to minimize the existin...

Botulinumtoxin A treatment in toddlers with cerebral palsy

Acta Paediatrica — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Early treatment of BoNT-A in children with spastic CP may decrease muscle tone and decelerate contracture development after 3.5 years. The effect on gait development remains inconclusive. (Source: Acta Paediatrica)

Peripheral sensory neuropathy observed in children with cerebral palsy: is chronic afferent excitation from muscle spindles a possible cause?

Child's Nervous System — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:43:26 +0100

Conclusion As cerebral palsy is a typical upper motor neuron disorder, peripheral sensory neuropathy is unexplained. Since observed neuropathy is mainly on the myelin sheath, the etiology is considered to be the chronic overload of afferent impulses from muscle spindles in the spastic muscle. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Brief CommunicationDOI 10.1007/s00381-010-1122-1Authors Toru Fukuhara, National Hospital Organization Okayama Medical Center Department of Neurological Surgery 1711-1 Tamasu, Kita-ku Okayama 701-1192 JapanYoichiro Namba, National Hospital Organization Okayama Medical Center Department of Neurological Surgery 1711-1 Tamasu, Kita-ku Okayama 701-1192 JapanIchiro Yamadori, National Hospital Organization Okayama Medical Center Department of Patho...

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Physical fitness, everyday physical activity, and fatigue in ambulatory adults with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy

Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study assessed physical fitness and its relationships with everyday physical activity (PA) and fatigue in cerebral palsy (CP). Participants were 42 adults with ambulatory bilateral spastic CP (mean age 36.4 ± 5.8 years; 69% males; 81% with good gross motor functioning). Progressive maximal aerobic cycle tests determined VO2peak (L/min). Objective levels of everyday PA were measured with accelerometry and self-reported levels of everyday PA with the Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities. Fatigue was assessed with the Fatigue Severity Scale. The average aerobic capacity of adults with CP was 77% of Dutch reference values. Participants were physically active during 124 min/day (85% of Dutch reference values), and half experienced fatigue. In women, lower phy...

Care for baby brain bleeds

NHS News Feed — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:17:00 +0100

Conclusion This small study suggests that, compared to standard care, DRIFT reduces the risk of the combined outcome of death or severe disability in premature infants with enlargement of the ventricles in the brain due to bleeding. There are a number of points to note: The study was relatively small, with 39 children in the DRIFT group and 38 in the standard care group. The trial was also stopped early due to safety concerns. The researchers note that these factors mean the results should therefore be interpreted cautiously. While larger studies are preferable, the severity of the condition, its relatively uncommon nature and the difficulties associated with carrying out trials in infants mean that larger studies may not be feasible. There were some differences between the groups...

Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy, Their Cognitive Functioning, and Social Participation: A Review.

Child Neuropsychology — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Bottcher L White matter lesions are often seen in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Evidence points to specific impairment of attentional, visuospatial, and executive functions; although both attention and executive functions are relatively unexplored in spastic CP. The few recent studies on language functions in mild or moderate CP point to well-functioning language. The presence of specific cognitive impairments may, in part, explain why children with spastic CP have a higher risk of learning disabilities and problems in peer relations. However, to understand the development of cognitive impairments, it is necessary to include how social participation feeds back on cognitive processes. PMID: 20209416 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Child Neuropsycho...

Somatosensory-evoked cortical activity in spastic diplegic cerebral palsy

Human Brain Mapping — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Somatosensory deficits have been identified in cerebral palsy (CP), but associated cortical brain activity in CP remains poorly understood. Functional MRI was used to measure blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) responses during three tactile tasks in 10 participants with spastic diplegia (mean age: 18.70 years, SD: 7.99 years; 5 females) and 10 age-matched controls (mean age: 18.60 years, SD: 3.86 years; 5 females). Tactile stimulation involved servo-controlled translation of smooth or embossed surfaces across the right index finger pad; the discrimination tasks with embossed surfaces involved judging whether (1) paired shapes were similar or different, and (2) a rougher set of horizontal gratings preceded or followed a smoother one. Velocity and duration of surface translation was id...

Systematic Review of Interventions for Low Bone Mineral Density in Children With Cerebral Palsy

PEDIATRICS — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:02:29 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Important effects on LBMD have been observed in small and diverse cohorts of children with CP. It is unclear whether small sample sizes or variable treatment responses account for nonsignificant findings. Additional large RCTs are needed of both physical and medical approaches. (Source: PEDIATRICS)

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The cerebral palsy hip classification is reliable: AN INTER- AND INTRA-OBSERVER RELIABILITY STUDY.

The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. British volume — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Murnaghan ML, Simpson P, Robin JG, Shore BJ, Selber P, Graham HK We have tested the reliability of a recently reported classification system of hip morphology in adolescents with cerebral palsy in whom the triradiate cartilage was closed. The classification is a six-grade ordinal scale, based on the measurement of the migration percentage and an assessment of Shenton's arch, deformity of the femoral head, acetabular deformity and pelvic obliquity. Four paediatric orthopaedic surgeons and four physiotherapists received training in the use of the classification which they applied to the assessment of 42 hip radiographs, read on two separate occasions. The inter- and intra-observer reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient and found to be excellent, wi...

Magnesium sulfate reduces inflammation-associated brain injury in fetal mice

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Amelioration of neuronal injury in inflammation-associated PTB may be a key mechanism by which MgSO4 prevents cerebral palsy. (Source: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology)

Cinical-qualitative analysis of the discourse of a child with cerebral palsy

Psicologia em Estudo — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:27:15 +0100

This article proposes a reflection on the establishment of procedural linguistic-discursive production of a child with cerebral palsy in the light of interactive situations. It presents clinic qualitative method as a way of linguistic-discursive investigation and intervention, emphasizing a social verbal interaction and a subjective relationship. The data was longitudinal collected during one year and four months and the linguistic productions of a four-year-old child were analysed in a discursive perspective. Therefore, faraway from measurable evaluations and treatments, which are based in mechanic tasks of words codification and de-codification, our research was based in a group process significant construction analysis. Such analysis allow us to affirm that this child amplify her role i...

To what extent do children with cerebral palsy participate in everyday life situations?

Health and Social Care in the Community — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The aims of the study are to describe participation of children with cerebral palsy in everyday life situations, to investigate the relationship between participation (primary outcome variable) with child and parent characteristics (independent variables) and to compare the frequency of participation (secondary outcome variable) of children with cerebral palsy with children without disabilities. A cross-sectional survey of parents of children with cerebral palsy in Northern Ireland was undertaken in families' homes using standard questionnaires. Children with cerebral palsy born between 31/8/1991 and 1/4/1997 were identified from a case register of people with the condition. A total of 102 parents opted in (51% response rate). Questionnaires included the Life Habits Questionnaire (Life-H) ...

Helping Children To Walk Using Treadmill Training

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Using a treadmill could help infants with prenatal complications or who were injured at birth walk earlier and better, according to a University of Michigan researcher. Prenatal injuries can often result in self-correcting or fixable neuromotor delays, but sometimes toddlers get a more serious diagnosis, such as cerebral palsy, says Rosa Angulo-Barroso, associate professor of movement science at the U-M School of Kinesiology. Some of those diagnoses may come much later, or in mild cases, never, she says... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Reliability of kinematic measures of functional reaching in children with cerebral palsy

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Aim The determination of rehabilitation effectiveness in children with cerebral palsy (CP) depends on the metric properties of the outcome measure. We evaluated the reliability of kinematic measures of functional upper limb reaching movements in children with CP.Method Thirteen children (ten females, three males) with spastic hemiplegic, diplegic, or quadriplegic CP affecting at least one arm (mean age 9y, SD 1.6y; range 6[ndash]11y; Manual Ability Classification System [MACS] levels II[ndash]IV) were evaluated three times over 5 weeks. The kinematics of the more affected arm reaching to grasp a 2cm3 block placed at three distances from the body midline were analysed. The reliability (test[ndash]retest) of six kinematic variables (endpoint trajectory straightness and smoothness, trunk disp...

Correlates of decline in gross motor capacity in adolescents with cerebral palsy in Gross Motor Function Classification System levels III to V: an exploratory study

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Aim To explore associations between clinical variables and decline in motor capacity in adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP).Method Participants included 76 males and 59 females, whose mean age at the beginning of the study was 14 years 6 months (SD 2.4, range 11.6[ndash]17.9); 51 at Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level III, 47 at level IV, and 37 at level V. Ninety-six participants had tetraplegia, 32 had diplegia, and one had hemiplegia. Types of motor disorder were spastic n=98; mixed, n=11; dystonic, n=9; hypotonic, n=7; and ataxic n=3 (seven participants were not classified). Reliable raters collected data annually for 4 years on anthropometric characteristics, the Spinal Alignment and Range of Motion Measure, as well as the Gross Motor Function Measure, 66 items (...

Early prediction of cerebral palsy by computer-based video analysis of general movements: a feasibility study

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of a computer-based video analysis of the development of cerebral palsy (CP) in young infants.Method A prospective study of general movements used recordings from 30 high-risk infants (13 males, 17 females; mean gestational age 31wks, SD 6wks; range 23[ndash]42wks) between 10 and 15 weeks post term when fidgety movements should be present. Recordings were analysed using computer vision software. Movement variables, derived from differences between subsequent video frames, were used for quantitative analyses. CP status was reported at 5 years.Results Thirteen infants developed CP (eight hemiparetic, four quadriparetic, one dyskinetic; seven ambulatory, three non-ambulatory, and three unknown function), of whom one had fidgety...

Dolphin therapy is booming despite concerns about efficacy and animal cruelty

Wash Post Health — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Do you or does your child suffer from cerebral palsy? Down syndrome? Autism? A knee injury? General ennui? (Source: Wash Post Health)

Dolphin therapy is booming despite concerns about efficacy and animal cruelty

washingtonpost.com - Health — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Do you or does your child suffer from cerebral palsy? Down syndrome? Autism? A knee injury? General ennui? (Source: washingtonpost.com - Health)

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The psychosocial well-being of parents of children with cerebral palsy: a comparison study.

Disability and Rehabilitation — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions. These results suggest caring for a child with CP may put parents at risk from poor psychosocial well-being. Interventions to improve parental well-being are urgently needed. PMID: 20178413 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Disability and Rehabilitation)

Ultrasound-Guided Botox Injections of Salivary Glands in Children with Drooling

Journal of Radiology Nursing — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:52:00 +0100

This study aimed to test the hypothesis that ultrasound-guided botox injection of the salivary glands in children is effective temporary palliation for excessive drooling. The study population consisted of 6 patients who underwent botox injection of salivary glands one or more times at a mid-Atlantic regional children's hospital. Parents were interviewed by telephone regarding the effects of the botox procedure on their child's drooling. The children who comprised our study population exhibited decreased drooling, less respiratory distress, and increased quality of life after the injections. Further research with a larger sample is warranted to support these findings. (Source: Journal of Radiology Nursing)

Changes in lower limb rotation after soft tissue surgery in spastic diplegia.

Acta Orthopaedica — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

We examined 28 ambulant children with spastic diplegia with an average age of 12 (7-19) years. They underwent multilevel soft tissue surgery (with 6 surgical procedures per child on average). 3-dimensional gait analysis was performed preoperatively and at an average follow-up of 1-2 years. The indications for surgery were abnormalities in the sagittal plane. Gait analysis data from healthy children were used in defining normal ranges of kinematic variables. For assessment of changes in the transverse plane, the angles of foot progression, hip rotation, and pelvic rotation were studied. Results The transverse plane kinematic results showed no statistically significant postoperative changes when the preoperative parameters were within the normal range (within 2 SD of the mean of the normal m...

J. R. Gage, M. H. Schwartz, S. E. Koop, T. F. Novacheck (eds): The identification and treatment of gait problems in cerebral palsy

Journal of Children's Orthopaedics — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 06:58:09 +0100

Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Book ReviewDOI 10.1007/s11832-010-0244-zAuthors Michael D. Sussman, Shriners Hospital for Children Portland OR USA Journal Journal of Children's OrthopaedicsOnline ISSN 1863-2548Print ISSN 1863-2521 (Source: Journal of Children's Orthopaedics)

H1N1 Flu Has Hit Kids With Neuromuscular Disorders Especially Hard

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:40:11 +0100

Despite his cerebral palsy, Derek Collette never lagged very far behind. He rode the school bus with other special-needs children, hustled to class on crutches and got decent grades for a child with a learning disability, if not on par with those of an average 13-year-old. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

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Advanced care planning in children with life-limiting conditions - the Wishes Document

Archives of Disease in Childhood — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:09:56 +0100

(Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood)

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Archives of Disease in Childhood — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:09:56 +0100

(Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood)

Importance of peers and dating in the development of romantic relationships and sexual activity of young adults with cerebral palsy

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Aim The aim of this study was to describe the peer group activities, romantic relationships, and sexual activity and their interrelations of young adults with cerebral palsy (CP).Method A cross-sectional study was performed in 87 participants (51 males, 36 females; mean age 20y 4mo, SD 1y 3mo range age 18[ndash]22y) without cognitive disabilities. Ninety-four per cent had spastic CP and 49% unilateral CP, while 78% were classified at Gross Motor Function Classification System level I and 84% at Manual Ability Classification System level I. Peer group activities, dating, romantic relationships, and sexual activity were assessed with an interview and questionnaire. Associations were analysed using logistic regression analyses.Results The study cohort reported having friends and participating...

Cerebral palsy in siblings caused by compound heterozygous mutations in the gene encoding protein C

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This report adds to the list of known monogenic causes of CP. (Source: Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology)

Relationship between quality of life and functional status of young adults and adults with cerebral palsy.

Disability and Rehabilitation — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion. Although HRQoL in young cerebral palsied individuals seems to be more effected by parameters related to physical condition, in cerebral palsied adults psychological and emotional aspects may be more important indicators related to HRQoL. For that reasons, more population specific measures have to be developed for in-depth analysis of these factors. PMID: 20170385 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Disability and Rehabilitation)

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Musculo-skeletal pain, quality of life and depression in mothers of children with cerebral palsy.

Disability and Rehabilitation — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion. Deterioration of MH in mothers with cerebral palsied child may be causing them to experience more LBP. Experience of increased LBP causes deterioration of health-related QoL. PMID: 20170278 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Disability and Rehabilitation)

Successful bilateral deep brain stimulation of the globus pallidus internus for persistent status dystonicus and generalized chorea.

Journal of Neurosurgery — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Apetauerova D, Schirmer CM, Shils JL, Zani J, Arle JE The authors report the cases of 2 young male patients (aged 16 and 26 years) with dystonic cerebral palsy of unknown origin, who developed status dystonicus, an acute and persistent combination of generalized dystonia and chorea. Both patients developed status dystonicus after undergoing general anesthesia, and in 1 case, after administration of metoclopramide. In attempting to control this acute hyperkinetic movement disorder, multiple medication trials failed in both cases and patients required prolonged intubation and sedation with propofol. Bilateral deep brain stimulation of the globus pallidus internus (4 and 2 months after the onset of symptoms in the first and second case, respectively) produced immediate resolution...

Antenatal allopurinol for reduction of birth asphyxia induced brain damage (ALLO-Trial); a randomized double blind placebo controlled multicenter study

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth - Latest articles — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

DiscussionIn this trial we aim to answer the question whether antenatal allopurinol administration reduces hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy in neonates exposed to foetal hypoxia.Trial registration numberClinical Trials, protocol registration system: NCT00189007 (Source: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth - Latest articles)

How Crouch Gait Can Dynamically Induce Stiff-Knee Gait.

Annals of Biomedical Engineering — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: van der Krogt MM, Bregman DJ, Wisse M, Doorenbosch CA, Harlaar J, Collins SH Children with cerebral palsy frequently experience foot dragging and tripping during walking due to a lack of adequate knee flexion in swing (stiff-knee gait). Stiff-knee gait is often accompanied by an overly flexed knee during stance (crouch gait). Studies on stiff-knee gait have mostly focused on excessive knee muscle activity during (pre)swing, but the passive dynamics of the limbs may also have an important effect. To examine the effects of a crouched posture on swing knee flexion, we developed a forward-dynamic model of human walking with a passive swing knee, capable of stable cyclic walking for a range of stance knee crouch angles. As crouch angle during stance was increased, the knee naturall...

Grade IV Fetal Intracranial Hemorrhage With Good Cognitive Function

Pediatric Neurology — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:47:00 +0100

We report on a child with a grade IV intracranial hemorrhage diagnosed by in utero ultrasound at 28 weeks of gestation, and confirmed by fetal magnetic resonance imaging at 29 weeks of gestation. At age 27 months, she has a ventriculoperitoneal shunt and exhibits hemiplegic cerebral palsy, but without seizures, and with normal cognitive function and excellent verbal ability. We discuss how perinatal care may have contributed to her good outcome. (Source: Pediatric Neurology)

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CP or Not CP? A Review of Diagnoses in a Cerebral Palsy Register

Pediatric Neurology — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:46:59 +0100

The purpose of this study was to document the inaccuracy rate of diagnosis of cerebral palsy recorded on the South Australian Cerebral Palsy Register. A total of 402 children born in South Australia from 1993 to 2002 and notified to the Register as having cerebral palsy were identified through the Register database, and 21 children (5.2%) were later identified to have a noncerebral palsy diagnosis. Of these, 5 had either a metabolic or a neurodegenerative disorder and 2 had a syndromic disorder (1 Joubert syndrome and 1 Sotos syndrome); the remaining 14 children had one of the following final diagnoses: developmental delay, gross motor delay, perinatal myositis, spinal subdural and subarachnoid arteriovenous malformation, and Erb's palsy. In 16 of 21 children (76%), the diagnosis was chan...

[Application of robotic systems in infantile cerebral palsy.]

Revista de Neurologia — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Molina-Rueda F, Aguila-Maturana AM, Molina-Rueda MJ, Miangolarra-Page JC PMID: 20198600 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Revista de Neurologia)

First FDA-Approved Stem Cell Trial In Pediatric Cerebral Palsy

Health News from Medical News Today — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Medical College of Georgia researchers are conducting the first FDA-approved clinical trial to determine whether an infusion of stem cells from umbilical cord blood can improve the quality of life for children with cerebral palsy. The study will include 40 children age 2-12 whose parents have stored cord blood at the Cord Blood Registry in Tucson, Ariz. Umbilical cord blood is rich in stem cells, which can divide and morph into different types of cells throughout the body, said Dr... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

First FDA-Approved Stem Cell Trial In Pediatric Cerebral Palsy

Pediatrics News From Medical News Today — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Medical College of Georgia researchers are conducting the first FDA-approved clinical trial to determine whether an infusion of stem cells from umbilical cord blood can improve the quality of life for children with cerebral palsy. The study will include 40 children age 2-12 whose parents have stored cord blood at the Cord Blood Registry in Tucson, Ariz... (Source: Pediatrics News From Medical News Today)

Precision and content range of a parent-reported item bank assessing lower extremity and mobility skills in children with cerebral palsy

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Aim The aim of this study was to determine the psychometric properties, content range, and measurement precision of a lower extremity physical functioning and mobility skills item bank (LE85) in children with cerebral palsy (CP).Method Lower extremity functioning and mobility skill items were administered to 308 parents of children (169 males, 139 females; mean age 10y 8mo, SD 4y) with spastic CP (145 diplegia, 73 hemiplegia, 89 quadriplegia; [for one person type of CP was unknown]) classified using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (75 level I, 91 level II, 79 level III, 37 level IV, 26 level V). Additional legacy measures were administered to assess concurrent validity. Psychometric characteristics, differential item functioning, content range, and score precision were exami...

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Research Sheds Light on Increasing Cerebral Palsy Rates Among Preemies

MedlinePlus Health News — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:00:00 +0100

Findings suggest link to umbilical cord inflammation Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Topics: Cerebral Palsy, Premature Babies (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

First FDA-approved stem cell trial in pediatric cerebral palsy

ScienceDaily Headlines — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:00:00 +0100

Researchers are conducting the first FDA-approved clinical trial to determine whether an infusion of stem cells from umbilical cord blood can improve the quality of life for children with cerebral palsy. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

Walking ability and predictors of performance on the 6-minute walk test in adults with spastic cerebral palsy

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Aim To describe walking ability and identify factors predicting walking capacity in adults with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) assessed with the 6-minute walk test (6MWT).Method A cross-sectional clinical study as part of the recruitment process for a randomized controlled trial on the effects of botulinum toxin A. Data analysed were the 6MWT, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Borg Scale, spasticity, muscle strength, popliteal angle, pain, fatigue, type of CP, foot deformity, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels, Functional Mobility Scale (FMS) scores, a gait questionnaire, interview, and demographic data.Results In total, 126 persons were included (53 males, 73 females; mean age 39y [SD 12y]; 59 with unilateral and 67 with bilateral spastic CP; GMFCS level I, n=12; level II, n...

Predictors of cerebral palsy in very preterm infants: the EPIPAGE prospective population-based cohort study

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Aim The aim of this study was to assess the independent role of cerebral lesions on ultrasound scan, and several other neonatal and obstetric factors, as potential predictors of cerebral palsy (CP) in a large population-based cohort of very preterm infants.Method As part of EPIPAGE, a population-based prospective cohort study, perinatal data and outcome at 5 years of age were recorded for 1812 infants born before 33 weeks of gestation in nine regions of France in 1997.Results The study group comprised 942 males (52%) and 870 females with a mean gestational age of 30 weeks (SD 2wks; range 24[ndash]32wks) and a mean birthweight of 1367g (SD 393g; range 450[ndash]2645g). CP was diagnosed at 5 years of age in 159 infants (prevalence 9%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 7[ndash]10%), 97 males and 6...

Thickened saliva after effective management of drooling with botulinum toxin A

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the rheological properties of saliva after submandibular botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injections.Method We enrolled 15 children (11 males and six females; age range 3[ndash]17y, mean age 9y 10mo) diagnosed with spastic (n=9) or dyskinetic (n=6) quadriplegic cerebral palsy (CP); Gross Motor Function Classification System level IV or V; and two children with intellectual disability (IQ (Source: Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology)

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Effects of magnesium sulphate on intraoperative neuromuscular blocking agent requirements and postoperative analgesia in children with cerebral palsy

British Journal of Anaesthesia — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:36:44 +0100

Conclusions I.V. magnesium sulphate reduces rocuronium requirements and postoperative analgesic consumption in children with CP. (Source: British Journal of Anaesthesia)

Incidence of cerebral palsy on rise in US, new data reveals

ScienceDaily Headlines — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Cerebral palsy (CP) has increased in infants born prematurely in the United States, according to new data. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

Evaluation of single event multilevel surgery and rehabilitation in children and youth with cerebral palsy - A 2-year follow-up study.

Disability and Rehabilitation — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 06:08:03 +0100

Conclusion. Self-reported walking ability improved after multilevel surgery and intensive rehabilitation. This result was partly supported by lower energy cost and improved HRQOL. Expectations and satisfaction were fulfilled for the majority of children. PMID: 20136471 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Disability and Rehabilitation)

MCG to conduct first FDA-approved stem cell trial in pediatric cerebral palsy

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

(Medical College of Georgia) Medical College of Georgia researchers are conducting the first FDA-approved clinical trial to determine whether an infusion of stem cells from umbilical cord blood can improve the quality of life for children with cerebral palsy. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Increased risk of adverse neurological development for late preterm infants

Seminars in Fetal and Neonatal Medicine — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In this retrospective cohort study, the authors assess the risks of late prematurity for cerebral palsy (CP), developmental delay/mental retardation (DD/MR) and seizure disorders in early childhood. Hospitalization and outpatient databases from the Northern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program include 141,321 children >30 weeks born between 2000 and 2004. Presence of CP, DD/MR, and seizures is based on ICD-9 CM codes. Cox proportional hazard models are used for each of the outcomes, with crude and adjusted hazard ratios calculated for each gestational age group. The authors observe a three-fold increased risk of CP (OR 3.39; 95% CI 2.54–4.52) and significantly higher rates of DD/MR (OR 1.25; 95% CI 1.01–1.54) for late preterm infants compared with term infants. It is concl...

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Neurological outcomes at 18 months of age after moderate hypothermia for perinatal hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy: synthesis and meta-analysis of trial data

BMJ Online First — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:39:38 +0100

Objective To determine whether moderate hypothermia after hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy in neonates improves survival and neurological outcome at 18 months of age. Design A meta-analysis was... (Source: BMJ Online First)

Incidence Of Cerebral Palsy On Rise In United States

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Cerebral palsy (CP) has increased in infants born prematurely in the United States, according to data presented by researchers from Loyola University Health System (LUHS). These findings were reported at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Chicago. They also were published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Researchers reported that CP is associated with inflammation of the connective tissue in the umbilical cord... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Incidence Of Cerebral Palsy On Rise In United States

Pregnancy News From Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Cerebral palsy (CP) has increased in infants born prematurely in the United States, according to data presented by researchers from Loyola University Health System (LUHS). These findings were reported at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Chicago. They also were published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology... (Source: Pregnancy News From Medical News Today)

Incidence Of Cerebral Palsy On Rise In United States

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Incidence Of Cerebral Palsy On Rise In United States

Pediatrics News From Medical News Today — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Cerebral palsy (CP) has increased in infants born prematurely in the United States, according to data presented by researchers from Loyola University Health System (LUHS). These findings were reported at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Chicago. They also were published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology... (Source: Pediatrics News From Medical News Today)

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Open reduction of hip dislocation in children with cerebral palsy

Orthopedics and Traumatology — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:13:12 +0100

Summary Objectives Improvement of joint stability, reduction or elimination of pain and joint contracture, prevention of osteoarthritic changes. Indication Painful hip dislocation secondary to cerebral palsy in children between 8 and 10 years of age. Contraindications Poor general health. Early osteoarthritis. Children younger than 3 years. Surgical Technique Anterolateral approach overlying the iliac crest: open reduction, pelvic osteotomy and acetabular roof plasty using the modified Pemberton technique. Lateral approach: derotation-varization osteotomy and shortening of femur, internal fixation. Anterior transfer of psoas. Postoperative Care Padded double spica cast for 2 to 3 weeks. Physiotherapy. G...

L. Döderlein, W. Wenz to B. Heimkes et al.: Transfer of the psoas tendon to the, at its origin detached, rectus femoris muscle in infantile cerebral palsy. in: Orthop traumatol 1999;7:189–201 (No. 3)

Orthopedics and Traumatology — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:13:04 +0100

Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Letters to the EditorDOI 10.1007/BF03181122Authors L. Döderlein, Orthopädische Universitätsklinik Abteilung Orthopädie II HeidelbergW. Wenz, Orthopädische Universitätsklinik Abteilung Orthopädie II Heidelberg Journal Orthopedics and TraumatologyOnline ISSN 1617-3838Print ISSN 0941-2530 Journal Volume Volume 8 Journal Issue Volume 8, Number 1 / March, 2000 (Source: Orthopedics and Traumatology)

Status epilepticus and capillary leak syndrome in a neonate related to perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

Indian Journal of Pediatrics — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:19:53 +0100

We describe a case with capillary leak syndrome and seizures to co-morbid status epilepticus related to perinatal hypoxicischemic encephalopathy in newborn period. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Clinical BriefDOI 10.1007/s12098-010-0011-7Authors Belma Saygili Karagol, Ankara University School of Medicine Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics Ankara TurkeyOmer Erdeve, Ankara University School of Medicine Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics Ankara TurkeySaadet Arsan, Ankara University School of Medicine Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics Ankara TurkeyBegum Atasay, Ankara University School of Medicine Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics Ankara TurkeyMesiha Ekim, Ankara University School of Medicine Division of Pediatric Nephro...

Incidence of cerebal palsy on rise in United States

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

(Loyola University Health System) Cerebral palsy has increased in infants born prematurely in the United States, according to data presented by researchers from Loyola University Health System. These findings were reported at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Chicago. They also were published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Incidence of cerebral palsy on rise in US

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

(Loyola University Health System) Cerebral palsy (CP) has increased in infants born prematurely in the United States, according to data presented by researchers from Loyola University Health System (LUHS). These findings were reported at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Chicago. They also were published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

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What is the Differential Diagnosis of Failure to Thrive?

PediatricEducation.org — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:24:36 +0100

Discussion Failure to Thrive (FTT) is defined as persistent weight below the 3rd percentile for age in infants and young children. The associated terms “Failure to gain weight” (FGW) or “Lack of Normal Physiologic Growth and Development” are more precise, especially for children who are not below the 3rd percentile but are losing weight over time and/or crossing percentile lines on their growth curve. For general growth parameters see How Do I Calculate Mid-Parental Height and Other Growth Parameters? About 70-80% of FTT cases have psychosocial problems that are associated with the FTT or the primary cause of the FTT. Children of older ages may also have FTT such as those with psychosocial dwarfism or eating disorders. Children with FTT have a wide range of appearan...

[Editorial] Fabricated or induced illness by carers: a complex conundrum

LANCET — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

You are asked to pay a house visit to a young boy whose medical history includes cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, food allergies, and intolerance to sunlight. However, on examination, you can find nothing wrong with him. On returning to the surgery, you follow-up with the numerous consultants at the various hospitals where the boy attends. They are also baffled. The only common feature is the mother's insistence that the boy is very ill. In this tragic but true case of child maltreatment, which received wide publicity in the UK recently, doctors involved in the boy's management concluded that there was little wrong with him, and a police investigation unequivocally found that the mother was fabricating her son's conditions to gain attention. (Source: LANCET)

Robotic-assisted treadmill therapy improves walking and standing performance in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.

European Journal of Paediatric Neurology — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy showed improvements in the functional tasks of standing and walking after a 3-week trial of robotic-assisted treadmill therapy. The severity of motor impairment affects the amount of the achieved improvement. PMID: 20138788 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Paediatric Neurology)

Magnesium found to boost learning and memory

NaturalNews.com — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 07:00:00 +0100

We present these findings in protest of the way in which they were acquired.For more information: http://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(09)01044-7 http://www.naturalnews.com/magnesium.html (Source: NaturalNews.com)

Body alignment and postural muscle activity at quiet standing and anteroposterior stability limits in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.

Disability and Rehabilitation — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions. Our findings suggest that children with SDCP have difficulty modulating muscle activity while standing and that the quadriceps plays a critical role in maintaining couch posture. In addition, crouch posture may be improved by the training which focuses on control of the dorsal muscles. PMID: 20131949 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Disability and Rehabilitation)

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Do the self-concept and quality of life decrease in CP patients? Focussing on the predictors of self-concept and quality of life.

Disability and Rehabilitation — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion. Self-concept and QOL of the CP children were lower than the children without CP. Presence of incontinence, self-concept rating and GMFCS level were important to predict domains of QOL. PMID: 20131943 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Disability and Rehabilitation)

Anti-spasticity medications need further research

ScienceDaily Headlines — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +0100

Only a few anti-spasticity medications used for children with cerebral palsy are backed by sufficient research to justify their use, according to a new review. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

Current management of clubfoot (congenital talipes equinovarus)

BMJ Online First — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:46:30 +0100

(Source: BMJ Online First)

Non-Traditional Therapy For Kids With Cerebral Palsy Shows Effective

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0100

On average, a child is diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy every hour of every day in the United States. It's a disease that can affect everything from a child's vision to their ability to walk. Therapy for these kids is tough and frustrating as this is a chronic health condition. A new approach to their standard course of therapy may help them make sizable strides in fighting the disease one step at a time... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Non-Traditional Therapy For Kids With Cerebral Palsy Shows Effective

Pediatrics News From Medical News Today — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0100

On average, a child is diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy every hour of every day in the United States. It's a disease that can affect everything from a child's vision to their ability to walk. Therapy for these kids is tough and frustrating as this is a chronic health condition... (Source: Pediatrics News From Medical News Today)

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Functional Outcomes After Upper Extremity Surgery for Cerebral Palsy: Comparison of High and Low Manual Ability Classification System Levels

The Journal of Hand Surgery — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Purpose: The heterogeneity of cerebral palsy makes interpretation and prediction of outcome after upper extremity surgery difficult. We hypothesized that the outcome of upper extremity surgery for cerebral palsy is related to the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) level.Methods: We reviewed 27 patients with a mean age of 22 years, who underwent upper extremity surgery for spastic cerebral palsy at a mean follow-up of 29 months. Patients were classified into 5 MACS levels using a standardized questionnaire completed by their primary caregivers. Preoperatively and at most recent follow-up visits, patients were assessed using the House scale and patient-reported functional outcomes on a 5-point scale. We compared the outcomes of patients with high (I–II, independence in daily activ...

Children's experiences of their participation in a training and support programme involving massage.

Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study reports on a research project that aimed to extrapolate the value of the Training and Support Programme (TSP), involving massage, among children with cerebral palsy (CP). Data gathering included information from interviews with a sub-sample of children and the TSP therapist observation forms. Data were analysed using standard thematic content analysis to identify key themes and issues of importance to children. Results showed that children enjoyed the relaxing aspects of massage and reported a number of improvements in their health such as improved muscle relaxation, mobility and bowel movements, and reduced pain. Future studies may need to explore other ways of extrapolating data from this population and similar populations where communication is impaired due to disability, but...

The Business Case for Adult Disability Care Coordination

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract: Palsbo SE, Diao G. The business case for adult disability care coordination.Objective: To analyze the financial performance of a care coordination program.Design: The study used a retrospective pretest, posttest design of 245 beneficiaries. Physical impairment ranged from slight to severe.Setting: Minnesota Disability Health Options (MnDHO), a capitated Medicaid program.Participants: Medicaid beneficiaries ages 18 to 64 with physical disabilities arising from multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, or brain injury.Interventions: Not applicable.Main Outcomes Measures: Change in expenditures, rate of return, and utilization.Results: Mean MnDHO monthly expenditures including care coordination increased by a factor of 1.75 (P (Source: Archives of Physical Medicine and...

Heart rate variability in infants with central coordination disturbance

Early Human Development — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract: Despite a remarkable medical progress in the field of Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, early identification of infants at risk for permanent motor disabilities still presents challenge for both clinicians and researchers.As an indicator of cardiac autonomic control, it was shown that heart rate variability (HRV) might reflect not only sympathetic or parasympathetic activity but also functional integrity of the central nervous system (CNS). Furthermore a pattern of HRV was demonstrated to correlate with motor developmental outcome in high risk infants.The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical usefulness as well as predictive value of time-domain HRV parameters in infants with central coordination disturbance.The study included 35 infants with central coordin...

Bilateral loss of cortical somatosensory evoked potential at birth predicts cerebral palsy in term and near-term newborns

Early Human Development — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study determines whether the presence or absence of the neonatal cortical SEP can predict cerebral palsy at two years in survivors of neonatal encephalopathy scored according to Sarnat criteria. We also compare SEPs with visual evoked potentials (VEPs), the EEG and neonatal neurological status.Fifty-nine neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit had SEP, VEP and EEG recordings analysed according to the presence (n=37, 63%) or absence (n=22, 37%) of neonatal encephalopathy (score ≥1).Cortical SEP was always present in the perinatal period in those surviving without major neurological disability, while it was bilaterally absent in all but one patient with a subsequent diagnosis of cerebral palsy. Multivariate analysis using the logistic regression model showed that bilater...

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A-pattern strabismus with overdepression in adduction: A special type of bilateral skew deviation?

Journal of AAPOS — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: A-pattern strabismus may, in some cases, represent a special form of skew deviation. The ocular motility and clinical findings are consistent with bilateral damage to the utricular pathways corresponding to the anterior semicircular canals rather than bilateral primary superior oblique muscle overaction. (Source: Journal of AAPOS)

The use of cervical auscultation in tracheal aspiration in children with cerebral palsy

Revista CEFAC — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:58:09 +0100

CONCLUSION: cervical auscultation can be used as an inference to risk of aspiration, therefore a sign to early intervention in this population. Furthermore, it is a non-invasive method. (Source: Revista CEFAC)

New AAN/CNS Guideline on Treatment of Spasticity in Cerebral Palsy

Medscape Today Headlines — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:11:48 +0100

The new Practice Parameter endorses use of botulinum toxin A for localized and segmented spasticity and diazepam and, to a lesser degree, tizanidine for short-term treatment of generalized spasticity but finds insufficient data for other agents. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Transfer of the Psoas Tendon to the, at its origin detached, rectus femoris muscle in infantile cerebral palsy

Orthopedics and Traumatology — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:05:13 +0100

Content Type Journal ArticleCategory CommentDOI 10.1007/BF03180937Authors James G. Jarvis, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Divison of Pediatric Orthopaedics Ottawa Canada Journal Orthopedics and TraumatologyOnline ISSN 1617-3838Print ISSN 0941-2530 Journal Volume Volume 7 Journal Issue Volume 7, Number 3 / September, 1999 (Source: Orthopedics and Traumatology)

Transfer of the psoas tendon to the, at its origin detached, rectus femoris muscle in infantile cerebral palsy

Orthopedics and Traumatology — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:05:07 +0100

Summary Objectives Correction of flexion contracture of hip allowing an erect position while standing and walking. The gain in function helps to prevent a neurogenic dislocation of the coxofemoral joint. Indications In infants with cerebral palsy unable to straighten the body before they can stand or walk. In ambulatory spastic children and adolescents with bothersome hip flexion contracture. Contraindications Severe retardation of motor development in patients with cerebral palsy in whom walking and standing cannot be anticipated. Marked spastic-dystonic muscle weakness. Surgical Technique In general, soft tissue releases at hip and knee are performed at the same sitting. Anterior approach to the hip. Detachment o...

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Transfer of the Psoas Tendon to the, at its origin detached, rectus femoris muscle in infantile cerebral palsy

Orthopedics and Traumatology — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:05:06 +0100

Content Type Journal ArticleCategory ResponseDOI 10.1007/BF03180938Authors Bernhard Heimkes, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus Schwerpunkt Kinderorthopädie Krankenhaus München Schwabing der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Kölner Platz 1 D-80804 München Germany Journal Orthopedics and TraumatologyOnline ISSN 1617-3838Print ISSN 0941-2530 Journal Volume Volume 7 Journal Issue Volume 7, Number 3 / September, 1999 (Source: Orthopedics and Traumatology)

An internet-based physical activity intervention for adolescents with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Aim To determine the effectiveness of an 8-week internet-based, lifestyle physical-activity intervention for adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP).Method A randomized controlled trial using concealed allocation with blinded assessments at baseline, 10, and 20 weeks. Forty-one adolescents with CP participated (26 males, 15 females; mean age 13y 7mo, SD 1y 8mo, range 11[ndash]17y; Gross Motor Function Classification System levels: I, n=21; II, n=17; III, n=3; unilateral distribution n=16, bilateral n=25). Primary outcome was physical activity (NL-1000 accelerometers and self-report [Multimedia Activity Recall for Children and Adolescents: MARCA]). Secondary outcomes were exercise knowledge (a purpose-designed scale), attitudes, intention and self-efficacy (Lifestyle Education for Activity Pro...

Natural history of flexed knee gait in diplegic cerebral palsy evaluated by gait analysis in children who have not had surgery

Gait and Posture — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract: Eighteen children with diplegic cerebral palsy and no history of orthopaedic surgery had two gait analyses a mean of 6.3 years apart to analyse the effects of time on their gait. The mean age of the children at first analysis was 7.7 years (range 4.4–13.3 years). The data was analysed as a whole group (18 children) and as two sub-groups of nine children: those with a shorter follow-up (mean 5.0 years) and those with a longer follow-up (mean 7.5 years) between analyses. The following significant bilateral changes were seen in the whole group and longer follow-up sub-group: deterioration in the range of knee flexion, mid-stance knee flexion, peak knee extension in stance and hamstring length and an improvement in mean and maximum hip rotation. Temporal data showed no significant ...

Anti-Spasticity Medications Need Further Research

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Only a few anti-spasticity medications used for children with cerebral palsy are backed by sufficient research to justify their use, according to a new review of scientific literature headed by a UT Southwestern Medical Center neurologist and conducted by a national panel of interdisciplinary experts nationwide. The findings prompted the American Academy of Neurology to release a new practice guideline on effective treatments. Dr. Mauricio Delgado-Ayala, professor of neurology at UT Southwestern is lead author of the guideline, which appears in the Jan... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Anti-Spasticity Medications Need Further Research

Neurology / Neuroscience News From Medical News Today — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0100

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Socio-economic inequalities in cerebral palsy prevalence in the United Kingdom: a register-based study

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Dolk H, Pattenden S, Bonellie S, Colver A, King A, Kurinczuk JJ, Parkes J, Platt MJ, Surman G. Socio-economic inequalities in cerebral palsy prevalence in the United Kingdom: a register-based study. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010. Evidence is unclear as to whether there is a socio-economic gradient in cerebral palsy (CP) prevalence beyond what would be expected from the socio-economic gradient for low birthweight, a strong risk factor for CP. We conducted a population-based study in five regions of the UK with CP registers, to investigate the relationship between CP prevalence and socio-economic deprivation, and how it varies by region, by birthweight and by severity and type of CP. The total study population was 1 657 569 livebirths, born between 1984 and 1997. Wards of reside...

Neurodevelopment of children born very preterm and free of severe disabilities: the Nord-Pas de Calais Epipage cohort study

Acta Paediatrica — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Aim: To describe the development of very preterm children free of cerebral palsy or severe sensory impairment in the domains of gross and fine motor functions, language and sociability at a corrected age of 2 years; to identify factors associated with performances in each domain.Methods: A total of 347 children born in 1997 before 33 weeks of gestation, part of the EPIPAGE population-based cohort study, had their psychomotor development assessed with the Brunet-Lezine scale.Results: The study population had a mean gestational age of 30.1 ± 2.0 weeks. Lower developmental quotients (DQ) were observed in the study group compared to the reference sample (96 ± 13 vs 104 ± 8, p < 0.01). Fine motor function, language and sociability were all affected with a p value (Source: Acta Paediatrica)

Mechanical properties of the plantarflexor musculotendinous unit during passive dorsiflexion in children with cerebral palsy compared with typically developing children

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Aim To examine the passive length[ndash]tension relations in the myotendinous components of the plantarflexor muscles of children with and without cerebral palsy (CP) under conditions excluding reflex muscle contraction.Method A cross-sectional, non-interventional study was conducted in a hospital outpatient clinic. Passive torque[ndash]angle characteristics of the ankle were quantified from full plantarflexion to full available dorsiflexion in 26 independently ambulant children with CP (11 females, 15 males; mean age: 6y 11mo, range 4y 7mo[ndash]9y 7mo) and 26 age-matched typically developing children (18 females, 8 males; mean age 7y 2mo, range 4y 1mo[ndash]10y 4mo). In the children with CP, the affected (hemiplegia; n=21) or more affected (diplegia; n=5) leg was tested; in typically dev...

Rating scales for dystonia in cerebral palsy: reliability and validity

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study investigated the reliability and validity of the Barry[ndash]Albright Dystonia Scale (BADS), the Burke[ndash]Fahn[ndash]Marsden Movement Scale (BFMMS), and the Unified Dystonia Rating Scale (UDRS) in patients with bilateral dystonic cerebral palsy (CP).Method Three raters independently scored videotapes of 10 patients (five males, five females; mean age 13y 3mo, SD 5y 2mo, range 5[ndash]22y). One patient each was classified at levels I[ndash]IV in the Gross Motor Function Classification System and six patients were classified at level V. Reliability was measured by (1) intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for interrater reliability, (2) standard error of measurement (SEM) and smallest detectable difference (SDD), and (3) Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency. Validity wa...

Effectiveness of functional progressive resistance exercise strength training on muscle strength and mobility in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Aim To evaluate the effectiveness of functional progressive resistance exercise (PRE) strength training on muscle strength and mobility in children with cerebral palsy (CP).Method Fifty-one children with spastic uni- and bilateral CP; (29 males, 22 females; mean age 10y 5mo, SD 1y 10mo, range 6y 0mo[ndash]13y 10mo; Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I[ndash]III) were randomized to the intervention group (n=26) or the control group (n=25, receiving usual care). The intervention group trained for 12 weeks, three times a week, on a five-exercise circuit, which included a leg-press and functional exercises. The training load progressively increased based on the child's maximum level of strength, determined by the eight-repetition maximum. Muscle strength (measured with hand-held...

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Characterization of spasticity in cerebral palsy: dependence of catch angle on velocity

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Aim To evaluate spasticity under controlled velocities and torques in children with cerebral palsy (CP) using a manual spasticity evaluator.Method The study involved 10 children with spastic CP (six males, four females; mean age 10y 1mo, SD 2y 9mo, range 7[ndash]16y; one with quadriplegia, six with right hemiplegia, three with left hemiplegia; Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I [n=2], II [n=3], III [n=2], IV [n=2], and V [n=1]; Manual Ability Classification System levels II [n=5], III [n=4], and V [n=1]) and 10 typically developing participants (four males, six females; mean age 10y 3mo, SD 2y 7mo, range 7[ndash]15y). Spasticity and catch angle were evaluated using joint position, resistance torque, and torque rate at velocities of 90°, 180°, and 270° per second, contro...

Vascular access challenge on a patient with cerebral palsy and severe kyphoscoliosis.

The Journal of Vascular Access — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

We report a case of vascular assess challenge on a patient with severe kyphoscoliosis and joint contractures. Multiple internal jugular (IJ) central venous catheters (CVC) and a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) catheterization were attempted via ultrasound guidance and all resulted in malposition. The PICC attempt fortuitously pushed a malpositioned IJ into the correct position. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a narrow thoracic inlet with no definite venous stenoses. Therefore, severe chest wall deformity, a narrow thoracic inlet and inadequate positioning of the patient secondary to his contractures all contributed to the malposition of the PICC and CVCs. PMID: 20119920 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Journal of Vascular Access)

Upper limb motor and sensory impairments in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Can they be measured reliably?

Disability and Rehabilitation — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 07:06:04 +0100

Conclusions. For all motor and sensory assessments, interrater and test-retest reliability was moderate to very high. Test-retest reliability was clearly higher than interrater reliability. To improve interrater reliability, it was recommended to strictly standardize the test procedure, refine the scoring criteria and provide intensive rater trainings. PMID: 20095955 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Disability and Rehabilitation)

Gait characteristics of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy before and after modified constraint-induced movement therapy.

Disability and Rehabilitation — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 07:06:04 +0100

This study provides a new dimension in the effects of pediatric mCIMT programs and could begin to shift the focus of this intervention to remediation of lower extremity deficits. Additional studies with a longitudinal follow-up focus to determine the long-term effects of mCIMT on walking balance and stability would be beneficial. PMID: 20095954 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Disability and Rehabilitation)

Anti-spasticity medications need further research

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

(UT Southwestern Medical Center) Only a few anti-spasticity medications used for children with cerebral palsy are backed by sufficient research to justify their use, according to a new review of scientific literature headed by a UT Southwestern Medical Center neurologist and conducted by a national panel of interdisciplinary experts nationwide. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

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Research and treatment bulletin

International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Emma Chippendale, The British School of Osteopathy, London, UK. Cerebral palsy (CP) is a non-progressive condition affecting the musculoskeletal system due to early developmental disorders of the central nervous system. The incidence of cerebral palsy is 2.5 per 1000 live births. In these children, gastro-intestinal problems, especially constipation are common (75% of children with CP) due to several reasons such as insufficient or malnutrition, increased muscle tone, decreased defecation and immobilisation. Osteopathic treatment has been used more commonly in recent years to treat such conditions. The goal of the osteopathic treatment of constipation is to restore movement within the environment of the abdominal organs or within the organ itself. (Source: International Journal of Osteopa...

AAN Evaluates Cerebral Palsy Treatments for Kids

Disabled World — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:01:13 +0100

Practice News: Mauricio Delgado Discusses Guideline on Treatment of Spasticity for Cerebral Palsy in Children

American Academy of Neurology — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:40:26 +0100

AAN.com discusses the new guideline on the treatment of spasticity in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy with the lead guideline author, Mauricio Delgado, MD, FRCPC, FAAN. (Source: American Academy of Neurology)

Constipation in people with learning disability

BMJ Online First — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:25:46 +0100

(Source: BMJ Online First)

AAN Guideline Evaluates Treatments For Kids With Cerebral Palsy

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0100

A new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology and the Child Neurology Society finds botulinum toxin type A to be an effective treatment for spasticity, muscle tightness that interferes with movement, in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy, but poses some risk. The guideline is published in the January 26, 2010, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. "Spasticity in children with cerebral palsy is best treated by a multidisciplinary medical and surgical team," said lead guideline author Mauricio R... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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AAN Guideline Evaluates Treatments For Kids With Cerebral Palsy

Pediatrics News From Medical News Today — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0100

New Guidelines Suggest Botox for Cerebral Palsy

MedicineNet Hepatitis C General — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:00:00 +0100

Title: New Guidelines Suggest Botox for Cerebral PalsyCategory: Health NewsCreated: 1/25/2010 4:10:00 PMLast Editorial Review: 1/26/2010 (Source: MedicineNet Hepatitis C General)

Botox Found Effective for Children With Cerebral Palsy

Modern Medicine — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Botulinum toxin is a safe and effective treatment for localized spasticity in children with cerebral palsy, according to a review in the Jan. 26 issue of Neurology. (Source: Modern Medicine)

Construct validity of the Capacity Profile in adolescents with cerebral palsy.

Clinical Rehabilitation — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: These findings support the construct validity of the Capacity Profile in adolescents with cerebral palsy. Construct validity in other medical conditions should be further investigated. PMID: 20103569 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Clinical Rehabilitation)

Practice Parameter: Pharmacologic treatment of spasticity in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (an evidence-based review): Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the Practice Committee of the Child Neurology Society

Neurology — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:04:05 +0100

Objective: To evaluate published evidence of efficacy and safety of pharmacologic treatments for childhood spasticity due to cerebral palsy. Methods: A multidisciplinary panel systematically reviewed relevant literature from 1966 to July 2008. Results: For localized/segmental spasticity, botulinum toxin type A is established as an effective treatment to reduce spasticity in the upper and lower extremities. There is conflicting evidence regarding functional improvement. Botulinum toxin type A was found to be generally safe in children with cerebral palsy; however, the Food and Drug Administration is presently investigating isolated cases of generalized weakness resulting in poor outcomes. No studies that met criteria are available on the use of phenol, alcohol, or botulinum toxin type B inj...

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New Guidelines Suggest Botox for Cerebral Palsy

MedlinePlus Health News — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:00:00 +0100

Drug injections can reduce muscle spasticity, experts say Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Topics: Botox, Cerebral Palsy (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Practice News: AAN Guideline Examines Cerebral Palsy Treatments

American Academy of Neurology — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:59:00 +0100

A new evidence-based clinical guideline published by the American Academy of Neurology in the January 26, 2010, edition of the journal Neurology makes recommendations for the pharmacological treatment of spasticity in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP). (Source: American Academy of Neurology)

AAN guideline evaluates treatments for kids with cerebral palsy

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

(American Academy of Neurology) A new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology and the Child Neurology Society finds botulinum toxin type A to be an effective treatment for spasticity, muscle tightness that interferes with movement, in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy, but poses some risk. The guideline is published in the January 26, 2010, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Influence of clinical status on the association between plasma total and unbound bilirubin and death or adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in extremely low birth weight infants

Acta Paediatrica — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: In extremely low birth weight infants, clinical status at 5 days of age affects the association between total plasma bilirubin and death or adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18[ndash]22 months of corrected age. An increasing level of UB is associated a higher risk of death or adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes regardless of clinical status. Increasing levels of total plasma bilirubin are directly associated with increasing risk of death or adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in unstable, but not in stable infants. (Source: Acta Paediatrica)

Mechanical work performed by the legs of children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy

Gait and Posture — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the work performed on the center of mass by the legs of children with cerebral palsy. 10 children that were diagnosed as having cerebral palsy with spastic diplegia (Age=9.1±2 years), and 10 healthy children with no walking disabilities participated (Age=9.4±2 years). We collected individual leg ground reaction forces from four force platforms, and calculated the mechanical work performed on the center of mass by the lead and trail legs. The normalized walking speeds were not significantly (p=0.33) different between the children with cerebral palsy (0.26±0.07) and the controls (0.28±0.06). The children with cerebral palsy performed significantly more negative work by the lead leg during double support (p=0.0004), and significa...

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Pediatric Endurance and Limb Strengthening (PEDALS) for Children With Cerebral Palsy Using Stationary Cycling: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Physical Therapy — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS:/b> Significant improvements in locomotor endurance, gross motor function, and some measures of strength were found for the cycling group but not the control group, providing preliminary support for this intervention. As statistical differences were not found in baseline-postintervention change scores between the 2 groups; the results did not demonstrate that stationary cycling was more effective than no intervention. The results of this phase I study provide guidance for future research. PMID: 20093327 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Physical Therapy)

Fertility drugs contribute heavily to multiple births

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

(March of Dimes Foundation) Drugs that stimulate a woman's ovaries to speed the maturity and multiply the production of eggs accounts for four times more live births than assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization. These drugs are responsible for 20 percent of multiple births. Multiple birth is a risk factor for preterm birth and infants born too soon face lifelong health problems such as breathing problems, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, vision and hearing loss, and even death. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Fertility drugs contribute heavily to multiple births

ScienceDaily Headlines — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Drugs that stimulate a woman's ovaries to speed the maturity and multiply the production of eggs accounts for four times more live births than assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization. These drugs are responsible for 20 percent of multiple births. Multiple birth is a risk factor for preterm birth and infants born too soon face lifelong health problems such as breathing problems, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, vision and hearing loss, and even death. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

England cerebral palsy football team GP appeals for players

HealthcareRepublic Independent Nurse News — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:05:00 +0100

A GP and team doctor for the England cerebral palsy football team is trying to raise awareness and help the team attract new players ahead of the London 2012 Paralympics. (Source: HealthcareRepublic Independent Nurse News)

Effect of warming moxibustion on Shenque acupoint for the treatment of acute diarrhea in children with infantile cerebral palsy

Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:38:24 +0100

Conclusion Warming moxibustion on Shenque acupoint is an effective treatment for acute diarrhea in ICP children, with advantages of simple manipulation and rapid effect initiation. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Clinical ExperienceDOI 10.1007/s11655-009-0454-8Authors Hong-yun Zhang, Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University Department of Rehabilitation Chongqing 400014 ChinaSheng-feng Lu, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine College of Acupuncture Moxibustion and Massage Chengdu 610075 ChinaNong Xiao, Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University Department of Rehabilitation Chongqing 400014 China Journal Chinese Journal of Integrative MedicineOnline ISSN 1993-0402Print ISSN 1672-0415 Journal Volu...

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Lower-extremity selective voluntary motor control in patients with spastic cerebral palsy: increased distal motor impairment

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study evaluated the proximal to distal distribution of SVMC impairment among lower extremity joints.Method Using a recently developed tool, the Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity (SCALE), we evaluated the SVMC of the hip, knee, ankle, subtalar joint, and toes in a cross-sectional, observational study of 47 participants with spastic, diplegic, hemiplegic, and quadriplegic CP (22 males, 25 females; mean age 11y 9mo, SD 4y 8mo; Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I[ndash]IV).Results Statistically significant decreases in SCALE scores from hip to toes were found using the Page statistical test for trend (p (Source: Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology)

Coupled obturator neurotomies and lidocaine intrathecal infusion to treat bilateral adductor spasticity and drug-refractory pain.

Journal of Neurosurgery — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Carrillo-Ruiz JD, Andrade P, Godínez-Cubillos N, Montes-Castillo ML, Jiménez F, Velasco AL, Castro G, Velasco F Spastic diplegia is present in three-fourths of children with cerebral palsy, interfering with gait and frequently accompanied by severe pain. The authors report the case of a 28-year-old woman with history of perinatal hypoxia, who presented with cerebral palsy and severe spastic diplegia (Ashworth Scale Score 4, Tardieu Scale Score 5) and was confined to a wheelchair. She complained of pain in the left hip and knee with mixed neuropathic and somatic components. She consistently rated pain intensity as 10 of 10 on a visual analog scale, and her symptoms were resistant to multiple treatments. The patient underwent selective bilateral adductor myotomies and ...

Virtual Reality Tele-rehab Improves Hand Function: Playing Games For Real Recovery

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Remotely monitored in-home virtual reality videogames improved hand function and forearm bone health in teens with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, helping them perform activities of daily living such as eating, dressing, cooking, and other tasks for which two hands are needed... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Virtual Reality Tele-rehab Improves Hand Function: Playing Games For Real Recovery

IT / Internet / E-mail News From Medical News Today — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Remotely monitored in-home virtual reality videogames improved hand function and forearm bone health in teens with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, helping them perform activities of daily living such as eating, dressing, cooking, and other tasks for which two hands are needed... (Source: IT / Internet / E-mail News From Medical News Today)

[Measures to improve gait in patients with cerebral palsy.]

Der Orthopade — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Brunner R Gait disorders in patients with cerebral palsy result in excessive energy consumption due to spasticity and faulty biomechanics. Instrumented gait analysis shows these problems best and provides the optimal base for the orthopaedic treatment. Modern therapy options consist of muscle lengthenings, muscle shortenings, corrections of torsions and stabilisations of joints. Especially at the foot level, conservative and operative means can be used depending on the individual situation. The aim is to rebalance muscle strength and length and to restore the lever arms. As many procedures as possible are combined in multilevel corrections in order to keep the total rehabilitation for the patient as short as possible. PMID: 20069272 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Sou...

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[Neuro-orthopaedic approach to the upper extremity : State-of-the-art surgical procedures.]

Der Orthopade — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Manolikakis G, Schörle CM The operative treatment of the upper extremity of cerebral palsy patients has despite the different conservative possibilities a firm place in the interdisciplinary treatment concept. It remains in comparison to the lower extremity selective, and the spectrum of indications is narrower. The analysis of the individual functional and/or cosmetic impairment requires a differentiated treatment concept. In the operative repertoire there are predominantly soft tissue operations in the foreground, mostly in the form of multilevel interventions. Based on a detailed preoperative evaluation, differentiated surgical techniques, and many years of surgical experience very good cosmetic (97.6%) and good functional (68.4%) results can be achieved. PMID: 200...

Human Neural Stem Cell Grafts Modify Microglial Response and Enhance Axonal Sprouting in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury.

Stroke — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that human neural stem cell transplants enhance endogenous brain repair through multiple modalities in response to HI. PMID: 20075340 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Stroke)

Management of Spasticity After Spinal Cord Injury: Current Techniques and Future Directions

Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 02:02:04 +0100

Spasticity, resulting in involuntary and sustained contractions of muscles, may evolve in patients with stroke, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, and spinal cord injury (SCI). The authors critically review the neural mechanisms that may contribute to spasticity after SCI and assess their likely degree of involvement and relative significance to its pathophysiology. Experimental data from patients and animal models of spasticity as well as computer simulations are evaluated. The current clinical methods used for the management of spasticity and the pharmacological actions of drugs are discussed in relation to their effects on spinal mechanisms. Critical assessment of experimental findings indicates that increased excitability of both motoneurons and interneurons plays a cruc...

Virtual reality tele-rehab improves hand function: Playing games for real recovery

ScienceDaily Headlines — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 01:00:00 +0100

Remotely monitored in-home virtual reality videogames improved hand function and forearm bone health in teens with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, helping them perform activities of daily living for which two hands are needed. Researchers suspect using these games could similarly benefit individuals with other illness that affect movement, such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, arthritis and even those with orthopedic injuries affecting the arm or hand. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

Health status of caregivers of children with cerebral palsy

Child: Care, Health and Development — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion This study provides evidence of the inferior health status of caregivers of children with CP in Ireland, particularly that of women. (Source: Child: Care, Health and Development)

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The influence of selected personal and environmental factors on leisure activities in adults with cerebral palsy.

Disability and Rehabilitation — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions. Adults with CP who are more mobile participate more in leisure activities. A positive perception of the environment (facilitating leisure participation) likely reflects the individual's ability to benefit from the environment, whereas a neutral view of the environment may reflect the fact that other factors, such as mobility limitations, are of greater relevance to leisure participation. PMID: 20067427 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Disability and Rehabilitation)

Growth and anthropometry in hemiplegic cerebral palsy patients

Revista Paulista de Pediatria — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:21:34 +0100

CONCLUSION: Growth impairment in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy was observed on the affected limbs and in smaller proportion in head circumference. (Source: Revista Paulista de Pediatria)

Difference rather than delay in development of elementary visuomotor processes in children born preterm without cerebral palsy: A quasi-longitudinal study.

Neuropsychology — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:42:12 +0100

Follow-up studies of preterm children without serious neonatal medical complications have consistently found poor visuomotor and visuospatial skills. In the first round of current follow-up study, we found a deficit in elementary visuomotor processes in preterm children without Cerebral Palsy (CP). To determine whether the development of these processes was delayed or different, we carried out a quasi-longitudinal study in which kinematic characteristics of pointing movements in 7- to 11-year-old preterm born children without CP and in an age-matched full-term group were analyzed. Multi-level analysis suggested a difference rather than a delay in the preterm born group: we found a regression around 8 years of age in the control but not in the preterm group. To our knowledge, this study is ...

Cervical myelopathy in athetoid and dystonic cerebral palsy: retrospective study and literature review

European Spine Journal — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 06:44:40 +0100

Abstract The early onset of degenerative cervical lesions has been well described in patients suffering from athetoid or dystonic cerebral palsy. Myelopathy can occur and aggravate of their unstable neurological status. Diagnosis and treatment are delayed and disrupted by the abnormal movements. This retrospective study was implemented to evaluate the symptoms, the anatomical findings, and the surgical management of seven patients from 20 to 56 years old suffering from cervical myelopathy and athetoid or dystonic cerebral palsy. The mean delay in diagnosis was 15 months and the mean follow-up was 33 months. The initial symptoms were spasticity, limbs weakness, paresthesias and vesico-sphinteric dysfunction. In addition to abnormal movements, imaging demonstra...

Virtual reality tele-rehab improves hand function: Playing games for real recovery

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

(Indiana University School of Medicine) Remotely monitored in-home virtual reality videogames improved hand function and forearm bone health in teens with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, helping them perform activities of daily living for which two hands are needed. Researchers suspect using these games could similarly benefit individuals with other illness that affect movement, such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, arthritis and even those with orthopedic injuries affecting the arm or hand (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

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Minutes critical in cerebral palsy claim: CJL v West Midlands Strategic Health Authority (High Court, 20/2/09 - Tugendhat J)

Clinical Risk — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:35:28 +0100

(Source: Clinical Risk)

INCITE: A randomised trial comparing constraint induced movement therapy and bimanual training in children with congenital hemiplegia

BMC Neurology — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study aims to compare the efficacy of CIMT to BIM training to improve outcomes across the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) for school children with congenital hemiplegia. Methods: A matched pairs randomised comparison design will be used with children matched by age, gender, side of hemiplegia and level of upper limb function. Based on power calculations a sample size of 52 children (26 matched pairs) will be recruited. Children will be randomised within pairs to receive either CIMT or BIM training. Both interventions will use an intensive activity based day camp model, with groups receiving the same dosage of intervention delivered in the same environment (total 60 hours over 10 days). A novel circus theme will be used to enhance motivation. Gr...

Preterm birth

Clinical Evidence — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:00:00 +0100

New evidence; conclusions changed for: Magnesium sulphate: Two systematic reviews added to the comments section. The first review reported that the percentage of women with a successful delay of delivery by 48 hours was 53% with control/placebo and 89% with magnesium sulphate. The percentage of women with successful delay of labour until 37 weeks was 36% with control/placebo and 42% with magnesium sulphate. Neonatal mortality occurred in 2% with placebo and 1% with magnesium sulphate. Overall rates of adverse effects were 1% with placebo and 3% with magnesium sulphate. However, no direct comparisons were made in this review. The second review reported that magnesium sulphate given before preterm delivery for neuroprotection has demonstrated a reduction in...

Course of health-related quality of life in 9-16-year-old children with cerebral palsy: Associations with gross motor abilities and mental health.

Disability and Rehabilitation — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 13:08:02 +0100

Conclusions. Children with CP are more resilient and positive about their HRQoL than their parents think they are. In general, mental health in children with CP appeared to be important in understanding their perceived QoL, in addition to the severity of the CP itself. PMID: 20055573 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Disability and Rehabilitation)

Course: Recent consensus on developments in the management of cerebral palsy

NHS Evidence - Neurological conditions - Events — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:40:16 +0100

(Source: NHS Evidence - Neurological conditions - Events)

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Complications affecting preterm neonates from 1991 to 2006: what have we gained?

Acta Paediatrica — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Inborn preterm patients showed an improved survival and a significant reduction in cPVL and CP. Perforated NEC showed a trend to decrease. CLD and IVH grade III and IV remain a matter of concern. (Source: Acta Paediatrica)

Assisted reproductive technologies and risk of cerebral palsy among singletons in Australia

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology)

Easter Seals merge with advocacy group

bizjournals.com Health Care:Health Insurance headlines — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:28:35 +0100

Easter Seals Central Texas merged with the United Cerebral Palsy of Texas Inc. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Health Insurance headlines)

Easter Seals merge with advocacy group

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:28:35 +0100

Easter Seals Central Texas merged with the United Cerebral Palsy of Texas Inc. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

ChildRC.com Offers Advice on Toys & Games for Children with Cerebral Palsy

PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:01:23 +0100

Resource Site Recommends How to Select Toys and Games Suited for Children with Birth Injuries (PRWeb Jan 5, 2010) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/01/prweb3410454.htm (Source: PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals)

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Predicting neurodevelopmental impairment in preterm infants by standardized neurological assessments at 6 and 12 months corrected age

Acta Paediatrica — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Aim: Neurodevelopmental impairment in very preterm infants can be reasonably diagnosed by 18[ndash]24 months corrected age, whereas the predictive value of earlier assessments is debated. We hypothesized that neurological findings at 6 and 12 months indicative of subsequent cerebral palsy predict 18[ndash]24 months' neurodevelopmental impairment.Methods: Neurodevelopmental examinations (Griffiths scales) at 20 months of age in 561 preterm infants (birth weight (Source: Acta Paediatrica)

Enabling self-directed computer use for individuals with cerebral palsy: a systematic review of assistive devices and technologies

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Aim The purpose of this study was to systematically review published evidence on the development, use, and effectiveness of devices and technologies that enable or enhance self-directed computer access by individuals with cerebral palsy (CP).Methods Nine electronic databases were searched using keywords 'computer', 'software', 'spastic', 'athetoid', and 'cerebral palsy'; the reference lists of articles thus identified were also searched. Thirty articles were selected for review, with 23 reports of development and usability testing of devices and seven evaluations of algorithms to increase computer recognition of input and cursor movements.Results Twenty-four studies had fewer than 10 participants with CP, with a wide age range of 5 to 77 years. Computer task performance was usually tested,...

Assessing bimanual performance in young children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: a systematic review

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Aim This systematic review investigated the availability of assessment tools to evaluate bimanual skills in young children ([le] 3y) with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Evidence for validity, reliability, and clinical utility of the identified instruments was sought.Method Ten electronic databases and grey literature were searched (earliest 1806) to February 2009 to identify articles that met criteria related to the child's age and diagnosis, and included a discrete bimanual assessment. Further searches for evidence of psychometric properties of each identified assessment were undertaken. For quality criteria, we evaluated the internal validity of each study and appraised the validity and reliability of identified assessments.Results From 1435 papers retrieved, 15 were eligible for inclusion, ...

Apolipoprotein E genotype and cerebral palsy

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology)

Prenatal Low-Dose Aspirin and Neurobehavioral Outcomes of Children Born Very Preterm

PEDIATRICS — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:03:02 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: LDA was not associated with adverse neonatal or long-term outcomes. Moreover, the results suggest that LDA may be associated with a reduction in neurobehavioral difficulties. More research is needed to assess the effects of aspirin alone or combined with other neuroprotective agents. (Source: PEDIATRICS)

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In-Home Virtual Reality Videogame Telerehabilitation in Adolescents With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Use of remotely monitored virtual reality videogame telerehabilitation appears to produce improved hand function and forearm bone health (as measured by DXA and pQCT) in adolescents with chronic disability who practice regularly. Improved hand function appears to be reflected in functional brain changes. (Source: Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)

The Health and Quality of Life Outcomes Among Youth and Young Adults With Cerebral Palsy

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The observed health and QoL scores were much lower than those previously reported in the literature. This is likely a result of the inclusion of those with severe CP. The scores for youth were similar to those for adults and suggest that health and QoL outcomes were relatively stable across the transition to adulthood. Youth and adults with CP have limited health status and will require health care support throughout their lives to help them optimize their well being. Longitudinal follow-up studies are essential to understand better the patterns of health in this population over time. (Source: Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)

Description of a multifaceted rehabilitation program including overground gait training for a child with cerebral palsy: A case report.

Physiotherapy Theory and Practice — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Farrell E, Naber E, Geigle P This case describes the outcomes of a multifaceted rehabilitation program including body weight-supported overground gait training (BWSOGT) in a nonambulatory child with cerebral palsy (CP) and the impact of this treatment on the child's functional mobility. The patient is a nonambulatory 10-year-old female with CP who during an inpatient rehabilitation stay participated in direct, physical therapy 6 days per week for 5 weeks. Physical therapy interventions included stretching of her bilateral lower extremities, transfer training, bed mobility training, balance training, kinesiotaping, supported standing in a prone stander, two trials of partial weight-supported treadmill training, and for 4 weeks, three to five times per week, engaged in 30 minute...

Occurrence of gross motor behaviors and attainment of motor objectives in children with cerebral palsy participating in conductive education.

Physiotherapy Theory and Practice — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Effgen SK, Chan L This exploratory study investigated the frequency of occurrence of gross motor behaviors by nine children with cerebral palsy (CP) participating in an 11-month conductive education (CE) program and the attainment of their gross motor objectives. The intervention team determined gross motor objectives for each child. Activities to achieve those objectives were fully integrated into the child's daily routines. Interval by interval recording was used to observe eight stability, seven mobility, and six transfer behaviors during four school days for each child. The interrater reliability using a kappa statistic was 0.73-0.93 for the observed behaviors. An independent evaluator determined that the children achieved 83% of their gross motor objectives for the first ...