Cerebral Palsy/complications* ; Child ; Deglutition Disorders/etiology* ; Humans

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of intramuscular Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injection on gait and dynamic foot pressure distribution in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) with dynamic equinovarus foot. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five legs of 25 children with CP were investigated in this study. BoNT-A was injected into the gastrocnemius (GCM) and tibialis posterior (TP) muscles under the guidance of ultrasonography. The effects of the toxin were clinically assessed using the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) and modified Tardieu scale (MTS), and a computerized gait analysis and dynamic foot pressure measurements using the F-scan system were also performed before injection and at 1 and 4 months after injection. RESULTS: Spasticity of the ankle plantar-flexor in both the MAS and MTS was significantly reduced at both 1 and 4 months after injection. On dynamic foot pressure measurements, the center of pressure index and coronal index, which represent the asymmetrical weight-bearing of the medial and lateral columns of the foot, significantly improved at both 1 and 4 months after injection. The dynamic foot pressure index, total contact area, contact length and hind foot contact width all increased at 1 month after injection, suggesting better heel contact. Ankle kinematic data were significantly improved at both 1 and 4 months after injection, and ankle power generation was significantly increased at 4 months after injection compared to baseline data. CONCLUSION: Using a computerized gait analysis and foot scan, this study revealed significant benefits of BoNT-A injection into the GCM and TP muscles for dynamic equinovarus foot in children with spastic CP.
Adolescent ; Ankle Joint ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Cerebral Palsy/*complications/drug therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Clubfoot/*drug therapy/*etiology/physiopathology ; Female ; Foot ; Gait/*drug effects/physiology ; Humans ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Male ; Muscle Spasticity/drug therapy ; Muscle, Skeletal/diagnostic imaging ; Neuromuscular Agents/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Pressure ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Weight-Bearing

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Bulbar Palsy, Progressive ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Cerebral Infarction ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pharynx ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of incentive spirometer exercise (ISE) on pulmonary function and maximal phonation time (MPT) in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty children with CP were randomly assigned to two groups: the experimental group and the control group. Both groups underwent comprehensive rehabilitation therapy. The experimental group underwent additional ISE. The forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio, peak expiratory flow (PEF), and MPT were assessed as outcome measures before and after 4 weeks of training. RESULTS: There were significant improvements in FVC, FEV1, PEF, and MPT in the experimental group, but not in the control group. In addition, the improvements in FVC, FEV1, and MPT were significantly greater in the experimental group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: The results of this randomized controlled study support the use of ISE for enhancing pulmonary function and breath control for speech production in children with CP.
Adolescent ; Body Fluids ; Breathing Exercises/*methods ; Cerebral Palsy/complications/*physiopathology ; Child ; *Exercise ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Motivation ; *Spirometry ; Treatment Outcome

No abstract available.
Arthralgia/*etiology ; Cerebral Palsy/*complications ; Female ; Humans ; *Knee Joint ; Male

Acupuncture Points ; Cerebral Palsy ; complications ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Vision Disorders ; drug therapy ; etiology

Because complications are more common in patients with cerebral palsy (CP), surgeons and anesthesiologists must be aware of perioperative morbidity and be prepared to recognize and treat perioperative complications. This study aimed to determine the incidence of and risk factors for perioperative complications of orthopedic surgery on the lower extremities in patients with CP. We reviewed the medical records of consecutive CP patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. Medical history, anesthesia emergence time, intraoperative body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, immediate postoperative complications, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level, Cormack-Lehane classification, and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification were analyzed. A total of 868 patients was included. Mean age at first surgery was 11.8 (7.6) yr. The incidences of intraoperative hypothermia, absolute hypotension, and absolute bradycardia were 26.2%, 4.4%, and 20.0%, respectively. Twenty (2.3%) patients had major complications, and 35 (4.0%) patients had minor complications postoperatively. The incidences of intraoperative hypothermia, absolute hypotension, and major postoperative complications were significantly higher in patients at GMFCS levels IV and V compared with patients at GMFCS levels I to III (P<0.001). History of pneumonia was associated with intraoperative absolute hypotension and major postoperative complications (P<0.001). These results revealed that GMFCS level, patient age, hip reconstructive surgery, and history of pneumonia are associated with adverse effects on intraoperative body temperature, the cardiovascular system, and immediate postoperative complications.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Cerebral Palsy/*complications ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications/*etiology ; Lower Extremity/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orthopedic Procedures/*adverse effects ; Postoperative Complications/*etiology

BACKGROUND: Adult patients with cerebral palsy (CP), who have advanced degenerative arthritis of the hip, have been treated with resection arthroplasty and arthrodesis. Although total hip arthroplasty (THA) has also been used as one of the alternative options, there are few studies on contemporary bearings used in THA. Therefore, we evaluated the results of the contemporary ceramic-on-ceramic THA in adult patients with CP. METHODS: From January 2005 to December 2007, five adult CP patients (5 hips) underwent THA using contemporary ceramic-on-ceramic bearings. All patients were able to stand or ambulate with intermittent use of assistive devices at home. We retrospectively reviewed the series to determine the results of THA in terms of pain relief, improved function, and durability of prosthesis. RESULTS: There were 3 men and 2 women with a mean age of 35.9 years. All patients had pain relief without decline in mobility postoperatively. One hip was dislocated, which was treated successfully with closed reduction and an abduction brace for 2 months. There was no ceramic fracture, loosening, or osteolysis during the mean follow-up of 6.8 years (range, 5.8 to 8.3 years). CONCLUSIONS: Cementless THA using contemporary ceramic-on-ceramic bearings is a useful option for the treatment of advanced degenerative arthritis of the hip in ambulatory adults with CP.
Adult ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/*methods ; Biocompatible Materials ; Ceramics ; Cerebral Palsy/*complications ; Female ; Hip Joint/*surgery ; Hip Prosthesis ; Humans ; Male ; Osteoarthritis, Hip/etiology/radiography/*surgery ; Prosthesis Design ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for anterior knee pain in patients with cerebral palsy. METHODS: This prospective study investigated the risk factors for anterior knee pain in 127 ambulatory patients with spastic cerebral palsy in terms of walking pain, resting pain, and provocative pain. Demographic data analysis and physical examination for measuring the knee flexion contracture and unilateral and bilateral popliteal angles were performed. Patellar height was measured on radiographs, and patella alta was identified. The risk factors for anterior knee pain were analyzed using multivariate analysis with a generalized estimating equation. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients were found to have patella alta based on the radiographic measurements (60.6%). Overall, sixteen patients (12.6%) had either unilateral or bilateral anterior knee pain. Of these, 6 patients showed a visual analogue scale (VAS) < or = 3, 9 patients showed 3 < VAS < or = 7, and one patient showed a VAS > 7. Age was found to be a significant risk factor for walking pain and resting pain with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.08 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02 to 1.14) and 1.09 (95% CI, 1.03 to 1.15), respectively. In the multivariate analysis, knee flexion contracture was a significant protective factor with an OR of 0.92 (95% CI, 0.85 to 0.98). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 12.6% of ambulatory patients with spastic cerebral palsy were found to have anterior knee pain in our hospital-based cohort study. Age was found to be a significant risk factor for anterior knee pain while walking and resting.
Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Arthralgia/*etiology/physiopathology ; Cerebral Palsy/*complications/physiopathology ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; *Knee Joint/physiopathology ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Risk Factors ; Walking ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic effects of different doses of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injection on tiptoe deformation in children with cerebral palsy.

METHODSA total of 256 children with tiptoe deformation due to spastic cerebral palsy were classified into group A (muscle tension levels I-II, n=147) and group B (muscle tension levels III-IV, n=109). Group A was randomly divided into group A1 (injected with high-dose BTX-A, n=73) and group A2 (injected with low-dose BTX-A, n=74). Group B was randomly divided into group B1 (injected with high-dose BTX-A, n=55) and group B2 ( injected with low-dose BTX-A, n=54). The dose of BTX-A was 6 U/kg for groups A1 and B1 and was 3 U/kg for groups A2 and B2. Before the injection and at 1,2,6, and 12 months after injection, the muscle tension of limbs was evaluated with the modified Ashworth Scale, and the recovery of motor function of lower limbs was assessed with the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM).

RESULTSBefore and after treatment, there were no significant differences in Ashworth and GMFM scores between groups A1 and A2 (P>0.05). After treatment, group B1 had a significantly reduced Ashworth score and a significantly increased GMFM score, and group B1 had a significantly lower Ashworth score and a significantly higher GMFM score compared with group B2 (P<0.05). For groups A and B, Ashworth score gradually declined post-treatment, reached the lowest point at 3 months after treatment, and returned to the level before treatment at 12 months after treatment; GMFM score gradually increased post-treatment and reached the peak level at 12 months after treatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe level of muscle tension should be considered when BTX-A injection is used for treating tiptoe deformation in children with cerebral palsy. It makes no difference to use high- or low-dose BTX-A when the muscle tension level is within I-II, but high-dose BTX-A has a better performance in reducing muscle tension and improving motor function when the muscle tension level is within III-IV.

Botulinum Toxins, Type A ; administration & dosage ; Cerebral Palsy ; complications ; drug therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Injections ; Male ; Muscle Tonus ; drug effects ; Toes ; abnormalities