Search

Objective: The aim of the investigation was to assess the contribution of pain to functional, social, and health-related quality-of-life outcomes in adults with cerebral palsy. Design: This monocentric, prospective study included long-term data for ambulant adults with cerebral palsy and at levels I-III in the Gross Motor Function Classification System who had received orthopedic multilevel surgery in adulthood and in whom preoperative and postoperative three-dimensional gait analysis was conducted, including the Gait Profile Score. A questionnaire including the Visual Analog Scale, Oswestry Disability Index, and European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 3 Level was analyzed. Results : Twenty-four adults at a mean age of 38.0 yrs were included. Sixteen patients (66.7%) indicated that they experienced pain and 10 patients (41.7%) had pain for more than 6 mos. Overall, 13 patients (54%) experienced both pain and anxiety. There was no correlation of the Gait Profile Score with pain, Gross Motor Function Classification System, and Oswestry Disability Index. The Oswestry Disability Index showed a positive correlation with the Gross Motor Function Classification System (r = 0.39, P = 0.05) and pain (r = 0.57, P = 0.004). Conclusions: Pain and anxiety represent relevant comorbidities in adults with cerebral palsy. The occurrence of pain correlates with the Oswestry Disability Index and is higher than in children with cerebral palsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Conservative therapy for bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BSCP) regularly includes a modular orthosis setup with dynamic ankle-foot orthosis (DAFO) and modular shank supply (MSS). Additional effects by this modular supply have not been studied so far. The goal was thus an exploratory investigation of what effects can be expected by supplementing a DAFO with an additional MSS. Materials and Methods: Ten children with BSCP were fitted with DAFO and MSS. Dynamic elastic shank adaptations (DESAs) and ground reaction force AFOs (GRAFOs) were used, depending on the participants' individual needs. Participants underwent a gait analysis after supply and 3 months later. Data analysis included a descriptive analysis and further statistical testing using a Friedman test and post hoc Wilcoxon rank test. Results: The Gillette Gait Index (GGI) improved significantly with MSS compared with barefoot and DAFO, the Gait Deviation Index (GDI) only comparing DAFO to MSS. However, no further changes had occurred at follow-up, and for the Gait Profile Score (GPS), not at all. Step length, velocity, cadence, stance duration, and step width changed significantly after supply. Kinematic changes developed at ankle, knee, hip, and trunk. However, only minor changes had occurred at follow-up. Conclusions: DAFOs and MSS show positive effects, as observed in spatiotemporal parameters, gait indices, and kinematic data. Most kinematic effects occur at the ankle and knee joint. MSS produces additional effects, with a particular emphasis on the extending effect on the knee in terminal stance. Only minor beneficial effects on kinematic parameters of knee and trunk during swing phase occur after a familiarization phase. The changes in the spatiotemporal parameters imply a slight deterioration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]