Effects of early rehabilitation on the gross motor function of infants at high risk of infantile cerebral palsy / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the effects of rehabilitation starting at different stages on the gross motor function of infants with high risk of cerebral palsy.Methods 214 neonates (117 boys and 97 girls) at least 14 days old and with a neonatal behavioral neurological assessment scale (NBNA) score of less than 35 were randomly divided into four groups.They received 2 to 3 weeks of rehabilitation in the hospital,followed by 4 to 6 weeks of family rehabilitation and then another 2 to 3 weeks of hospital rehabilitation.The three groups started this course of treatment at different timesbeginning when the babies were not older than 3 months for group Ⅰ,3 to 6 months for group Ⅱ,6 to 12 months for group Ⅲ and 12 to 24 months for group Ⅳ.In each individual case the rehabilitation in hospital was replaced by family rehabilitation only when the baby's overall development was normal or almost normal.Another 63 infants with high risk of cerebral palsy composed group Ⅴ.They received only the family rehabilitation.The rehabilitation in hospital included taking neurotrophic drugs,receiving physical treatment,hand manipulation,kinesiotherapy,cognitive training,conductive education,and using orthoses.Family rehabilitation was implemented by the parents once or twice a day,for 35 to 45 minutes each time following detailed,individualized exercise plans made up jointly by the rehabilitation doctors and therapists.Moreover,a clinical checkup was required every 1 to 2 months.At 3,6,12 and 24 months old,all of the subjects' gross motor ability was quantified using the gross motor function measure (GMFM) scale.The hospital stays and the number of subjects diagnosed with cerebral palsy and motor retardation were recorded.Results At 3 months old,the average GMFM scores of the groups were 5.00± 1.89 for group Ⅰ,6.80± 1.55 for group Ⅱ,8.44±1.26 for group Ⅲ,11.10±1.72 for group Ⅳ and 12.70±1.64 for group Ⅴ,the controls.All of the intergroup differences were significant.At 6 months old the average GMFM scores of groups Ⅰ to Ⅳ were not significantly different,but all were significantly lower than the group Ⅳ average.At 12 months old the average GMFM scores of groups Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅴ were significantly higher than the group Ⅲl and Ⅳ averages.At 24 months old the groups' average scores decreased consistently from Ⅰ to Ⅴ,with significant differences between one group and the next.Group Ⅲ had the longest hospital stays,followed by groups Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅳ.Those inter-group differences were significant except for between groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ.The incidence of cerebral palsy in groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ (38.10％ and 29.79％) was significantly higher than in group Ⅲ (21.62％),Ⅳ (12.00％) or Ⅴ (3.17％).Moreover,the incidence of motor retardation in groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ (7.14％ and 10.64％) was also significantly lower than in group Ⅲ(56.76％),Ⅳ (68.00％) or Ⅴ (36.51％),but the differences between groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ and between groups Ⅲ and Ⅳ were not significant.The incidence of excellent gross motor performance ratings at 24mo decreased significantly from group Ⅰ to group Ⅴ,with all of the inter-group differences significant.Conclusion Early and formal rehabilitation is of great importance for infants with a high risk of cerebral palsy.The earlier formal rehabilitation starts,the better is its effect.