Nerve conduction study in young children suffering from cerebral palsy

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a motor impairment syndrome leading to disorders of movement and posture. Screening of electrophysiological parameters Hoffman reflex (H-reflex and nerve conduction velocities) becomes a necessary for the early detection and management of the disease. The study aimed to assess the various electrophysiological parameters of nerve conduction velocity in CP and age-matched normal children. Matrials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was performed between children suffering from CP and healthy control. A total of 27 children of 12–24 months of age of either sex were examined. Among them, six children were normal (with age match), seven were diagnosed with spastic CP and remaining 14 children were diagnosed with hypotonic CP The electrophysiological parameters were recorded in the right lower limb (posterior tibial nerve-soleus muscle) of all children. Results: In electrophysiological parameters, H-reflex latency in secs values was significantly decreased in all CP children. The maximum amplitudes of reflexly excitable motor neurons (Hmax) (mV) and Hmax/maximum amplitude of motor response ratio in the gastrocnemius-soleus muscle were significantly increased in spastic CPas compared to control. H-reflex conduction velocity (HRCV) was significantly higher than motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) in hypotonic CP children. Conclusion: The electrophysiological parameters were altered in spastic CP children. The electrophysiological parameters in hypotonic CP were within range, indicating they did not suppress the neuronal motor pool. However, HRCV was significantly more than MNCV in hypotonic CP, suggesting some myelination process defect/white matter injury in motor neurons. We concluded that the electrophysiological parameters of the nerve conduction study are a reliable test for the assessment of tone of muscles in children. Thus, it may help in the early initiation of the treatment and therapies in CP children.