The Evaluation of Functional Status in Adult Cerebral Palsy in Rehabilitation Facility

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the medical status, the complication and the functional status in adult patients with cerebral palsy in rehabilitation facility. METHOD: The subjects comprised 113 patients with cerebral palsy in Holt Ilsan Home. We performed the previous medical history review, the physical examination, and investigated the functional independency with modified Barthel index. Result was compared between over the 20-years-old age group and the younger age group. RESULTS: Patients in older age group had more contractures of one or more joints in 67.4%, subluxations in 19.0% and dislocations in 8.1%. The modified Barthel index scores of older age group was significantly higher than juvenile group, and significantly lower within mixed type and quadriplegic type group. Patients in older age group with microcephaly were significantly lower than those with hydrocephalus or seizure, and those without microcephaly, hydrocephalus, or seizure were significantly higher. CONCLUSION: These results showed that older-aged cerebral palsy in rehabilitation had more musculoskeletal complications and higher functional status than the younger group. The musculoskeletal complication and associated disease like microcephaly significantly affected the activities of daily living. Therefore, a detailed long-term follow-up study with more medical attention is needed.