Reliability of the modified Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) for children with both Spastic Cerebral Palsy and Cerebral Visual Impairment: A preliminary study.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to adapt the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) for children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) and to determine the test-retest and interobserver reliability of the adapted version. METHOD: Sixteen paediatric physical therapists familiar with CVI participated in the adaptation process. The Delphi method was used to gain consensus among a panel of experts. Seventy-seven children with CP and CVI (44 boys and 33 girls, aged between 50 and 144 months) participated in this study. To assess test-retest and interobserver reliability, the GMFM-88 was administered twice within three weeks (Mean=9 days, SD=6 days) by trained paediatric physical therapists, one of whom was familiar with the child and one who wasn't. Percentages of identical scores, Cronbach's alphas and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were computed for each dimension level. RESULTS: All experts agreed on the proposed adaptations of the GMFM-88 for children with CP and CVI. Test-retest reliability ICCs for dimension scores were between 0.94 and 1.00, mean percentages of identical scores between 29 and 71, and interobserver reliability ICCs of the adapted GMFM-88 were 0.99-1.00 for dimension scores. Mean percentages of identical scores varied between 53 and 91. Test-retest and interobserver reliability of the GMFM-88-CVI for children with CP and CVI was excellent. Internal consistency of dimension scores lay between 0.97 and 1.00. CONCLUSION: The psychometric properties of the adapted GMFM-88 for children with CP and CVI are reliable and comparable to the original GMFM-88.

Treatment outcome in the most severely affected Legg-Perthes patients, comparing prolonged traction in abduction with femoral varus derotation treatment.

PURPOSE: Compare conservative and operative treatment in the most severely affected Legg-Perthes disease patients. METHODS: 29 patients (14 conservative and 15 operative) with 32 affected hips (16 conservative and 16 operative) were evaluated, all Catterall 3 or 4. The conservative group, with a median age-at-onset of 4.8 (range, 2.5-9.5) years, was treated by a rigorous regime of traction in abduction for an average of two years. Follow-up was performed at a median of 28.6 (range, 17.4-31.6) years with a median patient age of 34.1 (range, 19.9-39.3) years. The operative group, with a median age-at-onset of 4.7 (range, 2.0-7.8) years, was treated by femoral varus derotation osteotomy. Follow-up was performed at a median of 14 (range, 8-21.4) years, with a median patient age of 20.7 (range, 12.8-28) years. RESULTS: Median age-at-onset (P = 0.16) and Catterall classification (P = 0.29) were comparable. No differences could be found for the Stulberg classification (P = 0.83), functional parameters (Harris Hip score and Merle d'Aubigné and Postel), and leg-length differences. Career choices were similar for both patient groups, as well. CONCLUSIONS: Given methodological issues, femoral varus derotation osteotomy did not show apparent better results than the conservative containment regime in Catterall 3 and 4 patients with a median age-at-onset around 4.8 years. This result is fairly similar to recent literature suggesting a conservative approach in most severely affected patients with a young age-at-onset. However, based on unacceptable socioeconomic issues, the conservative regime evaluated in the present study cannot be justified, nowadays.

Prescription of the first prosthesis and later use in children with congenital unilateral upper limb deficiency: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The prosthetic rejection rates in children with an upper limb transversal reduction deficiency are considerable. It is unclear whether the timing of the first prescription of the prosthesis contributes to the rejection rates. OBJECTIVE: To reveal whether scientific evidence is available in literature to confirm the hypothesis that the first prosthesis of children with an upper limb deficiency should be prescribed before two years of age. We expect lower rejection rates and better functional outcomes in children fitted at young age. METHODS: A computerized search was performed in several databases (Medline, Embase, Cinahl, Amed, Psycinfo, PiCarta and the Cochrane database). A combination of the following keywords and their synonyms was used: "prostheses, upper limb, upper extremity, arm and congenital". Furthermore, references of conference reports, references of most relevant studies, citations of most relevant studies and related articles were checked for relevancy. RESULTS: The search yielded 285 publications, of which four studies met the selection criteria. The methodological quality of the studies was low. All studies showed a trend of lower rejection rates in children who were provided with their first prosthesis at less than two years of age. The pooled odds ratio of two studies showed a higher rejection rate in children who were fitted over two years of age (pooled OR = 3.6, 95% CI 1.6 - 8.0). No scientific evidence was found concerning the relation between the age at which a prosthesis was prescribed for the first time and functional outcomes. CONCLUSION: In literature only little evidence was found for a relationship between the fitting of a first prosthesis in children with a congenital upper limb deficiency and rejection rates or functional outcomes. As such, clinical practice of the introduction of a prosthesis is guided by clinical experience rather than by evidence-based medicine.