Upper limb and hand patterns in cerebral palsy: Reliability of two new classifications.

AIM: To evaluate the inter- and intra-rater reliability of two previously developed classifications of upper limb and hand patterns. METHOD: Two hundred and twelve films of patients with CP (118 of UL postures and 94 of hand tasks; median age 14, 3-46 years) were viewed by 18 examiners from 2 different rehabilitation centers, and one expert who had participated in the design of the classifications. They classed upper limb (3 patterns with sub-types) and hand patterns (2 patterns with subtypes) twice, at 2 months' interval. Inter- and intra-rater reliability were analysed. RESULTS: Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability were very high for upper limb and hand patterns (0.87 < k < 0.92), and high for the subtypes (0.58 < k < 0.68). Examiners stated that both classifications were useful and feasible in clinical practice. INTERPRETATION: Despite the single, short training session on use of the classifications, agreement between the examiners and the expert examiner was good to high, confirming that these classifications are easy to use and reliable. The classifications proposed here provide homogenous terminology for use in both clinical practice and research, to describe, evaluate and follow-up changes in upper limb and hand patterns in patients with cerebral palsy, particularly those with dyskinesia.

[Social participation after childhood craniopharyngioma]. / Morbidité et impact sur la participation sociale du craniopharyngiome de l'enfant.

Craniopharyngioma is a rare, benign central nervous system tumor, which may be a source of multiple complications, from endocrinology to vision, neurology and neurocognitive functions. This morbidity can lead to reduced participation in life activities, as described in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. The primary objective of this study was to measure participation in life activities in a population of children and young adults affected by childhood craniopharyngioma, using the LIFE-H questionnaire (Assessment of Life Habits), validated as a social participation measurement tool in various pediatric disabilities. We also describe complications in our population and examined the potential links between tumor characteristics, complications, and participation in life activities. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a descriptive study, including all patients having presented childhood craniopharyngioma (before 18 years of age), followed in the Lyon region between 2007 and 2013. The main criterion was the LIFE-H results, completed by the patient or the carer. RESULTS: Of 21 patients included in the study, 14 completed the questionnaire, a mean 6.7 years after the diagnosis (SD: 3.9 years). The mean total LIFE-H score was 8.4 (SD: 1.03) for a normal score estimated at 10 in the general population. The lowest scores affected the nutrition, community life, and recreation dimensions. No patient had a normal score on all dimensions; 57% of the patients had more than three dimensions affected. The variability of the results between patients was lower for some dimensions with high means (fitness, personal care, communication, housing, mobility, responsibilities, and education) than in others (nutrition, interpersonal relationships, community life, employment, and recreation) with rather low means. All patients had an endocrinological deficit, 19% hypothalamic syndrome, 52% an impaired fulfillment feeling, 76% visual impairment, 14% neurologic impairment, and 91% neurocognitive impairment. In the entire group of patients, 57% were able to attend a normal school (of which 38% needed a personal helper), 43% had to enter a specialized school. In patients in a specialized school, the LIFE-H results were significantly lower in the nutrition, communication, housing, and recreation dimensions. Girls also had significantly better results in many dimensions than boys. DISCUSSION: Heavy comorbidity goes with childhood craniopharyngioma and affects patients' participation in life activities, which is not very low but multidimensional (more than three affected dimensions). This participation is mainly affected in social dimensions, whereas in cerebral palsy, where the LIFE-H has been tested several times, the daily activities dimensions are more affected. CONCLUSION: Patients with childhood craniopharyngioma are affected in their participation in daily activities, mainly in the social dimensions. This could be improved with systematic diagnosis of these participation impairments, with the goal of adapted multidisciplinary management.

Relation between unimanual capacities and bimanual performance in hemiplegic cerebral-palsied children: impact of synkinesis.

OBJECTIVE: Analyze the link between unimanual capacities and bimanual performance in cerebral-palsied (CP) hemiplegic children, aged between 5 and 18 years old, studying specifically the impact of synkinesis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 71 CP hemiplegic children (35 boys and 36 girls - with average age of 8 years and 6 months; MACS levels from I to III; GMFCS from I to IV) took part in a transversal study, assessed - Melbourne Test (MUUL) for unimanual capacities, and Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) for bimanual performance - with a specific scale to analyze synkinesis during Box and Block test for affected and healthy hands, collecting synkinesis type, duration and intensity. RESULTS: There is a strong correlation between unimanual capacities (MUUL) and bimanual performance (AHA) (r = 0.871). Neither age nor gender contribute to bimanual performance (AHA). Multiple linear regression shows that MUUL contributes to bimanual performance variance (AHA) by 70%. Synkinesis is partly correlated to capacities (MUUL) and accounts for 10% of the variance of the gap between capacities and bimanual performance. CONCLUSION: A high relationship between unimanual capacities and bimanual performance is confirmed by this study; some authors demonstrated impact of sensory troubles, we demonstrate that synkinesis influences the use of unimanual capacities in bimanual performance.