Long-term effects of repeated botulinum neurotoxin A, bimanual training, and splinting in young children with cerebral palsy.

Aim: To investigate long-term development of hand function after repeated botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT-A) and occupational therapy at a young age.

Method: Twenty children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP) (14 males, six females; median inclusion age 3y 1mo, range 1y 11mo-4y 3mo) participated in this longitudinal study. Ten children received occupational therapy after a randomized controlled trial and 10 repeated BoNT-A plus occupational therapy during 1-year.

Botulinum toxin A injections and occupational therapy in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial.

Aim: To investigate the effects of repeated botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injections combined with occupational therapy, including a splint, compared with occupational therapy alone on hand function in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP), in all International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) domains.

Method: This was a randomized controlled study, population-based and evaluator-blinded for primary outcome (October 2004 to September 2010). Twenty children (14 males; median age 3y 1mo) with USCP, recruited at a rehabilitation centre in Sweden, were assigned to one of two parallel groups using concealed allocation.

Body appearance and quality of life in adult patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treated with a brace or under observation alone during adolescence.

Study Design: The Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) brace study (published in the JBJS-A, 1995) was comprised of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with moderate curve sizes (25°-35°). Forty observed and 37 braced patients (77% of the original group) attended a follow-up, a mean of 16 years after onset of maturity.

Objective: To analyze whether the subjectively evaluated present body appearance affects outcome as measured by quality of life in adult patients, previously treated by observation alone (nonbraced) or with a brace during adolescence.

Children with surgically corrected hand deformities and upper limb deficiencies: self-concept and psychological well-being.

We studied self-concept and psychological well-being in children with hand deformities and upper limb deficiencies. Ninety-two children, 53 boys, 39 girls, aged 9-11 years were included. The children were divided into two subgroups - one with milder (less visible) deformities and one with severe (more complex and visible) finger-hand-arm deformities.

Health-related quality of life in Swedish children and adolescents with limb reduction deficiency.

Aim: To investigate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in young persons with limb reduction deficiency (LRD).

Methods: One hundred and forty children with LRD aged 8-16 answered the DISABKIDS questionnaire for children with chronic health conditions. Of their parents, 137 answered a corresponding questionnaire concerning their child.