Short-term selective dorsal rhizotomy responders among children with bilateral cerebral palsy.

Aim: To identify the short-term effects of selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) on gait and clinical impairments in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP) and subgroups based on baseline gait patterns.

Method: Eighty-nine children with bilateral spastic CP (55 males, mean age [SD] before SDR: 9 years 5 months [2 years 3 months]; Gross Motor Function Classification System level I: 18; II: 54; III: 17) received three-dimensional gait analyses at two time points (baseline and 1 year after SDR); their baseline gait patterns were classified. The analysis included the comparisons of (1) sagittal plane kinematic waveforms, the Gait Profile Score, and non-dimensional spatiotemporal parameters between the two time points, (2) the kinematic waveforms of both time points to those of typically developing children, and (3) composite impairment scores of spasticity, weakness, and selectivity between the two time points.

Effect of selective dorsal rhizotomy on neuromuscular symptoms, muscle morphology, and motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Aim: To investigate the effect of selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) on an integrated outcome set 1-year post-SDR, in a cohort of children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP).

Method: Fifteen children with bilateral spastic CP (median age 8 years 8 months [interquartile range 3 years 3 months], 11 males, four females, eight in Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level II, seven in GMFCS level III) were measured pre- and 1-year post-SDR. Clinical scales and goniometry assessed plantar flexor spasticity, range of motion, strength, and selectivity.

Evaluation of the Working Mechanism of a Newly Developed Powered Ankle-Foot Orthosis.

Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are commonly prescribed to children with cerebral palsy (CP). The conventional AFO successfully controls the first and second ankle rocker, but it fails to correct the third ankle rocker, which negatively effects push-off power. The current study evaluated a new powered AFO (PAFO) design, developed to address the shortcomings of the conventional AFO.

Spatiotemporal coordination in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: Insights from a bimanual goal-directed task.

Background: In children with unilateral cerebral palsy (uCP), bimanual assessments mostly focus on qualitative assessments of the impaired upper limb during bimanual tasks, which do not capture the spatiotemporal coordination between both hands. Hence, we aimed to advance our understandings in spatiotemporal coordination in children with uCP compared to typically developing children (TDC) using a bimanual, asymmetrical, goal-directed task.

Participants And Methodology: In this observational study, thirty-seven children with uCP (11y8m±2y10m, 20 males, 16 right-sided uCP, Manual Ability Classification System level I = 23, II = 11, III = 3) and 37 age and sex-matched TDC opened a box with one hand and pressed a button inside using the opposite hand.

Repeatability of gait of children with spastic cerebral palsy in different walking conditions.

Three-dimensional gait analysis is the 'gold standard' for measurement and description of gait. Gait variability can arise from intrinsic and extrinsic factors and may vary between walking conditions. This study aimed to define the inter-trial and inter-session repeatability in gait analysis data of children with cerebral palsy (CP) who were walking in four conditions, namely barefoot or with ankle-foot orthosis (AFO), and overground or treadmill.