Long-term upper extremity performance in children with cerebral palsy following selective dorsal rhizotomy.

Purpose: In children with spastic cerebral palsy, selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is conducted to improve lower limb spasticity. Improvements in upper extremity function have also been noted in early follow-up. The purpose of this study was to determine if upper extremity improvements are sustained in the long term.

Safety and efficacy of independent allied healthcare professionals in the assessment and management of plagiocephaly patients.

Background: The incidence of positional plagiocephaly has increased significantly over the last two decades, which has caused a service delivery challenge for pediatric neurosurgeons. As a potential solution to the long waitlists for abnormal head shape, a plagiocephaly clinic was established at BC Children's Hospital (BCCH) in Vancouver, Canada. This clinic was supervised by an occupational therapist who had been trained by a neurosurgeon to independently assess and manage patients with a referring diagnosis of positional plagiocephaly.

Impact of Early Follow-Up Intervention on Parent-Reported Postconcussion Pediatric Symptoms: A Feasibility Study.

Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of early intervention telephone counseling with parents in limiting postconcussion symptoms and impacts on children and youth.

Setting: Recruitment occurred postdischarge from one pediatric emergency department.

Participants: Sixty-six parents of children aged 5 to 16 years with a diagnosis of a concussion injury.

Long-term outcome after selective dorsal rhizotomy in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate long-term outcomes after selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) for children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of a prospective database of patients who underwent SDR at British Columbia Children's Hospital. Hip adductor spasticity, hip range of motion (ROM), quadriceps strength, and motor function were assessed pre-operatively, at 6 months to 5 years and more than 10 years postoperatively.

Deformational plagiocephaly and orthotic treatment: indications and limitations.

Purpose: As the incidence of deformational plagiocephaly (DP) has risen, so has the demand on clinicians to make appropriate treatment recommendations. While knowledge of risk factors and natural history continue to evolve, there is uncertainty and controversy regarding intervention approaches. The purpose of this report is to review current treatment approaches for DP, in particular the use of orthotic helmets.

Cultural competence in occupational therapists working in early intervention therapy programs.

Background: Cultural competence promotes equity in health care outcomes and ensures that occupational therapists support clients in culturally relevant daily activities. However, it is unclear to what extent occupational therapists in early intervention therapy (EIT) settings practise cultural competence.

Purpose: To explore how occupational therapists working in EITsettings work towards cultural competence in practice.

Electrophysiologically guided versus non-electrophysiologically guided selective dorsal rhizotomy for spastic cerebral palsy: a comparison of outcomes.

Background: The perceived need for electrophysiological guidance (EPG) during selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) has limited the frequency with which SDR is performed. The need for EPG during SDR has been questioned. At our institution, of >200 children with SDR for spastic cerebral palsy, 22 children underwent SDR without EPG using clinical guidance (no EPG group).

Long-term outcome of infants with positional occipital plagiocephaly.

Background: Despite much interest in positional (deformational) plagiocephaly, the natural history is unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine cosmetic and developmental outcomes at a minimum of 5 years of age in children diagnosed in infancy with positional plagiocephaly (PP) and the impact of cranial orthotic use.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was sent to parents of children diagnosed with PP in infancy and now aged more than 5 years.

Playfulness in children with traumatic brain injury: a preliminary study.

The sequelae of paediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) are well documented as being permanent and pervasive. The impact, however, on how a child approaches the childhood occupation of play, termed 'playfulness,' has been neglected. This prospective analysis of difference study used the Test of Playfulness to compare the playfulness of eight children aged 3-13 years diagnosed with moderate to severe TBI to an age-matched control group.

Quantifying positional plagiocephaly: reliability and validity of anthropometric measurements.

The treatment of positional plagiocephaly is controversial. A confounding factor is the lack of a proven clinically viable measure to quantify severity and change in plagiocephaly. The use of anthropometric measurements is one proposed method.

The use of casts in the management of joint mobility and hypertonia following brain injury in adults: a systematic review.

Many controversies exist regarding the practicality, the theoretical premises, and the supporting evidence for the use of casts in the management of joint hypomobility and hypertonia (ie, increase in joint resistance to passive movement resulting from hyperactivity of the stretch reflex and/or changes in the muscles and connective tissues). The purpose of this review was to determine current best practice for the use of casting in the rehabilitation of adults with brain injury. A systematic review was undertaken to find studies that quantified the effectiveness of casting in adults with brain injury.

Environmental analysis: insights from sociological and geographical perspectives.

Recent conceptual models, such as the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance, emphasize the transactional relationships between individuals, their occupations, and the environments in which they live. Nevertheless, further theoretical development is necessary in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the nature of interconnections between the environment, occupation, and disability. This paper draws on concepts from sociology and geography that can broaden our understanding of the environment and the manner in which its different dimensions may influence individuals' experiences of disability.