Evaluation of the Relation Between Hand Functions and Severity of Cerebral Palsy
2 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
3 Clinic of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey DOI : 10.4274/tftr.20981
Objective: Several scales had been developed to evaluate upper extremity function in patients with cerebral palsy (CP). One of these scales is the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) which evaluates the manual ability of children with CP in daily activities. MACS aims to assess the level of the child’s usual performance, not to classify best capacitiy. Likewise, the Bimanual Fine Motor Function (BFMF) scale determines both hand functions together. In this study, we aimed to determine the relationship between CP severity and hand functions in children with CP.
Materials and Methods: We included a total of 87 children with CP patients hospitalized in our CP unit. Hand functions were assessed with the MACS and the BFMF scales, whereas the CP severity was evaluated with the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS).
Results: The mean of age of the patients was 6.93±1.93 (4 to 13) years. 40 children (46.0%) were diplegic, 3 (3.4%) - hemiplegic, 9 (10.3%) - tetraplegic, 9 - (10.3) ataxic - 5 (5.7%) - dyskinetic and 21patients (24.1%) were with mixed-type CP. A positive strong correlation was found between the BFMF ile the MACS. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 consisted of patients with diplegic, hemiplegic and mixed CP, while group 2 included ataxic, dyskinetic and mixed CP. In both groups, a positive correlation was found either between the GMFCS and the MACS or between the GMFCS and the BFMF scales The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 consisted of patients with diplegic, hemiplegic and mixed CP, while group 2 included ataxic, dyskinetic and mixed CP. In both groups, a positive correlation was found either between the GMFCS and the MACS or between the GMFCS and the BFMF scales. On the other hand, in group 2 both the correlation between GMFCS and MACS and the correlation between GMFCS and BFMF were found to be stronger than that of Group 1.
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, in assessing the manual functions of CP children, the MACS and the BFMF are compatible scales with each other and with GMFCS as well.
Keywords : Cerebral palsy, hand functions, gross motor functio