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Demographic and modifiable factors associated with knee contracture in children with cerebral palsy

Cloodt, Erika ; Rosenblad, Andreas and Rodby-Bousquet, Elisabet LU (2018) In Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 60(4). p.391-396
Abstract

Aim: To identify the prevalence of knee contracture and its association with gross motor function, age, sex, spasticity, and muscle length in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Method: Cross-sectional data for passive knee extension were analysed in 3 045 children with CP (1 756 males, 1 289 females; mean age 8y 1mo [SD 3.84]). CP was classified using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I (n=1 330), II (n=508), III (n=280), IV (n=449), and V (n=478). Pearson's χ2 test and multiple binary logistic regression were applied to analyse the relationships between knee contracture and GMFCS level, sex, age, spasticity, hamstring length, and gastrocnemius length. Results: Knee contracture greater than or... (More)

Aim: To identify the prevalence of knee contracture and its association with gross motor function, age, sex, spasticity, and muscle length in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Method: Cross-sectional data for passive knee extension were analysed in 3 045 children with CP (1 756 males, 1 289 females; mean age 8y 1mo [SD 3.84]). CP was classified using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I (n=1 330), II (n=508), III (n=280), IV (n=449), and V (n=478). Pearson's χ2 test and multiple binary logistic regression were applied to analyse the relationships between knee contracture and GMFCS level, sex, age, spasticity, hamstring length, and gastrocnemius length. Results: Knee contracture greater than or equal to 5 degrees occurred in 685 children (22%). The prevalence of knee contracture was higher in older children and in those with higher GMFCS levels. Odds ratios (ORs) for knee contracture were significantly higher for children at GMFCS level V (OR=13.17), with short hamstring muscles (OR=9.86), and in the oldest age group, 13 years to 15 years (OR=6.80). Interpretation: Knee contracture is associated with higher GMFCS level, older age, and shorter muscle length; spasticity has a small effect. Maintaining muscle length, especially of the hamstrings, is important for reducing the risk of knee contracture. What this paper adds: Knee contracture occurs in children with cerebral palsy at all Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels. Knee contracture in children is associated with short hamstring muscles, higher GMFCS level, and older age. Short hamstring muscles present a greater risk for knee contracture than spasticity.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
volume
60
issue
4
pages
391 - 396
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85040361233
  • pmid:29318610
ISSN
0012-1622
DOI
10.1111/dmcn.13659
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
95b0fa39-cb57-4c9a-913f-44512a8648fc
date added to LUP
2018-02-23 19:18:12
date last changed
2024-03-18 05:37:42
@article{95b0fa39-cb57-4c9a-913f-44512a8648fc,
  abstract     = {{<p>Aim: To identify the prevalence of knee contracture and its association with gross motor function, age, sex, spasticity, and muscle length in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Method: Cross-sectional data for passive knee extension were analysed in 3 045 children with CP (1 756 males, 1 289 females; mean age 8y 1mo [SD 3.84]). CP was classified using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I (n=1 330), II (n=508), III (n=280), IV (n=449), and V (n=478). Pearson's χ<sup>2</sup> test and multiple binary logistic regression were applied to analyse the relationships between knee contracture and GMFCS level, sex, age, spasticity, hamstring length, and gastrocnemius length. Results: Knee contracture greater than or equal to 5 degrees occurred in 685 children (22%). The prevalence of knee contracture was higher in older children and in those with higher GMFCS levels. Odds ratios (ORs) for knee contracture were significantly higher for children at GMFCS level V (OR=13.17), with short hamstring muscles (OR=9.86), and in the oldest age group, 13 years to 15 years (OR=6.80). Interpretation: Knee contracture is associated with higher GMFCS level, older age, and shorter muscle length; spasticity has a small effect. Maintaining muscle length, especially of the hamstrings, is important for reducing the risk of knee contracture. What this paper adds: Knee contracture occurs in children with cerebral palsy at all Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels. Knee contracture in children is associated with short hamstring muscles, higher GMFCS level, and older age. Short hamstring muscles present a greater risk for knee contracture than spasticity.</p>}},
  author       = {{Cloodt, Erika and Rosenblad, Andreas and Rodby-Bousquet, Elisabet}},
  issn         = {{0012-1622}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{391--396}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology}},
  title        = {{Demographic and modifiable factors associated with knee contracture in children with cerebral palsy}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.13659}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/dmcn.13659}},
  volume       = {{60}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}