A reassessment of spinal stabilization in severe cerebral palsy.
A homogenous population of 37 institutionalized patients with scoliosis and severe cerebral palsy was evaluated to assess the impact of spinal stabilization on comfort, function, health, and ease of nursing care. Through a prospective care-burden study, a 34-month retrospective analysis, and a healthcare worker questionnaire, 17 fused patients with a mean current scoliosis of 35 degrees were compared with 20 nonfused patients with a mean scoliosis of 76 degrees. No clinically significant differences were noted in pain or pulmonary medication utilization or therapy, decubiti, function, or time for daily care. Nevertheless, the majority of healthcare workers believed that the fused patients were more comfortable.
Cassidy
C
C
Department of Orthopaedics, New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
Craig
C L
CL
Perry
A
A
Karlin
L I
LI
Goldberg
M J
MJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000150:complications; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006701:Home Nursing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*