Rehabilitation approaches to children with osteogenesis imperfecta: a ten-year experience.
Twenty-five children with severe osteogenesis imperfecta were followed and treated with physical and occupational therapy for a mean of five years, two months, 80% since the first two years of life. According to their highest achieved motor skill, they fell into three groups: (A) able to stand in braces, (B) able to ambulate short distances without braces, and (C) able to ambulate in the community without assistance. Preventable functional impairment is caused in group A by shoulder joint and hand contractures and upper extremity weakness, group by hip flexion and plantar flexion contractures of the feet, shoulder joint contractures, and upper extremity weakness, and group C by poor lower extremity joint alignment, impaired balance, and low endurance. Appropriate rehabilitation strategies have led to slow, continued functional improvement in the majority of patients. Results of the ten-year retrospective study suggest that clinical groupings based in part on functional needs will enable the clinician to provide optimal rehabilitation services.
Binder
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H
Department of PM&R, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010-2970.
Conway
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A
Gerber
L H
LH
D001915:Braces; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003286:Contracture / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010013:Osteogenesis Imperfecta / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation