title: Outcome assessments in children with cerebral palsy, part I: descriptive characteristics of GMFCS Levels I to III.
abstract: This prospective cross-sectional multicenter study assessed the relationships between Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level and scores on outcome tools used in pediatric orthopedics. Five hundred and sixty-two participants with cerebral palsy (CP; 339 males, 223 females; age range 4-18y, mean age 11y 1mo [SD 3y 7mo]; 400 with diplegia, 162 with hemiplegia; GMFCS Levels I-III;) completed the study. The Functional Assessment Questionnaire (FAQ), Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) Dimensions D and E, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI), Pediatric Functional Independence Measure (WeeFIM), temporal-spatial gait parameters, and O(2) cost were collected during one session. Descriptive characteristics are reported by GMFCS level clinicians can use for comparison with individual children. Tools with a direct relationship between outcome scores and GMFCS levels were the PODCI Parent and Child Global Function, Transfers & Basic Mobility, and Sports and Physical Function; PODCI Parent Upper Extremity Function; WeeFIM Self-care and Mobility; FAQ Question 1; GMFM Dimensions D and E; GMFM-66; O(2) cost; and temporal-spatial gait parameters. Child report scores differed significantly higher than Parent scores for six of eight PODCI subscales and three of four PedsQL dimensions. Children classified into different GMFCS levels function differently.
authors.affiliation: Shriners Hospitals for Children, Lexington, KY 40502, USA. doeffinger@shrinenet.org
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oeffinger
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gorton
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bagley
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Calmes
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Damiano
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kryscio
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Chester
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tylkowski
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000145:classification*; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000379:methods; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index