title: Aspects of activities and participation of 7-8 year-old children with an obstetric brachial plexus injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children with an obstetric brachial plexus injury (OBPI) can experience problems in the performance of meaningful activities such as writing, bimanual activities, and participation in sports and leisure activities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To quantify the everyday functioning and participation of 7-8 year-old children with an OBPI, with special emphasis on writing, and to investigate associated characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents of children with an OBPI were sent a self-report questionnaire regarding the school performance, writing abilities, bimanual hand use, and participation in sports and leisure activities of their child, assessed with the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS sub-scale writing), the ABILHAND-kids, and the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE). Furthermore, questions were asked about socio-demographic variables, medical history, pain, and the use of assistive devices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty three questionnaires were filled in (response 61%). According to the parents, 66% of their children were almost completely recovered, and 58% had a near normal arm function. Most of the children preferred to use their non-involved hand. More than 45% of the children complained about pain, and 39.6% had difficulties with writing, which resulted in a mean developmental delay of 8 months on the VABS sub-scale. Children with writing problems significantly more often had neurosurgery, were living with a single parent, more often received assistance at school, and had a significantly lower ABILHAND-kids score, compared to children with no writing problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Large percentages of 7-8 year-old children with an OBPI experience difficulties with writing and have musculoskeletal pain. Restrictions in participation were less pronounced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spaargaren
authors.forename: Jasmyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Willem J R
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: van Ouwerkerk
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: Heleen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Beckerman
mesh_terms: D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity / Q000639:trends; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010246:Paralysis, Obstetric / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires