title: Children with cerebral palsy and periventricular white matter injury: does gestational age affect functional outcome?
abstract: This study aimed to determine differences in functional profiles and movement disorder patterns in children aged 4-12 years with cerebral palsy (CP) and periventricular white matter injury (PWMI) born >34 weeks gestation compared with those born earlier. Eligible children born between 1999 and 2006 were recruited through the Victorian CP register. Functional profiles were determined using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Manual Abilities Classification System (MACS), Communication Function Classification System (CFCS), Functional Mobility Scale (FMS) and Bimanual Fine Motor Function (BFMF). Movement disorder and topography were classified using the Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe (SCPE) classification. 49 children born >34 weeks (65% males, mean age 8 y 9 mo [standard deviation (SD) 2 y 2 mo]) and 60 children born ≤ 34 weeks (62% males, mean age 8 y 2 mo [SD 2 y 2 mo]) were recruited. There was evidence of differences between the groups for the GMFCS (p=0.003), FMS 5, 50 and 500 (p=0.003, 0.002 and 0.012), MACS (p=0.04) and CFCS (p=0.035), with a greater number of children born ≤ 34 weeks more severely impaired compared with children born later. Children with CP and PWMI born >34 weeks gestation had milder limitations in gross motor function, mobility, manual ability and communication compared with those born earlier.
authors.affiliation: Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, 3052 Victoria, Australia. adrienne.harvey@rch.org.au
authors.forename: Adrienne R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Randall
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Katherine J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Imms
authors.forename: Jillian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodda
authors.forename: Beverley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eldridge
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Orsini
authors.forename: Dinah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reddihough
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007969:Leukomalacia, Periventricular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cerebral palsy; Functional outcome; Periventricular white matter injury