title: Gait evolution in a family with hereditary spastic paraplegia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The degree of disability in patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia has been reported variable even in members of the same family (same gene mutation). Moreover, it has been established that patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia should be treated differently from cerebral palsy patients due to the progressive nature of this disease. However, the gait evolution of hereditary spastic paraplegia showing onset symptoms at an early age has been described as stable. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the walking ability and the influence of treatments on gait evolution in a family with hereditary spastic paraplegia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical gait analyses were performed in six hereditary spastic paraplegia patients from the same family with a follow-up of 4-15 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on the gait deviation index, results showed a large variation of walking ability in these patients and no statistical difference between the first and last examination. In fact, three patients have improved their gait (from childhood to adolescence) whereas three patients worsened their gait.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gait alterations in a family with hereditary spastic paraplegia are heterogeneous. Gait evolution in hereditary spastic paraplegia with early symptoms had a tendency to improve gait until adolescence with adapted treatments and to decline in the adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Willy Taillard Laboratory of Kinesiology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: stephane.armand@hcuge.ch.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Armand
authors.affiliation: Willy Taillard Laboratory of Kinesiology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Turcot
authors.affiliation: Willy Taillard Laboratory of Kinesiology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonnefoy-Mazure
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Orthopaedic Service, Department of Child and Adolescent, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lascombes
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Orthopaedic Service, Department of Child and Adolescent, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Geraldo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Coulon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D000375:Aging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D015419:Spastic Paraplegia, Hereditary / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Evolution; Gait; Hereditary spastic paraplegia; Longitudinal study; Walking