title: Relationship between stature and tibial length for children with moderate-to-severe cerebral palsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To derive the equation for estimating stature, based on tibial length, for children with moderate-to-severe cerebral palsy (CP) and lower limb joint contracture or scoliosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants (3-12-years-old) included 50 children with moderate-to-severe CP (mean age, 8.3±2.4 years) and 38 typically developed (TD) children (mean age, 7.5±2.6 years). Thirty-four (68%) of the children with CP had a gross motor function classification system level of V. Furthermore, 40 (80%) had definite lower limb joint contracture or scoliosis. The stature and the tibial length measurements of all participants were determined. Regression equations to estimate stature, based on tibial lengths, were determined for both TD children and children with CP. Moreover, regression equations defining the relationship between tibial length and age were compared between the two groups of children, using multiple regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The regression equations for estimating stature, based on tibial length, were stature=tibial length×3.25+34.45 [cm], R(2)=0.91 (TD children), and stature=tibial length×3.42+31.82 [cm], R(2)=0.81 (CP children). In children with CP, tibial lengths were significantly shorter than those in similarly aged TD children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The stature of children with moderate-to-severe CP can be estimated from their tibial lengths, regardless of the presence of joint contracture or scoliosis. The tibial length may be a proxy for estimating stature during the growth assessment of children with moderate-to-severe CP.
authors.affiliation: Kobe University, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Japan; Nikoniko-house Medical Welfare Center 14-1 Yamada-cho Shimotanigami nakaichiriyama, Kita-ku, Kobe 651-1102, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kihara
authors.affiliation: Nikoniko-house Medical Welfare Center 14-1 Yamada-cho Shimotanigami nakaichiriyama, Kita-ku, Kobe 651-1102, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.affiliation: Nikoniko-house Medical Welfare Center 14-1 Yamada-cho Shimotanigami nakaichiriyama, Kita-ku, Kobe 651-1102, Japan.
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yagi
authors.affiliation: Kobe University, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Japan. Electronic address: satoshi@kobe-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takada
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013977:Tibia / Q000254:growth & development
keywords: Cerebral palsy; Measurement; Reliability; Stature; Tibial length