title: HIV encephalopathy with bilateral lower limb spasticity: upper limb motor function and level of activity and participation.
abstract: To describe upper limb motor function and level of activity and participation in children with HIV encephalopathy (HIVE) and bilateral lower limb (BLL) spasticity.
  
  
  
  Thirty ambulant children with HIVE and BLL spasticity and 20 typically developing children, between 5 years and 12 years, were recruited. Upper limb motor function was assessed using the Purdue Pegboard and level of activity and participation using the Computer-Adapted Pediatric Evaluation of Disabilities Inventory (PEDI-CAT).
  
  
  
  The HIVE group comprised 14 males and 16 females (mean age [SD] 8y 8mo [2y 2mo], Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level I [n=10], II [n=11], and III [n=9]) and the typically developing group comprised 11 males and 9 females (mean age 8y 8mo [2y 3mo]). The HIVE group had lower scores than the typically developing group for all pegboard tasks and three of the four PEDI-CAT domains (p≤0.001). However, individual outcome scores varied substantially within each GMFCS level.
  
  
  
  Children with HIVE and BLL spasticity may have significantly poorer upper limb motor performance and lower levels of activity and participation than typically developing children. These findings suggest that an assessment of upper limb motor function should form part of optimal care for this population.
authors: Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.|Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: Theresa N
authors: TN
authors: Mann
authors: Division of Developmental Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: Kirsten A
authors: KA
authors: Donald
authors: Children's Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Unit, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Laughton
authors: Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: Robert P
authors: RP
authors: Lamberts
authors: Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: Nelleke G
authors: NG
authors: Langerak
mesh_terms: D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents