Synopsis of resource:
As Dyskinetic cerebral palsies are a severe but low frequency type, profiling their functionality is not easy Fifty‐five participants (30 males, 25 females) between 5 years and 22 years (mean age 14y 6mo], from five Flemish special education schools for motor disabilities were evaluated for the 5 functional systems and Dyskinesia impairment scale was used to score the severity by Video recording in their natural environment.
42 per cent of the participants were classified as level V. More than 50 per cent of the participants exhibited highest limitation levels not only in gross motor function and manual ability but also in speech production. Individuals with dyskinetic CP exhibited mostly very severe limitations in gross motor function, manual ability, and speech production, and better abilities in eating, drinking, and communication. Dystonia severity showed significant correlation with the different functional scales across age groups in general but for CFCS in younger age. In the younger age, only MACS & EDACS showed correlation with severity in athetoid cerebral palsy.
Key learning outcomes
- Dyskinetic cerebral palsy accounts for about 10-15% of CP cases
- The functional profile of children & young persons with dyskinetic cerebral palsy is different from the dominant spastic CP as the pathology is different
- There is a significant difference in the profiles of younger and older children in Communication
- New addition of Viking speech scale to the already popular GMFCS, MACS, CFCS & EDACS
- Functional profiles help in prognostication, goal setting, and management planning apart from methodological distinguishing of characteristics
Authors
Elegast Monbaliu, PhD, PT has been senior pediatric physical therapist (PT) since 1999 at Dominiek Savio Institute, a rehabilitation centre for children with motor disabilities. He is also the lead author for Dyskinesia impairment Scale.
