Quantitative measurement of improvement in sitting balance in children with spastic cerebral palsy after selective posterior rhizotomy

Tsui Fen Yang, Rai Chi Chan, Tai Tong Wong, Woei Nan Bair, Chih Chuan Kao, Tien Yow Chuang, Tao Chang Hsu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Severe muscular spasticity encountered frequently in patients with spastic cerebral palsy not only affects patient locomotor function but also causes musculoskeletal complications. Significant reduction of spasticity over pelvis and lower limbs after selective posterior rhizotomy (SPR) results in improvement of trunk stability, locomotor function, and function of upper limbs also. The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference of sitting balance before and after SPR using a quantitative measurement in sitting stability represented as dispersion index provided by the Chattecx Balance System. Seventeen children with spastic cerebral palsy, ten boys and seven girls, with a mean age of 5.06 yr, underwent SPR. Their sitting stability under static and dynamic, visual and nonvisual testing conditions was assessed before SPR and three mo after SPR. Their sitting balance showed significant improvement at postoperative evaluation except for the static- nonvisual testing condition. Dispersion index under the dynamic testing condition was significantly higher than under the static testing condition, which implies that dynamic sitting balance was worse than static sitting balance in these patients. There was no statistical difference of sitting performance between visual and nonvisual condition both preoperatively and postoperatively. Quantitative measurement of dispersion index provided by the Chattecx Balance System offers an objective evidence of improvement in sitting balance for children after SPR.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)348-352
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume75
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 1996
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Dispersion Index
  • Selective Posterior Rhizotomy
  • Sitting Balance
  • Spastic Cerebral Palsy
  • Spasticity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
  • Rehabilitation

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