What is the functional mobility and quality of life in patients with cerebral palsy following single-event multilevel surgery?
Edwards TA., Prescott RJ., Stebbins J., Wright J., Theologis T.
<jats:sec><jats:title>Purpose</jats:title><jats:p> To report functional mobility in patients with diplegic cerebral palsy (CP) at long-term follow-up after single-event multilevel surgery (SEMLS). The secondary aim was to assess the relationship between functional mobility and quality of life (QoL) in patients previously treated with SEMLS. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p> A total of 61 patients with diplegic CP, mean age at surgery 11 years, eight months (sd 2 years, 5 months), were included. A mean of eight years (sd 3 years, 10 months) after SEMLS, patients were contacted and asked to complete the Functional Mobility Scale (FMS) questionnaire over the telephone and given a weblink to complete an online version of the CP QOL Teen. FMS was recorded for all patients and CP QOL Teen for 23 patients (38%). </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p> Of patients graded Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) I and II preoperatively, at long-term follow-up the proportion walking independently at home, school/work and in the community was 71% (20/28), 57% (16/28) and 57% (16/28), respectively. Of patients graded GMFCS III preoperatively, at long-term follow-up 82% (27/33) and 76% (25/33) were walking either independently or with an assistive device at home and school/work, respectively, while over community distances 61% (20/33) required a wheelchair. The only significant association between QoL and functional mobility was better ‘feelings about function’ in patients with better home FMS scores (r = 0.55; 95% confidence interval 0.15 to 0.79; p = 0.01). </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p> The majority of children maintained their preoperative level of functional mobility at long-term follow-up after SEMLS. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Level of Evidence</jats:title><jats:p> IV </jats:p></jats:sec>