Article

Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most disabling syndromes in
children. To our knowledge, there has not yet been any reported evaluation by
ultrasonography of the effect of CP on distal femoral cartilage. The value of
understanding this effect on cartilage is that sonographic evaluation of
cartilage thickness may help physicians to predict the joint health of these
children. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether femoral cartilage thickness in patients
with CP is different from that in healthy control subjects. DESIGN:
Cross-sectional study. SETTING: National tertiary rehabilitation center.
PATIENTS: The study included 40 patients with diplegic CP (23 male and 17 female)
and 51 healthy control subjects (29 male and 22 female). METHODS: Demographic and
clinical characteristics were recorded. Cartilage thicknesses were measured. MAIN
OUTCOME MEASURE: Cartilage thickness measurements were taken from the medial and
lateral condyles, and intercondylar areas of both knees. RESULTS: Both groups
were similar in terms of age, gender, and weight (P > .05). The mean cartilage
thickness measurements of the medial condyle and intercondylar area of knees in
the CP group were significantly less than those in the healthy control group (all
P < .05). There was moderate negative correlation between age and all femoral
cartilage thickness measurements in the CP group. There was no correlation
between age and femoral cartilage thickness measurements in the healthy group.
There was a negative correlation between Gross Motor Functional Classification
System levels and cartilage thickness in the CP group. The highest cartilage
thickness measurements were detected in level 1 patients, and the lowest
measurements were detected in level 5 patients. CONCLUSION: This study showed
that patients with CP have a thinner femoral cartilage than healthy control
subjects. Management of patients with CP should include close surveillance. LEVEL
OF EVIDENCE: III.
CI - Copyright (c) 2018 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS