RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FUNCTION AND PRESENCE AND TYPE OF DEFORMITY IN PATIENTS WITH CEREBRAL PALSY

RELAÇÃO ENTRE A FUNÇÃO E A PRESENÇA E TIPO DE DEFORMIDADE NO PACIENTE COM PARALISIA CEREBRAL

RELACIÓN ENTRE LA FUNCIÓN Y LA PRESENCIA Y TIPO DE DEFORMIDAD EN PACIENTES CON PARÁLISIS CEREBRAL

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To evaluate the gross motor function (GMFCS) with respect to the prevalence and type of scoliosis in patients with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods:

This was an analytical, cross-sectional study. We evaluated medical records and imaging studies of 100 patients randomly assigned to a specialist rehabilitation center for the care of such patients. The patients were classified according the gross motor function (GMFCS) and those with deformities were classified as per the kind of scoliosis through the classification of Lonstein and Akbarnia). A correlation was made among the presence of deformity, the variables of the type of deformity and motor function by GMFCS.

Results:

Of the 100 patients evaluated, 69 had scoliosis. The mean age of patients with scoliosis was higher than that of patients without deformity (12.63 and 10.46 years). Thirty-nine (57%) patients had spastic tetraparesis and 32 (46%) spastic diparesis. The most frequent curve pattern was the thoracolumbar and the average angular value of the main curve was 27 degrees. There was a positive correlation between the presence of scoliosis and GMFCS level V. There was also a positive correlation between the Lonstein Group II and GMFCS V.

Conclusion:

There is a positive correlation between the presence of scoliosis and greater involvement of gross motor function (GMFCS V). In patients with deformities, there is also a positive correlation between the Group II of Lonstein and GMFCS V.

Keywords:
Spine; Cerebral palsy; Scoliosis; Epidemiology.

RESUMO

Objetivo:

Avaliar a função motora grossa (GMFCS) com relação à prevalência e ao tipo de escoliose no paciente com paralisia cerebral (PC).

Métodos:

Estudo transversal analítico. Foram avaliados prontuários e exames de imagem de 100 pacientes escolhidos aleatoriamente em centro de reabilitação especializado no cuidado desse tipo de paciente. Os pacientes foram classificados de acordo com a função motora (GMFCS) e os que tinham deformidade foram classificados de acordo com o tipo da escoliose, segundo a classificação de Lonstein e Akbarnia. Foi feita uma correlação entre a presença de deformidade, as diversas variáveis entre o tipo de deformidade e a função motora pelo GMFCS.

Resultados:

Dos 100 pacientes avaliados, 69 apresentavam escoliose. A média de idade entre os pacientes com escoliose foi superior à dos pacientes sem deformidade (12,63 e 10,46 anos). Trinta e nove (57%) pacientes apresentavam tetraparesia espástica e 32 (46%) diparesia espástica. O padrão de curva mais frequente foi o toracolombar e o valor angular médio da curva principal foi de 27 graus. Houve uma correlação positiva entre a presença de escoliose e GMFCS nível V. Também houve correlação positiva entre o Grupo II de Lonstein e GMFCS V.

Conclusão:

Existe uma correlação positiva entre a presença de escoliose e maior acometimento da função motora grossa (GMFCS V). Nos pacientes com deformidades, também existe uma correlação positiva entre o Grupo II de Lonstein e o GMFCS V.

Descritores:
Coluna vertebral; Paralisia cerebral; Escoliose; Epidemiologia.

RESUMEN

Objetivo:

Evaluar la función motora gruesa (GMFCS) con respecto a la prevalencia y tipo de escoliosis en pacientes con parálisis cerebral (PC).

Métodos:

Estudio transversal analítico. Se evaluaron los registros médicos y los estudios de imagen de 100 pacientes asignados al azar en un centro de rehabilitación especializado en el cuidado de estos pacientes. Los pacientes fueron clasificados de acuerdo con la función motora (GMFCS) y aquellos con deformidad se clasificaron según el tipo de escoliosis, de acuerdo con Lonstein y Akbarnia. Se hizo una correlación entre la presencia de deformidad, las variables del tipo de deformidad y la función motora por GMFCS.

Resultados:

De los 100 pacientes evaluados, 69 tenían escoliosis. La edad promedio de los pacientes con escoliosis fue mayor que la de los pacientes sin deformidad (12,63 y 10,46 años). Treinta y nueve (57%) pacientes tuvieron tetraparesia espástica y 32 (46%) diparesia espástica. El patrón de la curva más frecuente fue el toracolumbar y el promedio del valor angular de la curva principal era de 27 grados. Hubo una correlación positiva entre la presencia de escoliosis y el nivel V GMFCS. También hubo una correlación positiva entre las curvas del Grupo II de Lonstein y GMFCS V.

Conclusión:

Existe una correlación positiva entre la presencia de escoliosis y un mayor comprometimiento de la función motora gruesa (GMFCS V). En los pacientes con deformidades, también existe una correlación positiva entre el Grupo II de Lonstein y GMFCS V.

Descriptores:
Columna vertebral; Parálisis cerebral; Escoliosis; Epidemiología.

INTRODUCTION

The patient with cerebral palsy (CP) has a high risk of presenting scoliosis.¹ Its prevalence varies from 15 to 80%, depending on the definition of scoliosis used, the age, and the severity of the neurological involvement.^1,2The degree of neurological involvement is usually classified according to the type of lesion (spasticity, dyskinesia, and ataxia) and the location (hemiplegia, diplegia, or tetraplegia).^1,3

The main classification for motor function is accomplished using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) that divides patients into five levels according to locomotion capacity.⁴ However, most studies that consider the prevalence of vertebral deformity either predate the development of this classification system or do not take it into account.^5-7

The type of scoliosis found in patients with CP also varies according the presentation of the disease. The most used classification is that of Lonstein and Akbarnia, with Group I being more prevalent in ambulatory patients and Group II in nonambulatory patients.⁸ There is no study in the literature that considers both the type of deformity and the GMFCS motor function.

The objective of this study is to evaluate motor function in relation to the prevalence and the type of deformity according to the Lonstein classification.

METHOD

This is a cross-sectional analytical study. Following approval by the Institutional Review Board as number 52871115.1.0000.0023, the medical records and exams of 100 patients (Table 1) who were in outpatient follow-up in a rehabilitation center specializing in the care of this type of patient (CRER - Centro de Reabilitação e Readaptação Dr. Henrique Santillo - Goiânia - GO) were evaluated. The patients were chosen randomly from all the patients with a primary diagnosis of CP in the electronic medical records system.

Table 1
Demographic data, presence or absence of scoliosis, degree of neurological involvement, and function according to the GMFCS.

Patient	Sex	Age	Presence of scoliosis	Type of CP	GMFCS
1	Female	16.41	Negative	Diparetic spastic CP	2
2	Female	14.00	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	4
3	Male	16.19	Negative	Hemiparetic spastic CP	1
4	Female	5.21	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	5
5	Male	9.98	Negative	Hemiparetic spastic CP	2
6	Male	7.37	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	5
7	Female	6.49	Negative	Hemiparetic spastic CP	3
8	Male	10.74	Negative	Hemiparetic spastic CP	2
9	Male	12.97	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	4
10	Male	12.19	Positive	Hemiparetic spastic CP	4
11	Male	14.63	Negative	Hemiparetic spastic CP	5
12	Female	17.33	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	4
13	Female	7.66	Positive	Tetraparetic dyskinetic CP	5
14	Female	11.21	Negative	Diparetic spastic CP	2
15	Male	15.22	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	5
16	Male	7.70	Negative	Hemiparetic spastic CP	1
17	Male	8.83	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	5
18	Male	17.05	Negative	Diparetic spastic CP	2
19	Female	13.90	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	2
20	Female	8.04	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	2
21	Female	7.64	Positive	Hemiparetic spastic CP	5
22	Male	14.04	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	3
23	Male	8.46	Negative	Diparetic spastic CP	2
24	Male	8.04	Negative	Diparetic spastic CP	5
25	Female	9.65	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	5
26	Female	15.00	Positive	Dyskinetic CP	4
27	Male	13.25	Negative	Diparetic flaccid CP	2
28	Male	19.69	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	5
29	Female	10.24	Negative	Hemiparetic spastic CP	1
30	Male	8.37	Negative	Tetraparetic spastic CP	2
31	Male	13.37	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	5
32	Male	8.67	Negative	Tetraparetic spastic CP	5
33	Male	18.69	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	5
34	Male	8.61	Negative	Diparetic spastic CP	1
35	Male	8.55	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	5
36	Male	9.14	Negative	Tetraparetic dyskinetic CP	5
37	Male	17.69	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	5
38	Male	16.39	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	5
39	Female	8.66	Negative	Tetraparetic spastic CP	2
40	Female	7.88	Negative	Hemiparetic spastic CP	4
41	Female	14.97	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	1
42	Female	11.74	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	4
43	Male	6.11	Negative	Tetraparetic spastic CP	1
44	Male	7.82	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	2
45	Male	12.83	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	5
46	Male	16.50	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	3
47	Male	17.61	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	5
48	Male	23.87	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	2
49	Male	9.23	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	1
50	Male	12.50	Negative	Tetraparetic spastic CP	4
51	Male	12.25	Positive	Hemiparetic spastic CP	5
52	Male	19.39	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	5
53	Male	16.43	Negative	Diparetic spastic CP	2
54	Male	8.46	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	5
55	Female	7.55	Positive	Tetraparetic dyskinetic CP	5
56	Female	7.35	Positive	Dyskinetic CP	5
57	Male	14.06	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	5
58	Male	18.29	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	3
59	Male	16.27	Positive	Hemiparetic spastic CP	5
60	Male	14.25	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	2
61	Male	14.27	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	2
62	Male	16.65	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	4
63	Female	8.15	Positive	Hemiparetic spastic CP	4
64	Female	14.24	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	5
65	Female	7.96	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	4
66	Female	7.27	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	4
67	Male	7.26	Positive	Hemiparetic spastic CP	5
68	Male	7.23	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	5
69	Female	7.49	Negative	Tetraparetic spastic CP	5
70	Male	14.90	Positive	Tetraparetic dyskinetic CP	2
71	Female	9.62	Negative	Tetraparetic spastic CP	5
72	Female	16.06	Positive	Tetraparetic dyskinetic CP	2
73	Female	9.11	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	3
74	Female	12.61	Negative	Tetraparetic spastic CP	1
75	Female	11.87	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	2
76	Male	9.10	Positive	Hemiparetic spastic CP	4
77	Male	7.30	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	2
78	Male	4.64	Positive	Dyskinetic CP	1
79	Female	10.20	Negative	Diparetic spastic CP	4
80	Male	13.49	Positive	Dyskinetic CP	5
81	Male	10.80	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	5
82	Female	6.42	Negative	Diparetic flaccid CP	4
83	Male	19.11	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	5
84	Male	11.57	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	5
85	Female	9.80	Negative	Tetraparetic spastic CP	5
86	Male	8.31	Positive	Hemiparetic spastic CP	5
87	Male	19.14	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	5
88	Female	8.91	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	5
89	Female	7.12	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	3
90	Male	14.48	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	5
91	Female	36.29	Positive	Tetraparetic dyskinetic CP	5
92	Male	7.82	Positive	Tetraparetic dyskinetic CP	2
93	Female	9.63	Negative	Hemiparetic spastic CP	5
94	Female	8.21	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	5
95	Female	14.27	Positive	Diparetic spastic CP	1
96	Male	10.36	Negative	Tetraparetic spastic CP	1
97	Male	14.49	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	1
98	Male	11.37	Negative	Diparetic spastic CP	4
99	Male	13.57	Positive	Diparetic flaccid CP	5
100	Female	12.10	Positive	Tetraparetic spastic CP	2

All the patients were classified by level of locomotion and motor function using the GMFCS⁴ in consultations with the physiatrist and the neurologist. (Table 2)

Table 2
Classification of Gross Motor Function (GMFCS).

All the patients had full spine radiographs in anteroposterior and lateral views that were taken as scoliosis screening exams during routine evaluation by the physiatric team. The radiographs were taken with ambulatory patients standing and with nonambulatory patients sitting. The radiographic evaluation assessed the presence or absence of scoliosis (deformity in the coronal plane greater than 10 degrees by the Cobb method), the presence of pelvic obliquity (PO), the type of curve, and the presence or absence of trunk imbalance in the sagittal plane. The trunk was considered in balance when a plumb line from C7 fell on the upper plateau of S1, anteriorly decompensated when it fell in front, and posteriorly decompensated when it fell behind.⁹

The patients with scoliosis were also classified during the evaluation according to the Lonstein and Akbarnia classification system⁸ as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1
Lonstein and Akbarnia Classification. Group I is characterized by a compensated trunk (IA double curve and IB thoracic) and Group by a decompensated trunk with pelvic obliquity (IIA fractionated curve above the sacrum and IIB with the sacrum making up part of the principal curve).

A logistic regression test was performed to evaluate the correlation between the presence or absence of scoliosis and the different variables and the chi square test was used to assess the relationship between the Lonstein classification and the GMFCS level (SPSS for Windows, version 15.0). The significance level was set at 5% and values of p-value less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.

RESULTS

Table 1 displays the demographic data of the patients. Of the 100 patients evaluated, 61 were male and 39 were female. The average age was 11.96 (SD 4.68) years, ranging from 4 to 36. The prevalence of scoliosis was 69%. Of the 69 patients with deformity, 43 (62.3%) were male and their average age was 12.63 (SD 5.12), statistically higher than the group without deformity (p<0.05).

Regarding the degree of neurological involvement, 39 (57%) patients presented spastic tetraparesis, 32 (46%) presented spastic diparesis, 15 (22%) spastic hemiparesis, and 6 (9%) dyskinetic tetraparesis. (Table 1).

In terms of motor function, most of patients with scoliosis were classified as levels IV and V according to the GMFCS, with a statistically significant correlation with type V (p=0.04, OR 1.54). (Table 3)

Table 3
Relationship between gross motor function and the presence or absence of deformity.

Scoliosis	Negative		Positive		p	OR	CI 95%
	n	%	n	%			Min	Max
GMFCS
I	7	22.6	5	7.2
II	10	32.3	12	17.4
III	1	3.2	5	7.2
IV	5	16.1	11	15.9
V	8	25.8	36	52.2
Total	31	100.0	69	100.0	0.004	1.54	1.15	2.06

In the radiographic evaluation, the most frequent types of curves were thoracolumbar (24 out of 69 cases) and lumbar (18 out of 69 cases). (Figure 2) The average angle of the principal curve was 27 degrees, ranging from 10 to 77 degrees. PO was present in 75% (52 out of 69) of the patients with scoliosis, with an average angular value of 8.4 degrees (minimum of 3 and maximum of 21). In the sagittal plane, 30 (43%) patients presented anterior trunk imbalance, 18 (26.1%) presented posterior trunk imbalance, and 21 (30.4%) were in balance.

Figure 2
Example of a patient with diparetic spastic CP, with lumbar scoliosis (apex L3) on the right and PO with elevation of the left hemipelvis. This is an example of a type IIA curve since there is a fractionated lumbosacral curve with the pelvis not being part of the curve. This patient underwent surgical treatment with correction of the curve and arthrodesis from T4 to the ilium.

As for the type of deformity, 40 patients were in group 1A, 13 in group IB, two in group IIA, and 14 in group IIB. Table 4 shows that there was a statistical correlation between group II and GMFCS motor function level V. Fifteen of the 16 patients with group II deformities presented GMFCS IV or V. (Table 4)

Table 4
Correlation between the type of deformity and the GMFCS motor function.

Lonstein Classification	I A		I B		II A		II B		p
	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%
GMFCS
I	3	7.5	1	7.7	1	50.0	0	0.0
II	10	25.0	2	15.4	0	0.0	0	0.0
III	4	10.0	1	7.7	0	0.0	0	0.0
IV	9	22.5	0	0.0	0	0.0	2	14.3
V	14	35.0	9	69.2	1	50.0	12	85.7
Total	40	100.0	13	100.0	2	100.0	14	100.0	0.046

DISCUSSION

Scoliosis in cerebral palsy is a complex deformity and treating it is quite demanding for the spine surgeon.^10-12 Most studies correlate the presence of scoliosis with the degree of neurological involvement^2,5-7 and few correlate the deformity with any type of functional classification such as the GMFCS.¹ In addition, no study correlates the type of deformity to motor function.

Perrson-Bunke et al.¹ evaluated a population in southern Sweden and observed an incidence of scoliosis of 192 cases among 666 children with CP. This screening was performed based on a physical examination of the patients, which could justify the much lower incidence than that found in our population. Another factor is that our case series consists of patients who are undergoing outpatient follow-up in an institution specializing in the treatment of this type of pathology, while the study in question is based on a register of the population. Radiographs were performed in 76 of these patients, in which predominantly thoracolumbar curves were observed, most of them between 21 and 40 degrees, similar to those found in our population.

This same study¹ showed that there is a positive correlation between the level of involvement according to the GMFCS and the presence of deformity that is more significant than the type and topography of the CP involvement. In fact, the higher prevalence of scoliosis among the patients with spastic tetraparesis or dyskinesia is justified by the high prevalence of patients with GMFCS types IV and V in these CP subtypes. These findings are in agreement with those found in our case series. However, this study did not take the presence of PO or the type of deformity into account and we know that they are important factors in the reduction of function in patients with CP.¹³

Lonstein and Akbarnia⁸ described the curve patterns affecting patients with CP and mental retardation in 1983. In their original study, they observed a higher prevalence of group I deformities (balanced double curves) among patients with mental retardation and of group II deformities (imbalanced lumbar or thoracolumbar curves) among nonambulatory patients and those with PO. Our study was the first to correlate the type of curve with motor function and, just as with the presence or absence of deformity, there was a positive correlation between group II deformities and patients classified as GMFCS V.

Loeters et al.¹⁴ conducted a literature review on the risk factors for the progression of scoliosis in patients with CP. Based on 10 studies, they failed to demonstrate any specific risk factor with a high level of evidence. They only suggested a possible relationship to the severity of the pathology. They concluded their review, stating that it was very important to conduct new studies based on some functional scale, such as the GMFCS.

CONCLUSION

The CP patients at GMFCS IV and V had a higher risk of presenting scoliosis. In addition, these patients had a higher incidence of Lonstein group II deformities with PO.

REFERENCES

• ¹
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  Gupta MC, Wijesekera S, Sossan A, Martin L, Vogel LC, Boakes JL, et al. Reliability of radiographic parameters in neuromuscular scoliosis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2007;32(6):691-5.
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  Daher MT, Cavali PT, Santo MA, Rossato AJ, Lehoczki MA, Landim E. Correlação entre o número de parafusos e o percentual de correção no tratamento cirúrgico da escoliose neuromuscular. Coluna/Columna. 2009;8(2):105-9.
• ¹¹
  Daher MT, Cavali PT, Santo MA, Rossato AJ, Lehoczki MA, Landim E. Comparison between deformity correction of Luque-Galveston instrumentation and pedicle screw fixation in the surgical treatment. Coluna/Columna. 2009;8(2):110-6.
• ¹²
  França LCM, Falcon RS, Porto Filho MA, Oliveira MPC, Rugani MG, Costa Faria RG, et al. Tratamento cirúrgico da escoliose neuromuscular no paciente portador de paralisia cerebral com instrumentação tóraco-lombo- pélvica. Coluna/Columna. 2008;7(1):59-64
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  Moon ES, Nanda A, Park JO, Moon SH, Lee HM, Kim JY, et al. Pelvic obliquity in neuromuscular scoliosis: radiologic comparative results of single-stage posterior versus two-stage anterior and posterior approach. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2011;36(2):146-52.
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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Oct-Dec 2016

History

• Received
  16 Dec 2015
• Accepted
  03 June 2016