TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of knee contractures is high in children with cerebral palsy in Denmark
AU - Klenø, André Nis
AU - Stisen, Martin Bækgaard
AU - Cubel, Claes Høgh
AU - Mechlenburg, Inger
AU - Nordbye-Nielsen, Kirsten
PY - 2021/11/22
Y1 - 2021/11/22
N2 - INTRODUCTION: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological disease occurring in children at early gestation, often resulting in pronounced functional limitations. A Swedish cross-sectional study (Cloodt, et al., 2018) discovered that 22% of children with CP had a knee contracture, which was associated with higher levels of Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), higher age, and higher levels of spasticity measured by the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). The current study investigated these associations in a Danish population.METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study including 1,163 children with CP aged 0-15 years, registered in the Danish National Cerebral Palsy Registry between 2017 and 2019. Prevalence of knee contracture was estimated, and logistic regression analysis was applied with results presented as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).RESULTS: A total of 511 children with CP had knee contracture resulting in a prevalence of 44%. Age groups 4-6 years (OR: 1.73, CI: 1.19; 2.52), 7-9 years (OR: 1.85, CI: 1.29; 2.66) and 10-12 years (OR: 2.12, CI: 1.39; 3.24) were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of knee contractures compared to age group 0-3 years. Knee contractures were significantly more frequent at GMFCS levels IV (OR: 1.9, CI: 1.21; 2.97) and V (OR: 3.62, CI: 2.36; 5.55) compared to level I. Knee contractures were not associated with higher levels of MAS.CONCLUSIONS: Knee contractures are highly prevalent and significantly associated with high levels of GMFCS and increased age until 12 years, but not with high levels of spasticity in children with CP in Denmark.
AB - INTRODUCTION: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological disease occurring in children at early gestation, often resulting in pronounced functional limitations. A Swedish cross-sectional study (Cloodt, et al., 2018) discovered that 22% of children with CP had a knee contracture, which was associated with higher levels of Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), higher age, and higher levels of spasticity measured by the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). The current study investigated these associations in a Danish population.METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study including 1,163 children with CP aged 0-15 years, registered in the Danish National Cerebral Palsy Registry between 2017 and 2019. Prevalence of knee contracture was estimated, and logistic regression analysis was applied with results presented as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).RESULTS: A total of 511 children with CP had knee contracture resulting in a prevalence of 44%. Age groups 4-6 years (OR: 1.73, CI: 1.19; 2.52), 7-9 years (OR: 1.85, CI: 1.29; 2.66) and 10-12 years (OR: 2.12, CI: 1.39; 3.24) were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of knee contractures compared to age group 0-3 years. Knee contractures were significantly more frequent at GMFCS levels IV (OR: 1.9, CI: 1.21; 2.97) and V (OR: 3.62, CI: 2.36; 5.55) compared to level I. Knee contractures were not associated with higher levels of MAS.CONCLUSIONS: Knee contractures are highly prevalent and significantly associated with high levels of GMFCS and increased age until 12 years, but not with high levels of spasticity in children with CP in Denmark.
KW - Cerebral palsy
KW - children
KW - gross motor function
KW - knee contracture
KW - physiotherapy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85119865060&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09593985.2021.2007558
DO - 10.1080/09593985.2021.2007558
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 34809532
SN - 0959-3985
VL - 39
SP - 1
EP - 8
JO - Physiotherapy Theory and Practice
JF - Physiotherapy Theory and Practice
IS - 1
ER -