Neuroimaging Patterns and Function in Cerebral Palsy-Application of an MRI Classification

Patients with complex and very-early-onset ATL1-related spastic paraplegia offer insights on genotype/phenotype correlations and support for autosomal recessive forms of SPG3A

Spastic paraplegia type 3A (SPG3A) is the second most common form of hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). This autosomal-dominant-inherited motor disorder is caused by heterozygous variants in the ATL1 gene which usually presents as a pure childhood-onset spastic paraplegia. Affected individuals present muscle weakness and spasticity in the lower limbs, with symptom onset in the first decade of life. Individuals with SPG3A typically present a slow progression and remain ambulatory throughout their life. Here we report three unrelated individuals presenting with very-early-onset (before 7 months) complex, and severe HSP phenotypes (axial hypotonia, spastic quadriplegia, dystonia, seizures and intellectual disability). For 2 of the 3 patients, these phenotypes led to the initial diagnosis of cerebral palsy (CP). These individuals carried novel ATL1 pathogenic variants (a de novo ATL1 missense p.(Lys406Glu), a homozygous frameshift p.(Arg403Glufs*3) and a homozygous missense variant (p.Tyr367His)). The parents carrying the heterozygous frameshift and missense variants were asymptomatic. Through these observations, we increase the knowledge on genotype-phenotype correlations in SPG3A and offer additional proof for possible autosomal recessive forms of SPG3A, while raising awareness on these exceptional phenotypes. Their ability to mimic CP also implies that genetic testing should be considered for patients with atypical forms of CP, given the implications for genetic counseling.

Genetic pathways in cerebral palsy: a review of the implications for precision diagnosis and understanding disease mechanisms

ABSTRACT

Cerebral palsy is a diagnostic term utilized to describe a group of permanent disorders affecting movement and posture. Patients with cerebral palsy are often only capable of limited activity, resulting from non-progressive disturbances in the fetal or neonatal brain. These disturbances severely impact the child's daily life and impose a substantial economic burden on the family. Although cerebral palsy encompasses various brain injuries leading to similar clinical outcomes, the understanding of its etiological pathways remains incomplete owing to its complexity and heterogeneity. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the genetic factors influencing cerebral palsy development. It is now widely acknowledged that genetic mutations and alterations play a pivotal role in cerebral palsy development, which can be further influenced by environmental factors. Despite continuous research endeavors, the underlying factors contributing to cerebral palsy remain are still elusive. However, significant progress has been made in genetic research that has markedly enhanced our comprehension of the genetic factors underlying cerebral palsy development. Moreover, these genetic factors have been categorized based on the identified gene mutations in patients through clinical genotyping, including thrombosis, angiogenesis, mitochondrial and oxidative phosphorylation function, neuronal migration, and cellular autophagy. Furthermore, exploring targeted genotypes holds potential for precision treatment. In conclusion, advancements in genetic research have substantially improved our understanding of the genetic causes underlying cerebral palsy. These breakthroughs have the potential to pave the way for new treatments and therapies, consequently shaping the future of cerebral palsy research and its clinical management. The investigation of cerebral palsy genetics holds the potential to significantly advance treatments and management strategies. By elucidating the underlying cellular mechanisms, we can develop targeted interventions to optimize outcomes. A continued collaboration between researchers and clinicians is imperative to comprehensively unravel the intricate genetic etiology of cerebral palsy.

Current approach to cerebral palsy

This teaching review aims to provide an overview of the current approach to children with cerebral palsy (CP), retrieving the best available evidence and summarizing existing knowledge in the field of CP in children. We also highlight areas where more research is needed and novel strategies for diagnosing and treating cerebral palsy. CP includes a group of permanent disorders of movement and posture that cause activity limitation. Multiple risk factors, occurring preconceptionally, prenatally, perinatally, or postneonatally, are involved in the pathogenesis of CP, with the prenatal ones accounting for 80-90 % of cases. Due to its heterogeneity, CP has various classifications, but usually is classified based on clinical findings and motor impairment. Standardized function classification systems have been developed to address inconsistencies in previous classifications. The combination of clinical assessment and validated predictive tools is recommended for an early diagnosis, which is important for early intervention and prevention of secondary impairments. The therapeutic regimen in CP involves prevention and management of the motor and associated problems. It includes the enhancement of motor performance, the enrichment of cognition and communication skills, the prevention of secondary impairments, and the support of parents and caregivers. The care of CP children demands a multidisciplinary approach focused on improving motor skills, reducing comorbidities, enhancing the quality of life, and prolonging survival.

Neonatal well-being and timing of brain injury in persons with cerebral palsy born at term or late preterm

AIM

To describe the distribution of neuroimaging patterns in a term/late preterm population-based cohort with cerebral palsy (CP), ascertain associations between neuroimaging patterns and neonatal well-being, estimate the proportion with antenatal or perinatal timing of neuropathology, and apply this information to the understanding of common mechanisms of brain injury and causal pathways.

METHOD

The cohort for this observational study comprised 1348 persons born between 1999 and 2017 in Victoria, Australia. Using algorithms designed for the study, neonatal well-being and timing of brain injury were tabulated for the whole cohort and across neuroimaging patterns and birth epochs.

RESULTS

Clinical and demographic profiles, neonatal well-being, and timing of brain injury differed across neuroimaging patterns. An estimated 57% of the cohort had a complicated neonatal period. Timing of brain injury was antenatal in 57% and perinatal in 41%. A decrease in the relative proportions of perinatal timing of brain injury was observed over a period when the rates of CP in live births at term decreased.

INTERPRETATION

This study begins to bridge the knowledge gap about causation in CP, moving towards better description of the main mechanisms of brain injury and their contribution within CP cohorts, and facilitating the ability to monitor changes over time and the success of preventive measures.

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS

In a population-based, term/late preterm cohort with cerebral palsy, 57% had a complicated neonatal period. In the same cohort, 57% had presumed antenatal timing of brain injury. The relative proportion with perinatal injury decreased over time.

Clinical characteristics and rehabilitation potential in children with cerebral palsy based on MRI classification system

Background

The correlation of clinical characteristics of cerebral palsy (CP) and the magnetic resonance imaging classification system (MRICS) for (CP) is inconsistent. Specifically, the variance in rehabilitation potential across MRICS remains underexplored.

Aims

To investigate the clinical characteristics and potential for rehabilitation in children with CP based on MRICS.

Materials and methods

Children with CP admitted to the Department of Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between 2017 and 2021 were included in the study. Qualified cases underwent a follow-up period of at least one year. The clinical characteristics of CP among different MRICS were analyzed, then the rehabilitation potential was explored by a retrospective cohort study.

Results

Among the 384 initially enrolled children, the male-to-female ratio was 2.3:1, and the median age of diagnosis was 6.5 months (interquartile range: 4-12). The most prevalent MRICS categorization was predominant white matter injury (40.6%), followed by miscellaneous (29.2%) and predominant gray matter injury (15.6%). For the predominant white matter injury and miscellaneous categories, spastic diplegia emerged as the leading subtype of CP, with incidences of 59.6% and 36.6%, respectively, while mixed CP (36.7%) was the most common type in children with predominant gray matter. Notably, 76.4% of children with predominant white matter injury were classified as levels I-III on the gross motor function classification system (GMFCS), indicating significantly less severity than other groups (χ2 = 12.438, p = 0.013). No significant difference across MRICS categories was observed for the manual ability classification system (MACS) (H = 8.176, p = 0.085). Rehabilitation potential regarding fine motor function and adaptability based on Gesell assessment was dependent on MRICS over the follow-up period. Children with normal MRI scans exhibited superior rehabilitation outcomes. Commencing rehabilitation at an earlier stage produced consistent and beneficial results in terms of fine motor function and adaptability across all MRICS categories. Moreover, participants below 2 years of age demonstrated enhanced rehabilitation potential regarding fine motor outcomes and adaptability within the MRICS framework.

Conclusion

MRICS displayed a significant association with clinical characteristics and rehabilitation efficacy in children with CP.

Cerebral Palsy Heterogeneity: Clinical Characteristics and Diagnostic Significance from a Large-Sample Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a nonprogressive movement disorder resulting from a prenatal or perinatal brain injury that benefits from early diagnosis and intervention. The timing of early CP diagnosis remains controversial, necessitating analysis of clinical features in a substantial cohort.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed medical records from a university hospital, focusing on children aged ≥24 months or followed up for ≥24 months and adhering to the International Classification of Diseases-10 for diagnosis and subtyping.

RESULTS

Among the 2012 confirmed CP cases, 68.84% were male and 51.44% had spastic diplegia. Based on the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), 62.38% were in levels I and II and 19.88% were in levels IV and V. Hemiplegic and diplegic subtypes predominantly fell into levels I and II, while quadriplegic and mixed types were mainly levels IV and V. White matter injuries appeared in 46.58% of cranial MRI findings, while maldevelopment was rare (7.05%). Intellectual disability co-occurred in 43.44% of the CP cases, with hemiplegia having the lowest co-occurrence (20.28%, 58/286) and mixed types having the highest co-occurrence (73.85%, 48/65). Additionally, 51.67% (697/1,349) of the children with CP aged ≥48 months had comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

This study underscores white matter injury as the primary CP pathology and identifies intellectual disability as a common comorbidity. Although CP can be identified in infants under 1 year old, precision in diagnosis improves with development. These insights inform early detection and tailored interventions, emphasizing their crucial role in CP management.

Association of epilepsy with neuroimaging patterns in children with cerebral palsy

OBJECTIVES

In this study, we examined whether epilepsy and drug-resistant epilepsy are associated with neuroimaging findings in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

METHODS

Magnetic resonance imaging classification system (MRICS) proposed by Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe (SCPE) was used for classification of different MRI patterns in patients with cerebral palsy. We reviewed the brain MRI scans and medical records of children with CP who were followed-up in our clinic between 2019 and 2023. Patients were divided into three categories: CP without epilepsy, CP with controlled epilepsy and CP with DRE. MRI patterns were grouped as maldevelopments, predominant white matter injury, predominant gray matter injury, miscellaneous (delayed myelination, cerebral atrophy, cerebellar atrophy, brainstem lesions and calcifications, lesions that were not classified under any other group) and normal according to MRICS of the SCPE.

RESULTS

There were 325 CP patients. The most common MRI patterns were predominant white matter injury (47.6%) and gray matter injury (23.8%). There was a 1.5-fold reduction in the risk of epilepsy in patients with predominant white matter injury (OR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.23-1.94). In contrast, children in the miscellaneous group had significantly higher risks of epilepsy (p < 0.001), and we were able to determine that miscellaneous findings increased the risk by 1.8 times (OR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.47-2.12).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, more than half of the children with CP had epilepsy, 40.7% of whom had DRE. On MRI, miscellaneous findings may indicate a poor prognosis for epilepsy, while predominant white matter injury may indicate a good outcome. Children with CP, especially those with miscellaneous findings on MRI, should be closely monitored for epilepsy development.

Longitudinal assessment of brain lesions in children with cerebral palsy and association with motor functioning

BACKGROUND

The semi-quantitative scale of structural brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (sqMRI) is a valid and reliable measure of brain lesion extent in children with cerebral palsy (CP) >3-years. This system scores lesion burden for each major brain region. The sum of the scores gives a global score ranging from 0 to 48.

PURPOSE

To investigate how sqMRI scores changed from infancy to school-age, and whether these were associated with lesion load, age at first assessment, and gross motor function and its changes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-eight children with CP underwent MRI and motor (Gross Motor Function Measure-66; GMFM-66) assessments when <40-months and again when 8-12-years. We investigated whether (i) toddler/preschool-age sqMRI scores (Time 1) reflected school-age sqMRI scores (Time 2); (ii) temporal changes in sqMRI scores (Time 1-Time 2 difference) were related to the child's age at Time 1 and lesion extent; (iii) early or later sqMRI scores were associated with motor functioning; (iv) sqMRI scores' longitudinal changes were associated with motor changes.

RESULTS

Except for the corticosubcortical (grey-matter only) layers, sqMRI scores were significantly higher ('higher lesion load') at Time 1 than at Time 2. Age at Time 1 was not associated with temporal changes in global sqMRI scores. Higher lesion load at Time 2, but not at Time 1, was associated with smaller temporal changes in the global sqMRI score. The sqMRI scores were associated with concurrent, but not future or past motor GMFM-66 scores. Longitudinal changes in sqMRI scores were not associated with longitudinal changes in motor GMFM-66 scores.

CONCLUSION

sqMRI scores of brain lesion extent at school-age are lower and a better indication of later-life motor functioning than very early life sqMRI scores. It may be best to interpret MRI white matter lesions with caution in very early life due to possible changes in lesion appearance and the unpredictable role of functional plasticity.

The relation between neuroimaging and visual impairment in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

The structure-function relation between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and visual impairment (VI) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) has not been fully unravelled. The present systematic review aims to summarize the relation between brain lesions on MRI and VI in children and adolescents with CP.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, and Cochrane Database were systematically searched according to the PRISMA checklist. A total of 45 articles met the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

White matter lesions were most frequently associated with VI. Only 25 studies described lesions within specific structures, mainly in the optic radiations. Only four studies reported on the thalamus. 8.4% of children with CP showed no brain abnormalities on MRI. Diffusion-weighted MRI studies showed that decreased structural connectivity in the optic radiations, superior longitudinal fasciculus, posterior limb of the internal capsule, and occipital lobe is associated with more severe VI.

CONCLUSIONS

All types of brain lesions lead to visual dysfunctions, arguing for a comprehensive visual assessment in all children with CP. Whereas white matter damage is a well-known contributor, the exact contribution of specific visual structures requires further investigation, to enable early prediction, detection, and intervention.

A second dimension of somatosensory system injury? Thalamic volume loss and neuropathic pain in adults with cerebral palsy and periventricular white matter injury

Objectives

Lemniscal (motor-related) and spinothalamic (neuropathic pain-related) somatosensory abnormalities affect different subsets of adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Lemniscal/motor abnormalities are associated with posterior thalamic radiation white matter disruption in individuals with CP and white matter injury. We tested the hypothesis that neuropathic pain symptoms in this population are rather associated with injury of the somatosensory (posterior group nuclei) thalamus.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, communicative adults with CP and bilateral white matter injury and neurotypical control participants volunteered to self-report pain symptoms and undergo research MRI. Posterior group thalamic nuclei volume was computed and correlated against neuropathic pain scores.

Results

Participants with CP (n=6) had, on average, 24% smaller posterior group thalamic volumes (95% CI [10-39%]; corrected p=0.01) than control participants. More severe volume loss was correlated with more severe neuropathic pain scores (ρ=-0.87 [-0.99,-0.20]; p=0.02).

Discussion

Association with thalamic volume loss suggests that neuropathic pain in adults with CP may frequently be central neuropathic pain. Complementing assessments of white matter microstructure, regional brain volumes hold promise as diagnostic biomarkers for central neuropathic pain in individuals with structural brain disorders.

Cerebral Palsy - Early Diagnosis and Intervention Trial: protocol for the prospective multicentre CP-EDIT study with focus on diagnosis, prognostic factors, and intervention

BACKGROUND

Early diagnosis of cerebral palsy (CP) is important to enable intervention at a time when neuroplasticity is at its highest. Current mean age at diagnosis is 13 months in Denmark. Recent research has documented that an early-diagnosis set-up can lower diagnostic age in high-risk infants. The aim of the current study is to lower diagnostic age of CP regardless of neonatal risk factors. Additionally, we want to investigate if an early intervention program added to standard care is superior to standard care alone.

METHODS

The current multicentre study CP-EDIT (Early Diagnosis and Intervention Trial) with the GO-PLAY intervention included (Goal Oriented ParentaL supported home ActivitY program), aims at testing the feasibility of an early diagnosis set-up and the GO-PLAY early intervention. CP-EDIT is a prospective cohort study, consecutively assessing approximately 500 infants at risk of CP. We will systematically collect data at inclusion (age 3-11 months) and follow a subset of participants (n = 300) with CP or at high risk of CP until the age of two years. The GO-PLAY early intervention will be tested in 80 infants with CP or high risk of CP. Focus is on eight areas related to implementation and perspectives of the families: early cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), early genetic testing, implementation of the General Movements Assessment method, analysis of the GO-PLAY early intervention, parental perspective of early intervention and early diagnosis, early prediction of CP, and comparative analysis of the Hand Assessment for Infants, Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination, MRI, and the General Movements method.

DISCUSSION

Early screening for CP is increasingly possible and an interim diagnosis of "high risk of CP" is recommended but not currently used in clinical care in Denmark. Additionally, there is a need to accelerate identification in mild or ambiguous cases to facilitate appropriate therapy early. Most studies on early diagnosis focus on identifying CP in infants below five months corrected age. Little is known about early diagnosis in the 50% of all CP cases that are discernible later in infancy. The current study aims at improving care of patients with CP even before they have an established diagnosis.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov ID 22013292 (reg. date 31/MAR/2023) for the CP-EDIT cohort and ID 22041835 (reg. date 31/MAR/2023) for the GO-PLAY trial.

Asymmetric involvement of hands: Psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Bimanual Fine Motor Function 2.0 classification in children with cerebral palsy

BACKGROUND

Manual functions affect more than a half of children with Cerebral palsy (CP). Asymmetric involvement of hands may also affect unilateral and bilateral activities of daily life. The Bimanual Fine Motor Function version 2.0 (BFMF-2.0) is a unique functional classification that categorizes the capacity of each hand (what the child can do) during bimanual functions.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the BFMF-2.0 in children with CP.

STUDY DESIGN

Clinical measurement and cross-sectional study.

METHODS

The study included 91 children with CP (56 girls, mean age; 7.41 ± 4.23 years [4-18 years]) and their parents. The Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST), and the Box and Block Test (BBT) were used for construct and concurrent validity. Experienced/inexperienced therapists and parents classified fine motor capacities of the children via live or video-based observation to assess inter-rater reliability. Three weeks later, the children were reclassified for intra-rater reliability.

RESULTS

The Turkish version of the BFMF-2.0 classification was strongly correlated with the MACS (rho = -0.88, p < 0.001), the QUEST (rho = 0.80, p < 0.001), and the BBT (rho = -0.77, p < 0.001). The inter-rater reliability scores were weak to excellent between the parents and the therapists (via live observation, κw = 0.57) and also between experienced/inexperienced therapists (via live or video-based observation, κw = 0.66-0.79). Intra-rater reliability scores were good to excellent (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient [ICC] = 0.87-0.95).

CONCLUSIONS

The Turkish version of the BFMF-2.0 classification is valid and reliable and could be applied by experienced and inexperienced therapists via live or video-based observation and by parents via live observation.

Effectiveness of Sensory Integration Therapy on Functional Mobility in Children With Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy

Background  A set of non-progressive brain abnormalities and nervous system dysfunctions are referred to as cerebral palsy (CP). Due to this, the child's mobility, eyesight, learning, and thought processes are affected. It can evolve before, through birth, or the first year of a child's life. The activity through which the brain organizes and analyses external sensations like touch, motion, body awareness, vision, hearing, and gravity is indicated as sensory integration. The use of sensory integration therapy (SIT) necessitates that the sensorimotor exercises target the specific parts of difficulties that the child experiences daily. This study aims to study the effectiveness of SIT on functional mobility in children with spastic diplegic CP. Methods In this study, 40 children of CP with spastic diplegic who met the inclusion and exclusion criterion were enlisted and were separated into two groups, with Group A (n=20) receiving SIT for 25 minutes along with conventional physiotherapy for 20 minutes, and Group B (n=20) were given conventional physiotherapy for 45 minutes. A four-week therapy plan was followed. Short sensory profile (SSP) and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Pediatric mini-mental state examination (MMSE), and Modified Ashworth Scale were taken as outcome measures. Results SIT along with traditional treatment is described in the study protocol which aids CP children to improve themselves. Following a four-week protocol, combined therapy of SIT and conventional physiotherapy show an effect on the motor function of the children. After therapy, scores in GMFCS and SSP improved. By using Student's paired t-test, a statistically significant difference was found in GMFCS score at pre and post-test treatment in group A (7.28, p=0.0001) and group B (4.48, p=0.0001), in SSP score at pre and post-test treatment in group A (27.91, p=0.0001) and group B (11.31, p=0.0001), in MMSE score at pre- and post-test treatment in group A (6.89, p=0.0001) and group B (6.32, p=0.0001). The significance threshold was p<0.0001. Conclusion Under the study's experimental conditions, both groups showed substantial improvements in the functional mobility of children. When the efficacy of SIT along with conventional physiotherapy was examined, the impact resulted in a significantly greater improvement in the functional mobility of spastic diplegic CP children.

Children With Bilateral Cerebral Palsy Exhibit Bimanual Asymmetric Motor Deficits and EEG Evidence of Dominant Sensorimotor Hemisphere Overreliance During Reaching

BACKGROUND

Reaching is a fundamental motor skill often impaired in cerebral palsy (CP). Studies on manual function, intervention, and underlying brain mechanisms largely focus on unilateral CP. This first electroencephalography (EEG) evaluation of reaching exclusively in bilateral CP aims to quantify and relate brain activation patterns to bimanual deficits in this population.

METHODS

A total of 15 children with bilateral CP (13.4 ± 2.9 years) and 13 with typical development (TD: 14.3 ± 2.4 years) performed 45 reaches per hand while recording motion capture and EEG data. The Box and Blocks test was administered bilaterally. Cortical sources were identified using independent component analysis and clustered using k-means. Alpha (8-12 Hz) and beta (13-30 Hz) band event-related desynchronization (ERD) values were compared across groups and hands within clusters, between dominant and non-dominant sensorimotor clusters, and related to reach kinematics and the Box and Block test.

RESULTS

The group with CP demonstrated bimanual motor deficits with slower reaches, lower Box and Blocks scores, and stronger hand preference than in TD. Beta ERD, representing motor execution, was notably higher in the dominant sensorimotor cluster in CP compared to TD. Both groups demonstrated more contralateral than ipsilateral activity in both hands and clusters, with CP showing a less lateralized (more bilateral) alpha response. Higher brain activation was generally related to better function.

CONCLUSION

Bimanual deficits in bilateral CP and related EEG differences warrant more clinical and research attention particularly earlier in life when greater potential for neural and functional recovery exists.

Responses to Sensory Events in Daily Life in Children with Cerebral Palsy from a Parent Reported Perspective and in a Swedish Context

The motor disorders of cerebral palsy (CP) are often accompanied by sensory disturbances, but knowledge of their relationship to motor functioning is sparse. This study explored responses to sensory events in relation to spastic subtype and motor functioning in children with CP. Parents of 60 children with CP (unilateral: 18, bilateral: 42) with GMFCS levels I:29, II:13, III:15 and IV:3 of mean age 12.3 years (3.7 SD) participated. The parents (n = 55) rated their children´s responses with the norm-referenced questionnaire Child Sensory Profile-2© (CSP-2©), Swedish version, incorporating nine sections and four sensory processing patterns/quadrants, and replied (n = 57) to two additional questions. On the CSP-2©, thirty (55%) of the children were reported to have responses "much more than others" (>2 SD) in one or more of the sections and/or quadrants and 22 (40%) in the section of Body Position, overrepresented by the children with bilateral CP. The additional questions revealed that a greater proportion of children at GMFCS levels III-IV compared to level I frequently were requested to sit/stand up straight (14/17 versus 6/26, p < 0.001) and were sound sensitive at a younger age (14/17 versus 10/26, p = 0.005). The findings of this study highlight the sensory aspects of motor functioning in children with spastic CP.

Impact of Cerebellar Injury on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Preterm Infants With Cerebral Palsy

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to analyze brain imaging findings and neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

DESIGN

Brain magnetic resonance imaging of preterm infants born between 23 and 32 wks' gestation and diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 2 yrs of corrected age were evaluated. Brain lesions were categorized as periventricular leukomalacia, intraventricular hemorrhage, and cerebellar hemorrhage and graded by the severity. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition, at 18-24 mos corrected age, and the Korean Ages and Stages Questionnaire at 18 and 24 mos of corrected age.

RESULTS

Cerebral palsy was found in 38 children (6.1%) among 618 survivors. Cerebellar injury of high-grade cerebellar hemorrhage and/or atrophy accounted for 25%. Among patients with supratentorial lesions, those having cerebellar injury showed significantly lower scores on each Korean Ages and Stages Questionnaire domain except gross motor than patients without cerebellar injury. They also revealed a high proportion of patients below the cutoff value of Korean Ages and Stages Questionnaire in language, fine motor, and problem-solving domains ( P < 0.05) and lower Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition, language composite scores ( P = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONS

Poor neurodevelopmental outcomes other than motor function were associated with cerebellar injury. Evaluation of the cerebellum may help predict functional outcomes of patients with cerebral palsy.

Towards functional improvement of motor disorders associated with cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition arising from non-progressive disorders occurring in the fetal or infant brain. Cerebral palsy has long been categorised into discrete motor types based on the predominance of spasticity, dyskinesia, or ataxia. However, these motor disorders, muscle weakness, hypotonia, and impaired selective movements should also be discriminated across the range of presentations and along the lifespan. Although cerebral palsy is permanent, function changes across the lifespan, indicating the importance of interventions to improve outcomes in motor disorders associated with the condition. Mounting evidence exists for the inclusion of several interventions, including active surveillance, adapted physical activity, and nutrition, to prevent secondary and tertiary complications. Avenues for future research include the development of evidence-based recommendations, low-cost and high-quality alternatives to existing therapies to ensure universal access, standardised cerebral palsy registers to harmonise epidemiological and clinical information, improved adult screening and check-up programmes to facilitate positive lived experiences, and phase 3 trials for new interventions.

andomised to early neuroprotection and neurorehabilitation: protocol for a follow-up study of participants from four randomised clinical trials

INTRODUCTION

School readiness includes cognitive, socio-emotional, language and physical growth and development domains which share strong associations with life-course opportunities. Children with cerebral palsy (CP) are at increased risk of poor school readiness compared with their typically developing peers. Recently, earlier diagnosis of CP has allowed interventions to commence sooner, harnessing neuroplasticity. First, we hypothesise that early referral to intervention for children at-risk of CP will lead to improved school readiness at 4-6 years relative to placebo or care as usual. Second, we hypothesise that receipt of early diagnosis and early intervention will lead to cost-savings in the form of reduced healthcare utilisation.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Infants identified as at-risk of CP ≤6 months corrected age (n=425) recruited to four randomised trials of neuroprotectants (n=1), early neurorehabilitation (n=2) or early parenting support (n=1) will be re-recruited to one overarching follow-up study at age 4-6 years 3 months. A comprehensive battery of standardised assessments and questionnaires will be administered to assess all domains of school readiness and associated risk factors. Participants will be compared with a historical control group of children (n=245) who were diagnosed with CP in their second year of life. Mixed-effects regression models will be used to compare school readiness outcomes between those referred for early intervention versus placebo/care-as-usual. We will also compare health-resource use associated with early diagnosis and intervention versus later diagnosis and intervention.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, The University of Queensland, University of Sydney, Monash University and Curtin University Human Research Ethics Committees have approved this study. Informed consent will be sought from the parent or legal guardian of every child invited to participate. Results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences and professional organisations, and to people with lived experience of CP and their families.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ACTRN12621001253897.

The Effect of Bimanual Intensive Functional Training on Somatosensory Hand Function in Children with Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy: An Observational Study

(1) Background: Next to motor impairments, children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP) often experience sensory impairments. Intensive bimanual training is well known for improving motor abilities, though its effect on sensory impairments is less known. (2) Objective: To investigate whether bimanual intensive functional therapy without using enriched sensory materials improves somatosensory hand function. (3) Methods: A total of twenty-four participants with CP (12-17 years of age) received 80-90 h of intensive functional training aimed at improving bimanual performance in daily life. Somatosensory hand function was measured before training, directly after training, and at six months follow-up. Outcome measures were: proprioception, measured by thumb and wrist position tasks and thumb localization tasks; vibration sensation; tactile perception; and stereognosis. (4) Results: Next to improving on their individual treatment goals, after training, participants also showed significant improvements in the perception of thumb and wrist position, vibration sensation, tactile perception, and stereognosis of the more affected hand. Improvements were retained at six months follow-up. Conversely, proprioception measured by the thumb localization tasks did not improve after training. (5) Conclusions: Intensive functional bimanual training without environmental tactile enrichment may improve the somatosensory function of the more affected hand in children with unilateral spastic CP.

Assessment of spinal alignment in children with unilateral cerebral palsy

BACKGROUND

Children/youths with unilateral cerebral palsy are at high risk for the development of scoliosis and other postural deformities. The purpose of this study was to perform spinal assessment in the frontal and sagittal plane using Spinal Mouse® in children/youths with unilateral cerebral palsy and to compare their spinal shape and angles with typically developing children/youths.

METHODS

25 children/youths with unilateral cerebral palsy and 25 typical children/youths, aged 6-18 years, were included. The subject's frontal (scoliosis) and sagittal plane (kyphosis and lordosis) spinal curvatures were compared by assessing them with Spinal Mouse®.

FINDINGS

Scoliosis was detected in 40% of subjects in the unilateral cerebral palsy group and this rate was considerably higher than that in typical subjects (12%). The median angle of scoliosis was 8° in subjects with unilateral cerebral palsy and 5.3° in typical subjects. While the median angle of scoliosis was higher in subjects with unilateral cerebral palsy than typical subjects (p < 0.001), there was no significant difference in the angles of lordosis and kyphosis between both groups (p > 0.05). Curvature patterns of subjects with unilateral cerebral palsy differed from typical subjects.

INTERPRETATION

Our findings will allow children/youths with unilateral cerebral palsy, who are at risk of developing spinal deformity, to be identified earliest possible and included in the intervention. Children/youths with unilateral cerebral palsy have to be assessed in detail from the earliest period, especially when the possibility of an age-related increase in scoliosis is considered.

Cognitive, academic, executive and psychological functioning in children with spastic motor type cerebral palsy: Influence of extent, location, and laterality of brain lesions

PURPOSE

To investigate, in spastic motor-type cerebral palsy, the association between 1) the location and extent of brain lesions and numerous psychological outcomes; 2) the laterality of brain lesions and performance of verbal-related cognitive functions.

METHODS

The semi-quantitative scale for MRI (sqMRI) was scored for 101 children with cerebral palsy. Non-verbal and verbal proxy intelligence quotients (IQ), word reading, spelling, numerical operations skills, executive functioning, and psychological adjustment were assessed. Relationships between global and regional sqMRI scores and clinical scores were examined. The best multivariable linear regression model for each outcome was identified using the Bayesian Information Criteria. Regional sqMRI scores, gross motor functioning, manual ability, and epilepsy status were considered for inclusion as covariables. Where sqMRI scores made statistically significant contributions to models of verbal-related functioning, data were reanalysed including these sqMRI scores' laterality index. Verbal-related outcomes were compared between participants with left-sided versus bilateral brain lesions.

RESULTS

Medial dorsal thalamus and parietal lobe lesions significantly accounted for poorer verbal proxy-IQ. Left-hemisphere lateralization of temporal lobe lesions was associated with poorer verbal proxy-IQ. Participants with bilateral lesions performed significantly better than those with unilateral left-sided lesions in verbal cognitive functions. Controlling for epilepsy diagnosis, participants with ventral posterior lateral thalamus lesions presented with better Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function scores, although within the normal range. sqMRI scores were not significantly associated with some psychological outcomes or these only bordered on significance after accounting for relevant control variables.

CONCLUSION

The laterality of early-life lesions influences the development of verbal-related cognitive functions.

Long-term outcomes of very-low-birth-weight and low-birth-weight preterm newborns with neonatal seizures: A single-center perspective

OBJECTIVE

Newborn seizures are frequent in preterm newborns and indicate brain lesions in many cases. The objective of this observational study was to investigate the long-term outcome of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) and low-birth-weight (LBW) preterm infants with neonatal seizures.

METHODS

We examined 54 preterm infants (40 VLBW and 14 LBW cases) born between 2008 and 2011 with clinical seizures during the neonatal period confirmed by interictal or ictal electroencephalography recordings in a retrospective single-center study. Neurodevelopmental follow-up included an expert neurological examination and cognitive testing (Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children) at a mean age of six years.

RESULTS

The (mean ± standard deviation) gestational ages of the VLBW and LBW infants were 27.2 ± 1.9 weeks and 33.4 ± 1.7 weeks, respectively, and the postnatal age at seizure onset was 13 ± 11 days in VLBW infants and 9 ± 8 days in LBW infants, with a wide range of one to 62 days. LBW infants more frequently developed non-motor seizures (50.0%) than VLBW infants did (25.0%), and higher-grade intracranial hemorrhage was the predominant etiology in the VLBW group (18.0%), while the etiology in the LBW group was more heterogeneous and included central nervous system malformations and genetic syndromes. At the mean age of 6.2 ± 2.0, years, 25/54 patients were assessed and 44.4% of the VLBW group and 71.4% of the LBW group showed intellectual impairment. Infantile cerebral palsy was present in 22% of VLBW and 42.9% of LBW infants, respectively.

SIGNIFICANCE

The present analysis of long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm neonates who experienced seizures shows that the risk for intellectual impairment is not limited only to VLBW infants but may significantly affect LBW infants as well. The etiological spectrum differs in relation to gestational age.

Neuroimaging findings in children with cerebral palsy with autism and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a population-based study

AIM

To compare neuroimaging patterns according to the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Classification System (MRICS) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) with and without autism and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

METHOD

This population-based study assessed 184 children (97 males, 87 females) with CP born from 1999 to 2006 from the CP register of western Sweden, who had completed comprehensive screening and clinical assessment for neuropsychiatric disorders and undergone neuroimaging.

RESULTS

Autism (total prevalence 30%) and ADHD (31%) were common in all neuroimaging patterns, including normal. Autism and ADHD were not more prevalent in children with bilateral than unilateral lesions, contrary to other associated impairments. Children with predominant white matter injury, related to insults in the late second or early third trimester, had the highest prevalence of autism (40%). Children who had sustained a middle cerebral artery infarction had the highest prevalence of ADHD (62%).

INTERPRETATION

Although autism and ADHD are common regardless of neuroimaging patterns, timing and localization of insult appear to be of importance for the occurrence of autism and ADHD in children with CP. Neuroimaging may be of prognostic value for these associated impairments. Further in-depth neuroimaging studies may lead to a better understanding of the association between CP and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Assessment of Sleep-Related Problems in Children with Cerebral Palsy Using the SNAKE Sleep Questionnaire

Cerebral palsy (CP) represents the most common motor impairment in childhood. The presence of sleep problems has not yet been investigated with an instrument specifically designed for this population. In this hospital-based, prospective study, N = 100 children (M = 7.9, range: 2-18 years) with CP were included. All patients underwent pediatric neurologists' screening incorporating instruments (Data Collection Form; Gross Motor Functions Classification System, GMFCS; Bimanual Fine Motor Function, BFMF) recommended by the "Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe (SCPE)". Parents completed the "Sleep Questionnaire for Children with Severe Psychomotor Impairment (SNAKE)". Children's sleep behavior was increasingly conspicuous, with greater gross motor (SNAKE scales: disturbances remaining asleep, daytime sleepiness) and fine motor (additionally SNAKE scale arousal and breathing problems) functional impairment. Overall, a proportion of children showed sleep behavior outside the SNAKE's normal range. No relevant sleep differences were identified between different CP subtypes and comorbidities. Applying a population-specific questionnaire, children's functional impairment seems to be more relevant to their sleep behavior than the CP subtype or CP comorbidities.

Upper Limb Motor Planning in Individuals with Cerebral Palsy Aged between 3 and 21 Years Old: A Systematic Review

Individuals with cerebral palsy have difficulties performing activities of daily living. Beyond motor execution impairments, they exhibit motor planning deficits contributing to their difficulties. The objective of this review is to synthesize the behavioral evidence of motor planning deficits during an upper limb motor task in children, adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy aged between 3 and 21 years. Methods: The inclusion criteria were: (1) including individuals with cerebral palsy from 3 to 21 years old; (2) assessing upper limb motor planning. Six databases were screened. The quality assessment of the studies was performed. Results: Forty-six studies and 686 participants were included. Five articles have been identified as very high quality, 12 as high, 20 as moderate, six as low, three as very low. Force planning studies reported a deficit for the more affected hand but adequate performances for the less affected hand. Object-manipulation studies reported hand posture planning deficits irrespectively of the hand assessed. Conclusions: Motor planning deficits has been shown in the more affected hand for force scaling, while the results for other variables showed overall deficits. Hence, variables affected by motor planning deficits in both hands should be considered in children with cerebral palsy to optimize intervention.