Motor outcome after perinatal stroke and early prediction of unilateral spastic cerebral palsy

BACKGROUND

Unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP) occurs in 30%-68% of infants with perinatal stroke. Early detection of USCP is essential for referring infants to early intervention. The aims of this study were to report motor outcomes after perinatal stroke, and to determine the predictive value of the General Movements Assessment (GMA) and Hand Assessment for Infants (HAI) for detection of USCP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a prospective observational study involving infants with perinatal stroke. GMA was conducted between 10 and 15 weeks post term-age (PTA). The HAI was performed between 3 and 5 months PTA. Motor outcome was collected between 12 and 36 months PTA.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 46 infants. Fifteen children (32.6%) were diagnosed with CP, two children with bilateral CP and 13 with USCP. Abnormal GMA had a sensitivity of 85% (95% confidence interval [CI] 55-98%) and a specificity of 52% (95% CI 33-71%) to predict USCP. When asymmetrically presented FMs were also considered as abnormal, sensitivity increased to 100%, hence the specificity declined to 43%. A HAI asymmetry index cut-off of 23, had both a sensitivity and a specificity of 100% to detect USCP.

CONCLUSION

Using GMA and HAI can enable prediction of USCP before the age of 5 months in infants with perinatal stroke. Nevertheless, GMA must be interpreted with caution in this particular population. The HAI was found to be a very accurate screening tool for early detection of asymmetry and prediction of USCP.

The suitcase packing activity: A new evaluation of hand function

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective, repeated-measures study.

INTRODUCTION

Understanding individual hand function can assist therapists with the process of determining relevant treatment approaches and realistic therapeutic outcomes. At this point in time, a composite test that assesses both unilateral and bimanual hand function in relation to a functional activity is not available.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

To establish the reliability and validity of the suitcase packing activity (SPA).

METHODS

An expert panel established face and content validity. Eighty healthy, English-speaking volunteers aged between 18 and 45 years were randomly assigned to either 1 or 2 sessions (test-retest reliability). Relative agreement between 2 examiners using an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)_3,1 determined interrater reliability. Test-retest reliability was determined by using a repeated-measures analysis of variance and an ICC_3,2. Concurrent validity was evaluated against 2 well-established hand evaluations using separate tests of correlational coefficients.

RESULTS

Face and content validity were established across 4 focus groups. Our results demonstrate good to excellent interrater reliability (ICC_3,1 ≥ 0.93) and good to excellent test-retest reliability (ICC_3,2 ≥ 0.83). SPA scores were moderately correlated with the 2-hand evaluations.

DISCUSSION

Through evaluating hand function during participation in a goal-directed activity (eg, packing a suitcase), the SPA exhibits promise in usefulness as a future viable outcome measure that can be used to assess functional abilities following a hand injury.

CONCLUSION

The SPA is a valid and reliable tool for assessing bimanual and unilateral hand function in healthy subjects.

LEVELS OF EVIDENCE

Diagnostic level II.