ETD Collection

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Has files: YesSubject: search.filters.subject.Cerebral Palsy--in infancy & childhood

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    The long-term results of hip surgery in non-ambulant cerebral palsy patients
    (1994) Bischof, Faith
    Dislocation of the hip is a common deformity in cerebral palsied (CP) patients who are not walking. Surgery of the hip is performed to prevent or correct the deformity. This surgery is based on the assumption that a dislocated hip contributes towards patient management problems, in that it compromises nursing care, interferes with sitting, snd may be painful. Reports on the outcome of surgery vary, and there is a controversy as to whether an established hip dislocation should be reduced. This study was undertaken to investigate the above assumptions, and to assess the long term outcome of hip surgery, both in terms of stability, and patient management, In the background to the study, abnormal development of the CP hip, causation theory, rationale of treatment (both conservative and surgical) and the evolution of hip surgery are described. This comparative study involves two groups of patients. Surgically treated patients are compared to a random sample of untreated patients matched for age and nonambulatory status. The treated patients (Group A) had undergone surgery at the Johannesburg Hospital between 1980 and 1987, and the minimum follow-up period
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    Participation, activity performance and task supports of cerebral palsied children aged between 4 and 12 years in mainstream schooling environments in Gauteng
    (2015-04-20) Bensted-Smith, Jeanette Helen
    The incidence of cerebral palsy has remained relatively constant over time. As medical technology advances survival rates of children born prematurely increase. The trend internationally and in South Africa, is to encourage the integration of children with cerebral palsy into society and to embrace and celebrate diversity. This extends to education, where children with cerebral palsy are increasingly being included into mainstream schooling environments. This is not a simple process as cerebral palsy is extremely diverse in presentation and consists of a number of associated conditions other than the well recognised physical impairments. This has a significant effect on children’s ability to participate and be included in mainstream environments. The process therefore requires careful monitoring in order to provide the relevant support and to make changes to the environment The main aim of the study was to establish participation, activity performance and task supports of children aged between four and 12 years in mainstream schooling environments in Gauteng, South Africa. This was then related to the child’s level of impairment. The School Function Assessment was used to establish the participation, task supports and activity performance of the children with cerebral palsy. The scores of this group were then compared to the scores of the typical population as set out in the user’s manual of the School Function Assessment. The Gross Motor Function Classification System was used to classify the children with cerebral palsy according to their level of impairment. The results of the School Function Assessment were then analysed according to Gross Motor Function Classification level. The results of the study demonstrate that children with cerebral palsy score lower on a number of aspects of the School Function Assessment when compared to typical students their age. This was particularly true of physical tasks. Children with cerebral palsy in this study generally functioned on a level below that of their typically developed peers with regards to physical tasks in and around the school environment. Children with cerebral palsy performed at or above the level of their typically developed peers with regard to cognitive/behavioural school activities. As the severity of motor impairment increased, children’s ability to participate in the school environment decreased, the amount of task assistance and adaptations required increased and their ability to consistently perform activities decreased.
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    A pilot study to determine the effect of weight bearing exercises and whole body vibration on gross motor function and spasticity in children with cerebral palsy
    (2014-09-09) Honour, Amy Elizabeth Nicola
    The aim of this study was to determine the effects of an eight-week weight bearing exercise program coupled with whole body vibration (WBV) on gross motor function, functional mobility and spasticity in hemiplegic type cerebral palsied school going children. The experimental group was compared to a control group undergoing the same exercise program. The control group excluded WBV training. Fifteen children participated in the study nine females and six males. There were eight children with right hemiplegia and seven with left hemiplegia; all children had gross motor classification (GMFCS) of Level 1. Significant improvements were seen in both groups for gross motor function. There was no difference in the amount of change seen between the two groups. A decline was noticed in the functional mobility assessment. The findings of this study demonstrated that both the children in the control and the experimental groups showed significant improvements in the GMFM scores after a weight bearing exercise program. The children in the experimental group who received WBV while exercising showed significant improvement from baseline to completion of the study compared to the group that did weight bearing exercise alone; better carry over effect in this group from WBV. Time up and down stairs (TUDS) and modified ashworth scale (MAS) scores showed less convincing results and need further investigation. Further research is required to determine the most effective and efficient way of managing children with cerebral palsy in a resource poor area.