Ce. Buckon et al., ASSESSMENT OF UPPER-EXTREMITY FUNCTION IN CHILDREN WITH SPASTIC DIPLEGIA BEFORE AND AFTER SELECTIVE DORSAL RHIZOTOMY, Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 38(11), 1996, pp. 967-975
The upper-extremity function of 26 children (mean age 6.0 years) with
spastic diplegia was assessed prior to and one year following selectiv
e dorsal rhizotomy (SDR). No significant change was found in upper ext
remity range of motion, muscle tone, or strength (MMT). A significant
increase was noted in grasp strength bilaterally which could not be ex
plained simply on the basis of maturation, Manipulation patterns were
noted to improve significantly one year after SDR; however, this was p
roposed to be a maturation rather than intervention effect, Standardiz
ed test results revealed no significant improvement in functional hand
use when the scores of children with spastic diplegia were compared w
ith age-matched norms, to control for the effect of maturation, The si
gnificant improvement found in ability to toilet, dress and undress in
dependently was most likely due to the effect of SDR on lower-extremit
y muscle tone. Further investigation with a matched control group woul
d provide a conclusive result regarding the effect of SDR on upper ext
remity function and assist in understanding the maturation of hand fun
ction in children with spastic diplegia.