Upper extremity performance and self-care skill changes in children with spastic cerebral palsy following selective posterior rhizotomy

Changes in upper extremity and self-care performance following selective po sterior rhizotomy (SPR) are reported frequently, but rarely quantified. In this study, 36 children with spastic cerebral palsy were assessed preoperat ively and 1 year following SPR using the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST). Twenty-six children were assessed at similar intervals using the Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM) as a measure of s elf-care performance. Wilcoxon matched-pair signed-rank tests were used to compare the QUEST total scores and the WeeFIM motor, cognitive, and total s cores before and after SPR. One year after SPR, the total QUEST scores were significantly better (median improvement = 3.2%, p < 0.0001), as were the WeeFIM motor (median improvement = 9.5, p < 0.0001), cognitive (median impr ovement = 1.0, p < 0.008), and total (median improvement = 11.0, p < 0.0001 ) scores. The results indicate quantifiable improvements in upper extremity function, and motor and cognitive self-care skills in children 1 year afte r SPR.