Adults with Cerebral Palsy Require Ongoing Neurologic Care: A Systematic Review.

Cerebral palsy (CP) neurologic care and research efforts typically focus on children. However, most people with CP are adults. Adults with CP are at increased risk of new neurologic conditions, such as stroke and myelopathy, that require ongoing neurologic surveillance to distinguish them from baseline motor impairments. Neurologic factors could also contribute to the motor function decline, chronic pain, and chronic fatigue that are commonly experienced by adults with CP. Based on a systematic literature review, we suggest (1) guidelines for neurologic surveillance and neurologist referral and (2) clinical research questions regarding the evolving neurologic risks for adults with CP. ANN NEUROL 2021;89:860-871.

Comparing short-term outcomes between conus medullaris and cauda equina surgical techniques of selective dorsal rhizotomy.

AIM: To compare short-term outcomes between conus medullaris (conus) and cauda equina (cauda) selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) techniques in children with spastic cerebral palsy. METHOD: This was a retrospective review of SDR at a single center from 2013 to 2017. Gait and functional outcome measures were assessed at no more than 18 months pre-SDR (baseline) and 8 to 36 months post-SDR (follow-up). Transient complications during inpatient stay were quantified. RESULTS: In total, 21 and 59 children underwent conus and cauda SDR respectively. Ashworth Scale scores were nearly normalized at follow-up. Most physical examination and functional measures exhibited similar baseline to follow-up responses for both groups. From baseline to follow-up, sagittal plane knee kinematics for both groups significantly improved (p<0.01) by 11° at initial contact, 9° to 10° in stance phase, and 4° in swing phase. Sagittal plane ankle kinematics improved more for the cauda group than the conus group in both stance phase (10° vs 2°, p<0.01) and swing phase (13° vs 3°, p<0.01). Post-surgical complications were similar between groups. INTERPRETATION: Conus and cauda SDR techniques resulted in similar short-term outcomes except in ankle kinematics at follow-up. The cauda group exhibited a large improvement towards dorsiflexion, while there was residual equinus in the conus group despite Ashworth Scale scores normalizing equally in both groups. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Conus and cauda selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) resulted in mostly similar short-term gait and functional outcomes. Conus SDR resulted in residual equinus dynamically, despite normalized spasticity measures. Post-surgical complications were mostly similar between SDR techniques.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Paired with Occupation-Centered Bimanual Training in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Preliminary Study.

Objective: We investigated the preliminary efficacy of cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with bimanual training in children and young adults with unilateral cerebral palsy based on the principle of exaggerated interhemispheric inhibition (IHI). Methods: Eight participants with corticospinal tract (CST) connectivity from the lesioned hemisphere participated in an open-label study of 10 sessions of cathodal tDCS to the nonlesioned hemisphere (20 minutes) concurrently with bimanual, goal-directed training (120 minutes). We measured the frequency of adverse events and intervention efficacy with performance (bimanual-Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA)-and unimanual-Box and Blocks), self-report (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), ABILHAND), and neurophysiologic (motor-evoked potential amplitude, cortical silent period (CSP) duration, and motor mapping) assessments. Results: All participants completed the study with no serious adverse events. Three of 8 participants showed gains on the AHA, and 4 of 8 participants showed gains in Box and Blocks (more affected hand). Nonlesioned CSP duration decreased in 6 of 6 participants with analyzable data. Cortical representation of the first dorsal interosseous expanded in the nonlesioned hemisphere in 4 of 6 participants and decreased in the lesioned hemisphere in 3 of 4 participants with analyzable data. Conclusions: While goal achievement was observed, objective measures of hand function showed inconsistent gains. Neurophysiologic data suggests nonlinear responses to cathodal stimulation of the nonlesioned hemisphere. Future studies examining the contributions of activity-dependent competition and cortical excitability imbalances are indicated.

Long-term outcomes after selective dorsal rhizotomy: a retrospective matched cohort study.

AIM: To examine long-term outcomes of selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) 10 to 17 years after surgery. METHOD: Participants who underwent SDR had spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP), completed baseline gait analysis, and were 16 to 25 years old at follow-up. Non-SDR participants (i.e. controls) were matched on important clinical parameters at baseline but did not undergo SDR. All study participants completed six surveys assessing pain, quality of life, participation, function, and mobility. Treatment history for lower extremity surgery and antispasticity injections was tabulated. A subset of each study group returned for three-dimensional gait analysis, including kinematics, metabolic energy cost, and physical examination. Gait Deviation Index (GDI) was calculated to measure gait quality. RESULTS: The study cohort had 24 participants with SDR and 11 without SDR. Of these, 13 patients with SDR (five males, eight females; median [IQR] age 17y 2mo [16y 8mo-17y 9mo]) and eight without SDR (three males, five females; median [IQR] age 19y 2mo [17y 3mo-21y 11mo]) completed baseline and follow-up gait analysis. Spasticity significantly decreased in those with SDR (p<0.05). Gait Deviation Index improved more in participants without SDR than those with SDR (Δnon-SDR =12.8 vs ΔSDR =9.1; p=0.01). Compared with the SDR group, participants without SDR underwent significantly more subsequent interventions (p<0.05). INTERPRETATION: Patients in both the SDR and non-SDR groups showed improved gait quality more than 10 years after surgery. Participants without SDR had a larger improvement in gait pathology but underwent significantly more intervention. There were no differences between groups in survey measures. These results suggest differing treatment courses provide similar outcomes into early adulthood. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) and non-SDR groups had significant improvement in gait pathology over time. The non-SDR group had significantly better gait compared with the SDR group at follow-up. The groups had similar levels of energy cost, pain, and quality of life. Non-SDR participants underwent significantly more orthopaedic surgery and antispasticity injections than SDR participants. Use of a clinically similar control group highlights that different treatment courses may result in similar outcomes into young adulthood.

Safety of primed repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and modified constraint-induced movement therapy in a randomized controlled trial in pediatric hemiparesis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety of combining a 6-Hz primed low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) intervention in the contralesional hemisphere with a modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) program in children with congenital hemiparesis. DESIGN: Phase 1 randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled pretest/posttest trial. SETTING: University academic facility and pediatric specialty hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects (N = 19; age range, 8-17 y) with congenital hemiparesis caused by ischemic stroke or periventricular leukomalacia. No subject withdrew because of adverse events. All subjects included completed the study. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects were randomized to 1 of 2 groups: either real rTMS plus mCIMT (n = 10) or sham rTMS plus mCIMT (n = 9). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Adverse events, physician assessment, ipsilateral hand function, stereognosis, cognitive function, subject report of symptoms assessment, and subject questionnaire. RESULTS: No major adverse events occurred. Minor adverse events were found in both groups. The most common events were headaches (real: 50%, sham: 89%; P = .14) and cast irritation (real: 30%, sham: 44%; P = .65). No differences between groups in secondary cognitive and unaffected hand motor measures were found. CONCLUSIONS: Primed rTMS can be used safely with mCIMT in congenital hemiparesis. We provide new information on the use of rTMS in combination with mCIMT in children. These findings could be useful in research and future clinical applications in advancing function in congenital hemiparesis.

Synergistic effect of combined transcranial direct current stimulation/constraint-induced movement therapy in children and young adults with hemiparesis: study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Perinatal stroke occurs in more than 1 in 2,500 live births and resultant congenital hemiparesis necessitates investigation into interventions which may improve long-term function and decreased burden of care beyond current therapies ( http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/cp/data.html ). Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is recognized as an effective hemiparesis rehabilitation intervention. Transcranial direct current stimulation as an adjunct treatment to CIMT may potentiate neuroplastic responses and improve motor function. The methodology of a clinical trial in children designed as a placebo-controlled, serial -session, non-invasive brain stimulation trial incorporating CIMT is described here. The primary hypotheses are 1) that no serious adverse events will occur in children receiving non-invasive brain stimulation and 2) that children in the stimulation intervention group will show significant improvements in hand motor function compared to children in the placebo stimulation control group. METHODS/DESIGN: A randomized, controlled, double-blinded clinical trial. Twenty children and/or young adults (ages 8-21) with congenital hemiparesis, will be enrolled. The intervention group will receive ten 2-hour sessions of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with constraint-induced movement therapy and the control group will receive sham stimulation with CIMT. The primary outcome measure is safety assessment of transcranial direct current stimulation by physician evaluation, vital sign monitoring and symptom reports. Additionally, hand function will be evaluated using the Assisting Hand Assessment, grip strength and assessment of goals using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. Neuroimaging will confirm diagnoses, corticospinal tract integrity and cortical activation. Motor cortical excitability will also be examined using transcranial magnetic stimulation techniques. DISCUSSION: Combining non-invasive brain stimulation and CIMT interventions has the potential to improve motor function in children with congenital hemiparesis beyond each intervention independently. Such a combined intervention has the potential to benefit an individual throughout their lifetime. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02250092 Registered 18 September 2014.

Population pharmacokinetics of oral baclofen in pediatric patients with cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the population pharmacokinetics (PK) of oral baclofen and assess impact of patient-specific covariates in children with cerebral palsy (CP) in order to support its clinical use. SUBJECTS DESIGN: Children (2-17 years of age) with CP received a dose of titrated oral baclofen from 2.5 mg 3 times a day to a maximum tolerated dose of up to 20 mg 4 times a day. PK sampling followed titration of 10-12 weeks. Serial R- and S-baclofen plasma concentrations were measured for up to 16 hours in 49 subjects. Population PK modeling was performed using NONMEM 7.1 (ICON PLC; Ellicott City, Maryland). RESULTS: R- and S-baclofen showed identical concentration-time profiles. Both baclofen enantiomers exhibited linear and dose/kg-proportional PK, and no sex differences were observed. Average baclofen terminal half-life was 4.5 hours. A 2-compartment PK model with linear elimination and transit absorption steps adequately described concentration-time profiles of both baclofen enantiomers. The mean population estimate of apparent clearance/F was 0.273 L/h/kg with 33.4% inter-individual variability (IIV), and the apparent volume of distribution (Vss/F) was 1.16 L/kg with 43.9% IIV. Delayed absorption was expressed by a mean transit time of 0.389 hours with 83.7% IIV. Body weight, a possible genetic factor, and age were determinants of apparent clearance in these children. CONCLUSION: The PK of oral baclofen exhibited dose-proportionality and were adequately described by a 2-compartment model. Our population PK findings suggest that baclofen dosage can be based on body weight (2 mg/kg per day) and the current baclofen dose escalation strategy is appropriate in the treatment of children with CP older than 2 years of age.

Primed low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and constraint-induced movement therapy in pediatric hemiparesis: a randomized controlled trial.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility and efficacy of five treatments of 6 Hz primed, low-frequency, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) to promote recovery of the paretic hand in children with congenital hemiparesis. METHOD: Nineteen children with congenital hemiparesis aged between 8 and 17 years (10 males, nine females; mean age 10 years 10 months, SD 2 years 10 months; Manual Ability Classification Scale levels I-III) underwent five sessions of either real rTMS (n=10) or sham rTMS (n=9) alternated daily with CIMT. CIMT consisted of 13 days of continuous long-arm casting with five skin-check sessions. Each child received a total of 10 hours of one-to-one therapy. The primary outcome measure was the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) and the secondary outcome variables were the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and stereognosis. A Wilcoxon signed-rank sum test was used to analyze differences between pre- and post-test scores within the groups. Analysis of covariance was used to compute mean differences between groups adjusting for baseline. Fisher's exact test was used to compare individual change in AHA raw scores with the smallest detectable difference (SDD) of 4 points. RESULTS: All participants receiving treatment finished the study. Improvement in AHA differed significantly between groups (p=0.007). No significant differences in the secondary outcome measures were found. Eight out of 10 participants in the rTMS/CIMT group showed improvement greater than the SDD, but only two out of nine in the sham rTMS/CIMT group showed such improvement (p=0.023). No serious adverse events occurred. INTERPRETATION: Primed, low-frequency rTMS combined with CIMT appears to be safe, feasible, and efficacious in pediatric hemiparesis. Larger clinical trials are now indicated.

Efficacy of serial casting protocols in idiopathic toe-walking.

OBJECTIVE: Idiopathic toe-walking (ITW) is a diagnosis of exclusion. A relationship between ITW and decreased range of motion (ROM) is postulated. Treatments focus on increasing ankle dorsiflexion including serial casting. There is no consensus for duration of serial casting. This study aimed to determine ROM changes with cast change intervals of one vs. two weeks, and the rate of ITW recurrence. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 86 patients, ages 0-9 years with ITW undergoing weekly casting (N = 29) and two-week casting (N = 57) at a children's hospital from 2014-2020. ROM at baseline, two weeks, four weeks, and final cast removal were collected. Statistical analyses included chi-squared tests, two-sample t-tests, and linear mixed regression. Outcome distributions were assessed for normality. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: After adjusting for baseline ROM, the mean change in ROM from baseline to two weeks was 10.6∘ vs 7.5∘ in the one-week vs. two-week casting interval, respectively (p < 0.001). The baseline to final measurement was 13.4∘ vs 9.8∘ in the one-week vs. two-week casting interval, respectively (p < 0.001). The rate of recurrence of ITW was similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests greater improvement in ROM in the one-week vs. two-week casting interval group.

Comparing binary & ordinal definitions of urinary & stool continence outcomes: Data from the National Spina Bifida Patient Registry.

INTRODUCTION: The National Spina Bifida Patient Registry (NSBPR) assesses bladder and bowel incontinence using ordinal categories, but prior NSBPR analyses employed binary classification. Our aims were to 1) perform the first NSBPR analysis of bladder and bowel incontinence as ordinal outcomes to compare to the binary definition and subject variables; 2) explore the correlation of incontinence with undergarment usage, and 3) assess incontinence status following continence surgeries. METHODS: Data from NSBPR participants' most recent clinic visit from 2013 to 2020 were analyzed. Ordinal categories of incontinence were compared to previously used binary definitions. Incontinence surgical outcomes were analyzed for those with data at least three months post-operatively. Chi-square tests evaluated associations among categorical variables. Univariate and ordinal logistic regression models were used to test associations of ordinal incontinence status with patient and condition factors. Statistical tests were 2-sided; p values < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Analysis of 7217 individuals using ordinal incontinence outcomes showed little difference from previously used binary outcomes. The final multivariable logistic regression models with ordinal multinomial outcomes showed that associations of incontinence with age, sex, race/ethnicity, health insurance, level of lesion, and continence management technique were similar to prior studies. Among those reporting never being incontinent of both bladder and bowel, 14% reported using protective undergarments. Of the 500 individuals who had bladder outlet surgery, 38% reported never being incontinent of urine. Of 1416 individuals who had appendicostomy (ACE) bowel surgery, 48% reported never being incontinent of stool. DISCUSSION: Our current analysis showed that ordinal continence outcome classification had similar continence findings as previous studies using the binary definition of continence. Expanding the binary definition of continence to include monthly episodes of incontinence did not greatly increase the proportion of continent individuals and, therefore, would have not likely made meaningful differences in continence outcomes in prior NSBPR analyses. However, it is known that even mild incontinence can affect quality of life, therefore, capturing any level of incontiennce is of clinical importance. Confirmation of the association of continence outcomes with sociodemographic, condition-related, and interventional factors with both approaches further validates previous analyses using the binary definition of continence. CONCLUSION: The previously used binary definition of bladder and bowel continence appears robust. Undergarment choice was a poor surrogate for reported incontinence. After bladder and bowel continence surgeries, 38% and 48%, respectively, reported never being incontinent.

Cerebral palsy research network community registry adult surveys on function & pain: Successes, challenges, and future directions.

NARRATIVE SUMMARY: The formation of a patient-reported outcomes registry to provide information about functional changes and pain among adults with cerebral palsy (CP) was identified as a priority to address the gap in knowledge and practice about aging and CP. The Cerebral Palsy Research Network collaborated with consumers, clinicians, and researchers to create an interactive internet platform, MyCP, to host a Community Registry. MyCP also provides educational programming, access to webinars and community forums, and fitness opportunities. The registry hosts surveys on function and pain for adults with CP, which provide cross-sectional and longitudinal data about these important issues. Surveys include previously validated measures with normative values that have been used with other populations and investigator developed questions. Enrollment in the registry is growing but needs to reflect the population of adults with CP, which limits generalizability. Future initiatives involve strategies to increase consumer engagement and enrollment.

Adults with cerebral palsy and functional decline: A cross-sectional analysis of patient-reported outcomes from a novel North American registry.

BACKGROUND: Adults with cerebral palsy (CP) have unique healthcare needs and risks, including high risk of functional decline. Understanding functional decline is an area of priority for CP research. OBJECTIVE: Describe factors associated with patient-reported changes in function among adults with CP living in the community. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of adult patient-reported outcomes collected by the CP Research Network (CPRN) Community Registry. RESULTS: Participants included 263 respondents (76% female (n = 200); mean age 42 years (SD 14); 95% White (n = 249); 92% non-Hispanic (n = 241)). Many reported functional changes, most commonly a decline in gross motor function since childhood (n = 158, 60%). Prevalence of gross motor decline varied significantly by Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level (p < 0.001), but neither hand function decline (p = 0.196) nor communication decline (p = 0.994) differed by GMFCS. All types of decline increased with increasing age, with statistically significant differences between age groups (p < 0.001 gross motor; p = 0.003 hand function; p = 0.004 communication). Those with spastic CP (n = 178) most commonly reported gross motor functional decline (n = 108/178, 60.7%). However, the prevalence of gross motor decline did not significantly differ between those with spastic CP and those without spastic CP (p = 0.789). CONCLUSIONS: Many adults in the CPRN Community Registry reported functional decline, most commonly in gross motor function. Functional decline across domains increased with age. Further research into risk stratification and preventive and rehabilitative measures is needed to address functional decline across the lifespan.

Anodal Contralesional tDCS Enhances CST Excitability Bilaterally in an Adolescent with Hemiparetic Cerebral Palsy: A Brief Report.

Hemiparetic cerebral palsy (HCP), weakness on one side of the body typically caused by perinatal stroke, is characterized by lifelong motor impairments related to alterations in the corticospinal tract (CST). CST reorganization could be a useful biomarker to guide applications of neuromodulatory interventions, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), to improve the effectiveness of rehabilitation therapies. We evaluated an adolescent with HCP and CST reorganization who demonstrated persistent heightened CST excitability in both upper limbs following anodal contralesional tDCS. The results support further investigation of targeted tDCS as an adjuvant therapy to traditional neurorehabilitation for upper limb function.

Safety and feasibility of transcranial direct current stimulation stratified by corticospinal organization in children with hemiparesis.

Children with hemiparesis (CWH) due to stroke early in life face lifelong impairments in motor function. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may be a safe and feasible adjuvant therapy to augment rehabilitation. Given the variability in outcomes following tDCS, tailored protocols of tDCS are required. We evaluated the safety, feasibility, and preliminary effects of a single session of targeted anodal tDCS based on individual corticospinal tract organization on corticospinal excitability. Fourteen CWH (age = 13.8 ± 3.63) were stratified into two corticospinal organization subgroups based on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-confirmed motor evoked potentials (MEP): ipsilesional MEP presence (MEPIL+) or absence (MEPIL-). Subgroups were randomized to real anodal or sham tDCS (1.5 mA, 20 min) applied to the ipsilesional (MEPIL + group) or contralesional (MEPIL- group) hemisphere combined with hand training. Safety was assessed with questionnaires and motor function evaluation, and corticospinal excitability was assessed at baseline and every 15 min for 1 h after tDCS. No serious adverse events occurred and anticipated minor side effects were reported and were self-limiting. Six of 14 participants had consistent ipsilesional MEPs (MEPIL + group). Paretic hand MEP amplitude increased in 5/8 participants who received real anodal tDCS to either the ipsilesional or contralesional hemisphere (+80% change). Application of tDCS based on individual corticospinal organization was safe and feasible with expected effects on excitability, indicating the potential for tailored tDCS protocols for CWH. Additional research involving expanded experimental designs is needed to confirm these effects and to determine if this approach can be translated into a clinically relevant intervention.

Adults with cerebral palsy and chronic pain experience: A cross-sectional analysis of patient-reported outcomes from a novel North American registry.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is common among adults with cerebral palsy (CP) and an area of priority for research and treatment. OBJECTIVE: Describe the pain experience and its functional and quality of life impact among adults with CP with chronic pain in the community. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of adult patient-reported outcomes collected by the Cerebral Palsy Research Network Community Registry. RESULTS: Among all participants in the Community Registry, n = 205 reported having chronic pain, and 73 % of those (n = 149) completed the Chronic Pain Survey Bundle (75 % female; mean age 43 years (SD 14 years); 94 % White; 91 % non-Hispanic). Back and weight-bearing joints of lower extremities were most frequently reported as painful. There were no differences in average pain severity scores between varying GMFCS levels (H = 6.25, p = 0.18) and age groups (H = 3.20, p = 0.36). Several nonpharmacologic interventions were most frequently reported as beneficial. Participants with moderate to severe average pain scores (5-10) had higher levels of pain interference (p < 0.01) and depression (p < 0.01), and lower levels of satisfaction with social roles (p < 0.01) and lower extremity function (p < 0.01). Pain interference was significantly positively correlated with depression, and negatively correlated with upper and lower extremity function and satisfaction with social roles. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic pain is experienced by adults with CP of varying ages and functional levels and is associated with several adverse quality of life and functional outcomes. Improved understanding of chronic pain in this population will facilitate the development and study of treatment interventions optimizing health, function, participation, and quality of life.

Variability in lower extremity motor function in spina bifida only partially associated with spinal motor level.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have found motor function to correlate with spinal motor level and, accordingly, individuals with spina bifida are frequently categorized clinically in this manner. The aim of the current study was to describe how lower extremity functions including strength, selective motor control, and mirror movements vary by motor level in children and young adults with spina bifida. METHODS: A single center, retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study using data collected in the National Spina Bifida Patient Registry and by a gait laboratory was performed. RESULTS: Seventy-seven individuals with spina bifida were included with the majority having myelomeningocele (59 lumbar, 18 sacral motor level). Lower extremity strength and selective motor control varied to a certain extent with motor level. However, 90% of individuals showed strength or weakness in at least one muscle group that was unexpected based on their motor level. Mirror movements did not clearly vary with motor level. CONCLUSION: Lower extremity strength, selective motor control, and mirror movements in individuals with spina bifida were not entirely predicted by motor level. This highlights the possible need for an improved spina bifida classification system that describes not only spinal motor level but more clearly defines a particular individual's functional motor abilities.

Characterizing Baclofen Withdrawal: A National Survey of Physician Experience.

OBJECTIVE: We studied physicians' opinions and experiences concerning clinical concerns, perceived severity, occurrence, and management of baclofen withdrawal due to abrupt discontinuation. METHODS: A nationwide 26-question electronic survey was distributed via e-mail to physicians (N = 952) representing varying specialties who manage spasticity with baclofen. A total of 110 physicians provided responses to the survey (response rate = 11.6%). Results were evaluated using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Withdrawal from both oral and intrathecal (IT) baclofen was recognized as a significant concern and was observed by most respondents. However, approximately 75% and 35% of respondents or their clinic sites lack established management protocols for managing anticipated interruption of oral or IT baclofen, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the need for further research on and the development of guidelines for the prevention and treatment of baclofen withdrawal. The results of this survey, along with a systematic literature review and multidisciplinary stakeholder input, may be helpful in establishing guidelines for the treatment and prevention of baclofen withdrawal.

Disrupted Access to Therapies and Impact on Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic for Children With Motor Impairment and Their Caregivers.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to rehabilitation therapies and the impact of changes in therapy access on the physical and mental well-being of children with motor impairment and their caregivers. DESIGN: Caregivers of children younger than 18 yrs with childhood-onset motor impairment (primarily cerebral palsy) completed an anonymous survey through the online platform REDCap between May 5 and July 13, 2020. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 102 participants. Before the pandemic, 92 of 102 children (90%) were receiving one or more therapies; at the time surveyed, 55 children (54%) were receiving any therapies (P < 0.001). More than 40% of the sample reported increased child stress, decreased physical activity, and/or decline in mobility/movement. Participants who reported a decrease in number of therapies at the time surveyed more frequently reported lower satisfaction with treatment delivery (P < 0.001), a decline in child's mobility (P = 0.001), and increased caregiver stress (P = 0.004). Five qualitative themes were identified from open-ended question responses related to therapies and well-being. CONCLUSIONS: Access to pediatric rehabilitation therapies was disrupted during COVID-19. Disrupted access may be related to impact on physical and mental health. With the expansion of telehealth, caregiver and child feedback should be incorporated to optimize benefit.

Survival of individuals with cerebral palsy receiving continuous intrathecal baclofen treatment: a matched-cohort study.

AIM: To determine whether intrathecal baclofen (ITB) changes mortality risk in persons with cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD: Records were reviewed for all persons with CP who were managed with ITB for hypertonicity at a specialty hospital in Minnesota between May 1993 and August 2007. A comparison cohort was randomly selected from clients of the California Department of Developmental Services who were initially evaluated between 1987 and 1990 and were matched to those with ITB for age, sex, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level, presence or absence of epilepsy, and feeding-tube use. Survival probabilities were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and differences were tested via log-rank. RESULTS: Three hundred and fifty-nine persons with CP (202 males, 157 females) receiving ITB for hypertonicity (mean age 12y 8mo, SD 7y 9mo, range 3y 1mo to 39y 9mo) were matched to 349 persons without ITB pumps (195 males, 154 females; mean age 12y 7mo, SD 8y 4mo, range 2y 7mo to 40y). The proportion of patients at different GMFCS levels in the ITB and in the non-ITB cohorts, respectively, was as follows: level II 3% and 3%, level III 16% and 16%, level IV 38% and 37%, and level V 43% and 44%. Survival at 8 years of follow-up was 92% (SD 1.9%) in the ITB cohort and 82% (SD 2.4%) in the non-ITB cohort (p<0.001). After adjustment to account for recent trends in improved survival in CP, 8-year survival in the non-ITB cohort was 88%, which was not significantly different from the ITB cohort (p=0.073). INTERPRETATION: ITB therapy does not increase mortality in individuals with CP and may suggest an increase in life expectancy.

Ipsilateral Corticospinal Tract Excitability Contributes to the Severity of Mirror Movements in Unilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Case Series.

Mirror movements (MM) can be a clinical manifestation of unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) causing involuntary movements when attempting to use either hand for functional activities. Atypical development of the corticospinal tract (CST) contributes to impairments in observed motor movements and functional activities. However, little is known about the underlying neurophysiology and contribution of the CST to MM. The current case study characterizes MM in 13 children and young adults with UCP ranging in age from 7 to 19 years and includes clinical and neurophysiologic variables. Clinical profiles included MM of each hand (ie, Woods and Teuber), bimanual coordination and hand use (Assisting Hand Assessment [AHA]), and perception of performance (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure [COPM]). We measured the strength of motor-evoked potentials (MEP) elicited from single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of each hemisphere to create a ratio of hemispheric responses. Our sample included three types of CST circuitry: ipsilateral (n = 5), bilateral (n = 3), and contralateral (n = 4). The MEP ratio ranged from 0 to 1.45 (median 0.11) with greater MM observed in participants with ratios greater than 0.5. We observed a positive relationship between the MEP ratio and the more-affected MM score, meaning participants with larger ipsilateral responses from contralesional stimulation (eg, the contralesional hemisphere was stimulated with TMS resulting in an ipsilateral MEP response), as compared with contralateral responses, displayed greater MM than those that did not. There was no relationship between MM and function as measured by the AHA or COPM. These findings suggest a role of the contralesional hemisphere to MM, which could serve as a therapeutic target for interventions.