Improving health-related quality of life in middle-age children with cerebral palsy following selective percutaneous myofascial lengthening and functional physiotherapy

• Published in: Revista española de cirugía ortopédica y traumatología 2024-01, Vol.68 (1), p.57-63
• Main Authors: Skoutelis, V.C., Kanellopoulos, A.D., Vrettos, S., Dimitriadis, Z., Dinopoulos, A., Papagelopoulos, P.J., Kontogeorgakos, V.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alargamiento miofascial percutáneo selectivo; Calidad de vida relacionada con la salud; Cerebral palsy; Fisioterapia funcional; Functional physiotherapy; Health-related quality of life; Parálisis cerebral; Selective percutaneous myofascial lengthening
• ISSN: 1888-4415; 1988-8856
• DOI: 10.1016/j.recot.2023.08.018

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) experience decreased health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study aimed to assess the HRQOL of children with CP before versus after a combined program of minimally invasive selective percutaneous myofascial lengthening (SPML) and functional physiotherapy. A single-group pre–posttest design was used. Twenty-six middle childhood children with spastic CP, aged 5–7 years, with Gross Motor Function Classification System levels II–IV underwent SPML surgery and 9 months of postoperative functional strength training therapy. The proxy version of the DISABKIDS-Smiley questionnaire was completed by one parent of each child. Dependent t-tests were used to compare mean pre- and post-measurement scores. After the 9-month intervention, the children with CP had significantly higher quality of life scores (mean difference, 11.06±9.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7.40–14.71; p