Longitudinal changes in mobility following single-event multilevel surgery in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Objective: To examine changes in mobility longitudinally following single-event multilevel surgery in ambulant children with cerebral palsy, focusing on those using assistive devices for functional mobility because they are most at risk of declining gross motor function. Participants: A consecutive sample of 156 ambulant children with cerebral palsy (99 males), 96 without devices (Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) I/II), 60 with devices (GMFCS III) who had single-event multilevel surgery at mean age 11 years 1 month. Methods: GMFCS and Functional Mobility Scale (FMS) ratings were recorded pre-operatively and at 2 and 5 years postoperatively. A proportional odds logistic regr..