(184) Feasibility of a Contact Heat Evoked Potentials Approach in Female Patients with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Our scientific understanding of chronic pain in cerebral palsy (CP) in relation to somatosensory function is limited. There is some evidence that some individuals with CP have reduced sensitivity for non-painful touch, increased sensitivity to painful touch (pressure), and enhanced pain evoked potentials compared to controls. The goal of this pilot study was to establish initial feasibility of a contact heat approach for detecting and measuring heat-evoked potentials in CP. To reduce variance associated with gender differences, we recruited a purposeful sample of females only for the pilot (N=20, 50% CP, mean age = 20.6, range = 16-22). Six trials of 20 heat stimuli were applied to the target dermatomes for the distal volar forearm (C5 dermatome) and the distal lateral malleolus (L5 dermatome). An 11-point pain numeric rating scale (NRS) was used after each stimulus trial. Overall, initial results indicated the approach was feasible in the CP sample. All participants completed the protocol, with the exception of one CP participant. Small sample size notwithstanding, for descriptive purposes evoked potential latencies and amplitudes did not correlate with NRS ratings at either stimulation site. This is consistent with prior published findings for individuals with and without developmental disability. The NRS ratings were more variable in the CP group. A z-score proportions test was significant for arms (Z = 1.95, p