Clinical and electroneuromyographic peculiarities of spastic syndrome in children with organic lesions of the nervous system

Abstract

Topicality. Organic lesions of the central nervous system (CNS) are a group of neuropsychiatric disorders caused by various pathological factors affecting the brain. Infantile cerebral palsy (ICP) is the most common neurological disease diagnosed in children at an early age. 80 % of children with ICP suffer from spastic forms, the main symptom of which is an abnormal increase in muscle tone – spasticity. This syndrome can be objectified by electroneuromyographic (ENMG) examination which enables qualitative and quantitative assessments of the nervousmuscular system state.Objective: to determine clinical and electroneuromyographic peculiarities of the spastic syndrome of ICP children depending on the intensity of motor disorders.Materials and methods. 122 ICP children were examined (an average age 8,8 ± 3,7 years) and distributed into groups by the results of Gross Motor Function Classification Expanded & Revised (GMFCS E&R). All the patients underwent careful neurological examination and ENMG examination. To assess suprasegmental and segmental levels of nervous system lesions, the parameters of H-reflex and F-wave were analyzed.Results. Spastic forms of ICP were diagnosed in the majority of the examined children. Orthopedic pathology was found more often among ICP children with marked motor disorders, including equinovalgus position and planovalgus foot deformity. According to ENMG parameters ICP patients presented conduction disorders manifested by increased amplitude of М response, especially in testing the tibial nerve, increased Нmах/Мmах ratio and the amplitudes of Н-reflex and F-wave.Conclusions. According to the results of the conducted study, ENMG parameters changed on the side of deterioration depending on the degree of motor activity disorders by Gross Motor Function Classification.