Impact of the peripheral neurotomy method combined with rehabilitation exercise on gross motor function and balance function of children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Objective To study the impact of the peripheral neurotomy method combined with rehabilitation exercise on gross motor function and balance function of children with cerebral palsy. Methods Matched pair design was used in the study.Thirty children with spastic cerebral palsy hospitalized from May 2011 to Nov.2013 suffering from peripheral neurotomy were assigned as study group, who were conscious and treated by peripheral neurotomy combined with rehabilitation exercise.In the meanwhile, 30 children inpatients at the same time were employed as the control group, who were similar in age and symptoms, with the same gender and the same Gross motor function classification(GMFCS) grade, and the controls were treated only with ordinary rehabilitation exercise.Modified Ashworth score, Gross Motor Function Measure(GMFM) D and E regions scores, physicians rating scale score in the 2 groups were recorded after treatment for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 weeks.Repeated measure analysis of variance method was introduced to analyze the differences between the 2 groups in improved Ashworth muscle tension, gait improvement, gross motor function and balance function. Results The study group was superior over the control group in muscle tension reduction(F=8.177, P=0.006) and gait improvement(F=24.284, P=0.000). The 2 groups were not different statistically in D region evaluation of GMEM(F=0.072, P=0.790)and E region evaluation of GMFM(F=0.000, P=0.985); For Berg balance scale, the 2 groups had also no difference(F=0.150, P=0.700). Conclusions Both peripheral neuro-tomy method combined with rehabilitation exercise and the ordinary rehabilitation exercise method both could improve the gross function and the balance function.Furthermore, the former was superior over the latter in muscle tension reduction and gait improvement. Key words: Cerebral palsy; Peripheral neurotomy; Gross motor function measure; Berg balance scale