Purpose: To determine the usefulness of two versions of a functional status measure (one pediatric, one adult) for assessing disability in school age children with spastic cerebral palsy.
Design: The study population consisted of twenty children, ages 7 to 16 years of age, with a previous diagnosis of spastic cerebral palsy. 50% were diplegics and 50% were quadriplegics.
Methods: A longitudinal prospective study design involved functional status measurements using the pediatric functional independence measure (WeeFIM) and the adult FIM. After an initial WeeFIM, a follow-up phone interview using the FIM was completed within one month. Both formats measure self-care, sphincter control, transfers and locomotion, communication, and social cognition. An Amount of Assistance Questionnaire was also completed by the primary caregiver.
Results: Mean age was 10 years. 55% were male, 65% Caucasian, and 75% attended special education. Mean total WeeFIM scores and FIM scores were significantly higher in diplegics than quadriplegics (95 vs 48, p<.01). Mean domain scores in self-care, mobility, and communication/cognition were significantly higher in diplegics than quadriplegics (p <.05). Parental amount of assistance, but not time, was significantly correlated with WeeFIM and FIM scores. Correlation between total WeeFIM and FIM was.99.
Conclusion: WeeFIM can be used for monitoring functional status through adolescence in children with spastic cerebral palsy.
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Azaula, M., Msall, M., Buck, G. et al. MEASURING FUNCTIONAL INDEPENDENCE IN CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY.2221. Pediatr Res 39 (Suppl 4), 373 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199604001-02246
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199604001-02246