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.