Developmental medicine and child neurology
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Dev Med Child Neurol · Sep 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialThe relationship between unimanual capacity and bimanual performance in children with congenital hemiplegia.
This study explores the relationship between unimanual capacity and bimanual performance for children with congenital hemiplegia aged 5 to 16 years. It also examines the relationship between impairments and unimanual capacity and bimanual performance. ⋯ Findings of our study confirm a strong relationship between unimanual capacity and bimanual performance in a cohort of children with congenital hemiplegia. However, the directionality of the relationship is unknown and therapists cannot assume improvements in unimanual capacity will lead to gains in bimanual performance.
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Dev Med Child Neurol · Sep 2010
Anticipatory postural adjustments in a bimanual load-lifting task in children with developmental coordination disorder.
Postural control is a fundamental component of action in which deficits have been shown to contribute to motor difficulties in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). The purpose of this study was to examine anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) in children with DCD in a bimanual load-lifting task. ⋯ The impaired fine-tuning of the muscle contribution and the poor stabilization performances demonstrate poor predictive modelling in DCD.
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The purpose of this study was to report a prospective cohort of children with acute-onset movement disorders. ⋯ Acute-onset movement disorders in children are important and may be treatable. Management should focus upon identifying the cause and treating the underlying disease process, as symptomatic treatment of the abnormal movements is variably effective.
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Dev Med Child Neurol · Aug 2010
Case ReportsNeurological complications in two children with Lemierre syndrome.
Lemierre syndrome is a distinct clinical syndrome comprising oropharyngeal sepsis and fever, internal jugular vein thrombosis and remote septic metastases caused by Fusobacterium species. The mortality rate was historically high and although use of antibiotics led to a dramatic fall in incidence, a resurgence has been seen recently. A 14-year-old male developed Lemierre syndrome after tonsillitis. ⋯ She had palsy of the 12th cranial nerve from clival osteomyelitis. She was treated with a 6-week course of antibiotics and anticoagulants leading to almost full recovery at 3-month review. Awareness of the potential neurological complications of Lemierre syndrome and prompt management are crucial in reducing morbidity and mortality in this 'forgotten disease'.
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Dev Med Child Neurol · Jul 2010
Survival of individuals with cerebral palsy receiving continuous intrathecal baclofen treatment: a matched-cohort study.
To determine whether intrathecal baclofen (ITB) changes mortality risk in persons with cerebral palsy (CP). ⋯ ITB therapy does not increase mortality in individuals with CP and may suggest an increase in life expectancy.