Adaptation in sensorimotor control after restoration of grip and pinch in children with tetraplegia

Abstract

This study examined how restoration of grip and pinch influenced sensorimotor control in 16 participants with tetraplegia, 8 to 20 years of age. Clinical measures and grip-lift task performance under two frictional conditions were recorded at baseline and 2 and 6 months after tendon transfers or neuroprosthesis implant. All participants improved strength, dexterity, function, and static grip force during lifts from baseline. Task completion time shortened in the tendon transfer group and lengthened in the neuroprosthesis group postoperatively. Only the tendon transfer group exhibited differential force scaling for texture and showed two-point discrimination and strength to predict temporal and force coordination by 6 months. Sensibility and biomechanical features of the neuroprosthesis likely contributed to group differences in resultant sensorimotor control. © 2008 Thomas Land Publishers, Inc.