Growth characteristics in cerebral palsy subtypes: a comparative assessment

Abstract

Aim: Children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy (CP) have been found to have growth rates that differ from those of children with typical development. Little research has been performed to distinguish whether growth patterns in hemiplegic, diplegic, and quadriplegic CP differ from one another. The purpose of this study was to compare growth of children with quadriplegic, hemiplegic, and diplegic CP. Method: Retrospective data were collected from the electronic medical record of patients with CP at an outpatient center. Linear mixed models were used to examine growth by diagnosis, using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) diagnosis codes 343.0 (diplegia), 343.1 (hemiplegia), and 343.2 (quadriplegia). Results: Heights and weights of children with quadriplegic CP were consistently lower than those with hemiplegic or diplegic CP. Children with hemiplegic CP had greater heights and weights than other CP subtypes. There were statistically significant differences in weight gain curves among the three diagnoses for males (p<0.05). Interpretation: Our study reveals differences in growth rates between hemiplegic, diplegic, and quadriplegic CP subtypes.