Provides information on study conducted and completed at the NIH and Children's National Medical Center to evaluation how well different physician's agree on how they classify cerebral palsy subtypes based on patient examination.
Completed study classified types of Hypertonia in patients with Cerebral Palsy and determine if the classifications are reasonable in relation to the functional task of walking. Hypertonia is an abnormal increase in muscle tension. It is a common symptom of Cerebral Palsy that can lead to loss of function and deformity. This study may help scientists improve evaluation criteria for hypertonia and, ultimately, treatment results.
Dystonias Fact Sheet at National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke NINDS - what are the dystonias - Symptoms, classifications - treatment - research
PEDIATRICS - Official Journal of the Americal Academy of Pediatrics - Clinical Practice Guidelines - Classification and Definition of Disorders Causing Hypertonia in Childhood
Hypertonia at PEDIATRICS - Official Journal of the American Academy of Pedicatrics - Pediatrics Vol 111, 2003 - Classification and Definition of Disorders Causing Hypertonia in Childhood
Running in parallel with clinical care in the Phelps Center for Cerebral Palsy and Neurodevelopmental Medicine are several Phelps Center research projects designed to improve classification and treatment for children with cerebral palsy. Using advanced neuroimaging techniques in the Kennedy Krieger Institute Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging researchers have identified specific white matter pathways that carry messages from one part of the brain to another.
PubMed Abstract of study: Clinical and brain imaging heterogeneity of severe microcephaly. The aim of this research was to group a large cohort of patients with primary microcephaly into more discrete subtypes, to optimize assessment of the patients based on their clinical and brain imaging findings
Dystonia at Movement Disorder Virtual University Resource Library - Classifications of Dystonia - Causes- Treatment and Medications - Surgical Treatments - References
Information on completed study to classify types of hypertonia in patients with cerebral palsy and determine if the classifications are reasonable in relation to the functional task of walking."