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Long-term Outcomes of Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy Among Individuals With Cerebral Palsy

Completed
Conditions
Cerebral Palsy
Interventions
Diagnostic Test: Gait and Motion Analysis
Diagnostic Test: Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)
Behavioral: Surveys
Registration Number
NCT03789786
Lead Sponsor
Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare
Brief Summary

Spasticity affects up to 80% of individuals diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is a surgical method used by some hospitals to permanently reduce spasticity in order to prevent further morbidities. Better understanding of the long-term outcomes of SDR is essential for clinicians and families. The results of this study will have direct clinical impact by equipping providers with the necessary information to counsel families during medical decision making.

Detailed Description

Spasticity affects up to 80% of individuals diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Excessive spasticity is thought to be uncomfortable, reduce function, cause gait deviations (e.g. equinus), and contribute toward musculoskeletal deformity and an elevated energy cost while walking. As such, SDR is a surgical method used by some hospitals to permanently reduce spasticity in order to prevent the aforementioned morbidities.

Treatment philosophies differ widely in regards to how aggressively to manage spasticity. Some centers (e.g. Gillette) aggressively treat spasticity early in life through a variety of measures such as SDR, intrathecal baclofen pumps, and botulinum toxin injections. Other centers (e.g. Shriners Hospitals for Children - Salt Lake City and Spokane) offer little in the way of spasticity reduction treatments.

There are several compelling reasons to conduct the proposed research study. First, emerging evidence suggests that the elimination of spasticity during childhood via SDR does not prevent contractures and only partially explains poor gross motor function, both previously thought to be clear outcomes of the surgery. Additionally, many of the longitudinal cohort studies that examined SDR outcomes have shown many outcome measures peak 1-3 years after surgery, and then decline toward baseline (i.e. pre-SDR) levels. Lastly, the quality of the SDR outcome literature is poor. Rarely are outcomes looked at in context of a proper control group. Either a control group is absent or comprised of typically developing children. This limits our ability to understand how patients with cerebral palsy may age without undergoing an SDR.

Better understanding of the long-term outcomes of SDR is essential for clinicians and families. The surgery, in general, is costly to families (time, expense, risk, etc.) and clinicians should have every confidence in the intended outcomes for any intervention.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
78
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria
  • none

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Cases (+SDR)Gait and Motion AnalysisPatients with cerebral palsy that underwent an SDR
Cases (+SDR)Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)Patients with cerebral palsy that underwent an SDR
Cases (+SDR)SurveysPatients with cerebral palsy that underwent an SDR
Controls (-SDR)Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)Matched patients with cerebral palsy but did not undergo an SDR
Controls (-SDR)SurveysMatched patients with cerebral palsy but did not undergo an SDR
Controls (-SDR)Gait and Motion AnalysisMatched patients with cerebral palsy but did not undergo an SDR
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Passive range of motionTime of long-term follow-up research visit (on average 10 years post-baseline)

Compare passive range of motion, measured by lower extremity physical exam, across groups

Diener Satisfaction with Life ScaleTime of long-term follow-up research visit (on average 10 years post-baseline)

Assess satisfaction using the Diener Satisfaction with Life Scale (self-reported survey, 5 dissatisfied- 35 satisfied) and compare across groups

World Health Organization (WHO) Quality of Life ScaleTime of long-term follow-up research visit (on average 10 years post-baseline)

Assess satisfaction using the WHO Quality of Life Scale (self-reported survey, 0 low quality of life - 100 high quality of life) and compare across groups

Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity Scale (MSSS-88)Time of long-term follow-up research visit (on average 10 years post-baseline)

Assess pain using portions of the MSSS-88 (self-reported survey, 21 not at all bothered - 84 extremely bothered) and compare across groups

SpasticityTime of long-term follow-up research visit (on average 10 years post-baseline)

Compare spasticity, measured by Modified Ashworth Score (0 no increase in tone - 4 rigid in flexion or extension), across groups

Three-dimensional gait and motion analysisTime of long-term follow-up research visit (on average 10 years post-baseline)

Compare three-dimensional gait kinematics and kinetics across groups

Energy expenditureTime of long-term follow-up research visit (on average 10 years post-baseline)

Compare energy expenditure across groups

Selective motor controlTime of long-term follow-up research visit (on average 10 years post-baseline)

Compare selective motor control (0 patterned movement - 2 complete isolated movement) across groups

Lower extremity strengthTime of long-term follow-up research visit (on average 10 years post-baseline)

Compare lower extremity strength, measured by the manual muscle test, across groups

Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire (Gillette FAQ)Time of long-term follow-up research visit (on average 10 years post-baseline)

Assess function and activity using the Gillette FAQ (self-reported survey, 0 low function - 10 high function) and compare across groups

Participation Enfranchisement surveyTime of long-term follow-up research visit (on average 10 years post-baseline)

Assess participation using the Participation Enfranchisement survey (self-reported survey, true/false) and compare across groups

Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66)Time of long-term follow-up research visit (on average 10 years post-baseline)

Assess function using portions of the GMFM-66 (0 low function - 100 high function) and compare across groups

Functional Mobility Scale (FMS)Time of long-term follow-up research visit (on average 10 years post-baseline)

Assess function and activity using the FMS (self-reported survey, 1 uses wheelchair - 6 independent) and compare across groups

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in gait and motion analysisBaseline (qualifying exam for cases and controls) compared to long-term follow-up research visit (on average 10 years post-baseline)

Compare change in gait kinematics and kinetics within groups and if the change is similar between groups

Incidence of prior surgery and anti-spastic treatmentsTime of long-term follow-up research visit (on average 10 years post-baseline)

Incidence of prior surgery and anti-spastic treatments

Cost of prior surgery and anti-spastic treatmentsTime of long-term follow-up research visit (on average 10 years post-baseline)

Cost of prior surgery and anti-spastic treatments

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare

🇺🇸

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States

Shriners Hospitals for Childrens - Spokane

🇺🇸

Spokane, Washington, United States

Shriners Hospitals for Children - Salt Lake City

🇺🇸

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

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