Internationale Zeitschrift für Physikalische Medizin und Rehabilitation
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A Review of Gross Motor Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy in Zaria, North-Western Nigeria

Edwin E. Eseigbe, Jane O. Anyiam, Robinson D. Wammanda, Stephen O. Obajuluwa, Babatola B. Rotibi and Kingsley M. Abraham

Background: Impaired motor function is the hallmark of cerebral palsy and could present with grave implications particularly in resource limited settings. Consequently the identification of motor function and mobility needs in children with cerebral palsy in such settings is vital to providing optimal care.

Objective: To describe the gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy presenting to a child neurology service in Zaria, north-western Nigeria. Methods: A review of the gross motor function, using the Gross Motor Function Classification System Expanded and Revised (GMFCS- E&R), of children with cerebral palsy (Subjects) who were in steady state of health and who presented at Neurology Clinic of the Departments of Paediatrics and Physiotherapy, of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, Nigeria over a five year period was under taken. Other parameters assessed were: age, sex, identified predisposing factor for cerebral palsy, clinical type of cerebral palsy, mode of transport and social class of the subjects.

Results: A total of 235 subjects with age range 5 months to 11 years (mean 2.6 ± 2.4 years) were studied. Of the subjects 148 were males and 87 females (M.F, 1.7:1). Most of the subjects were under 2 years of age (169, 71.91%), in the upper social classes (182, 77.45%), had the spastic clinical type of cerebral palsy (184, 78.30%) and birth asphyxia (106, 45.1%) as the commonest identifiable predisposing factor. Majority of the subjects (143, 60.9%) had severe limitation (GMFCS-E&R Levels IV&V) in gross motor function and this was significantly (pË�0.05) associated with age less than 2 years and spastic type of cerebral palsy. Out of the 205 (87.2%) Subjects who needed a transport mobility device only 14(6.8%) of them utilized one.

Conclusion: The study was characterized by severe limitation in gross motor function and limited utilization of mobility devices in the subjects. It underscores the need to address mobility issues in children with cerebral palsy in the environment.