[Medical problems and needs of follow-up in a group of children with mild cerebral palsy].

BACKGROUND

There is no specialized health service for routine follow-up for ambulatory children with cerebral palsy in Rogaland county. Our aim was to investigate the kind of medical problems these children had and whether these problems were discovered by the health services.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

37 children with cerebral palsy born 1987-1992 were investigated. They were all independent walkers without mental retardation at the time of selection. The majority had spastic hemiplegia or spastic diplegia. Their parents were interviewed and the children underwent a neurological examination.

RESULTS

Orthopedic problems such as scoliosis, hip abnormalities, tight tendons and muscles, and leg length discrepancy were not discovered by the local health service. The children had a high incidence of epilepsy, visual disorders and minor speech problems. Minor learning difficulties were frequent.

INTERPRETATION: Children with mild cerebral palsy have specific problems and need the attention of neuropediatricians in order to establish the primary and secondary problems involved.