[The shape of the spine among children with cerebral palsy].

AIM: The objective of the study was to determine the posture among children with cerebral palsy referring to type of paralysis.

METHODOLOGY: The research was performed out of 33 children with Cerebral Palsy (aged 1-18 years) who attend Zespół Szkół Specjalnych number 103, Accident-Orthopaedic Department in Hospital nr 4 in Poznan and Rehabilitation Center "Bartek" in Poznań. The questionnaire was used in order to check whether there is any failure curvature in cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine in plantar and frontal plane. The study was performed by visual analysis of the spine in November and December in 2007.

RESULTS

(1) The visual analysis of the vertebral column showed that the cervical spine is asymmetric among two children with hemiplegia bilateralis, three with hemiplegia spastica and one with atetosis. (2) Among group of patients with lumbar hyperlordosis there are eight who are diagnosed with hemiplegia bilateralis. (3) These are seven patients who have the proper position of pelvis in frontal plane and can stand by oneself (referring to Levene's Test for Equality of Variances p = 0.039820).

CONCLUSIONS

(1) The failure posture is common among children with cerebral palsy. (2) Vertebral column is asymmetrical in frontal plane among many patients with cerebralpalsy, especially with hemiplegia spastica. (3) The position of pelvis in frontal plane influence on the ability of standing by oneself.