Hip Pain in Children with Severe Cerebral Palsy

Disability and Rehabilitation published research on hip pain in children with severe cerebral palsy and hip dislocation. Seventy three children ages 4 through 10.8 years old had a total of 99 dislocated hips. Medical records were reviewed for previous physical therapy interventions (abduction therapy, no abduction therapy and abduction/ hippotherapy). Pain level was measured. In addition, radiographs and femoral head cartilage degenerative lesions were evaluated.

The results showed that 56.6% of the children had pain. The reports of pain were associated with the child's age, abduction therapy, previous hippotherapy and anterior changes of the femoral head. Pain levels were associated with the degree of femoral ante-version and the size of the degenerative cartilage changes.

The researchers concluded that hip pain in children with hip dislocation may be associated with extensive abduction therapy, hippotherapy and degenerative changes in the anterior femoral head.

Reference: Jóóźźwiak, Marek; Harasymczuk, Piotr; Koch, Aleksander; Kotwicki, Tomasz Incidence and risk factors of hip joint pain in children with severe cerebral palsy. Disability and Rehabilitation, Volume 33, Numbers 15-16, October 2011 , pp. 1367-1372(6)