Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to report the responsiveness and minimal clinically important difference of the Edinburgh Visual Gait Score (EVGS), used to measure gait deviations in children with cerebral palsy.
DESIGN
Fifty ambulant children with spastic diplegia (Gross Motor Function Classification System levels II and III) aged between 6 and 19 yrs were recruited for this longitudinal study. The participants were evaluated before surgery and at 6 and 12 mos after surgery. The change in EVGS at these time points was used to calculate effect sizes and minimal clinically important differences.
RESULTS
Friedman analysis of variance showed a significant difference (χ2 = 60.69, P = 0.000) in the EVGS scores at 6 and 12 mos when compared with baseline. Effect sizes at 6 and 12 mos were large (1.19 and 1.22, respectively), indicating a visible difference in gait .The minimal clinically important differences of EVGS at 6 and 12 mos were 11 and 15, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The EVGS is an outcome measure that can be used to evaluate the effect of orthopedic surgical intervention in children with cerebral palsy. Differences of 11 and 15 points on the EVGS are required to suggest that changes in gait are attributable to intervention when group means are considered.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Gupta S, Raja K

Institution

Department of Physiotherapy, Manipal College of Allied Health Science, Manipal University, Karnataka, India.

Source

American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation / Association of Academic Physiatrists 91:9 2012 Sep pg 761-7

MeSH

Activities of Daily Living
Adolescent
Analysis of Variance
Cerebral Palsy
Child
Disability Evaluation
Female
Gait
Home Care Services
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy Modalities
Prospective Studies
Treatment Outcome
Young Adult

Pub Type(s)

Evaluation Studies
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22790796