Investigation of the different factors that cause hip problems in spastic quadriparetic cerebral palsy children

The aim of this study was to investigate the first standing and weight-bearing age and the related hip subluxation and dislocation in children with spastic quadriparetic cerebral palsy. Forty-three children with the diagnosis of spastic quadriparetic cerebral palsy were included in the study. Mean age was 98.9±59.1 months (9-192 months). Functional status according to Gross Motor Function Classification System and clinical type were identified. Muscle tone was evaluated with modified Ashworth scale. The age at which the patients began to stand was ascertained from the families. Hip X-rays for the last six months were evaluated by the orthopedic surgeon regarding hip subluxation and dislocation. The first standing ages for the girls and boys were 30.2±26.4 and 63.8±46.2 months, respectively. Eleven (25.6%) of the 43 patients had hip dislocation and three (7.0%) had hip subluxation. A statistically significant difference was found between hip flexor, internal rotator, adductor and hamstring spasticity and hip subluxation and dislocation (p<0.05). We think that the children must be put in standing position with weight-bearing as early as possible in order to prevent secondary hip problems in later years.