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. 2024 Mar 19;25(1):222.
doi: 10.1186/s12891-024-07350-z.

Incidence and sequence of scoliosis and windswept hip deformity: which comes first in 4148 children with cerebral palsy? A longitudinal cohort study

Jackie Casey #  1   2   3 , Andreas Rosenblad #  4   5   6 , Atli Agustsson #  7 , Henrik Lauge-Pedersen #  1 , Elisabet Rodby-Bousquet  8   9
Affiliations

Incidence and sequence of scoliosis and windswept hip deformity: which comes first in 4148 children with cerebral palsy? A longitudinal cohort study

Jackie Casey et al. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. .

Abstract

Background: The aim was to analyse whether scoliosis or windswept hip deformity (WSH) occurs first for children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: This longitudinal cohort study using data from 1994 - 2020 (26 years) involved 41,600 measurements of 4148 children (2419 [58.3%] boys) with CP born 1990 - 2018 and registered into the Swedish CP follow-up program. Children were followed from a mean age of 2.8 [SD 1.4] years, until they developed either scoliosis or WSH or were removed at surgery.

Results: WSH developed first in 16.6% of the children (mean age 8.1 [SD 5.0] years), and scoliosis in 8.1% (mean age 8.1 [SD 4.9] years). The incidence of WSH was higher than scoliosis across all levels I-V of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), both sexes, and for those with dyskinetic (20.0%) or spastic (17.0%) CP. The incidence of scoliosis was highest (19.8%) and developed earliest in children with GMFCS level V (mean age 5.5 [SD 3.5] years), and in children with dyskinetic (17.9%) CP (mean age 7.0 [SD 4.7] years).

Conclusions: WSH presents earlier than scoliosis in most children with CP. Children with higher GMFCS level or dyskinetic CP are more likely to develop these deformities at a younger age.

Keywords: Cerebral palsy; Cohort study; Hips; Longitudinal study; Scoliosis; Windswept hip deformity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Probability of first event by Gross Motor Classification System (GMFCS) level, together with 95% CIs
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Probability of first event by CP Subtype, together with 95% CIs
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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