Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31797136›Full record

ArticleEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2020

Incidence of spinal deformities and the relationship with physical status and back pain in ambulant adults with cerebral palsy and spastic diplegia.

Nelleke G Langerak, Elsabe Britz, Stewart Dix-Peek, Jacques du Toit, A Graham Fieggen, Robert P Lamberts

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.0field-weighted citation impact, top 24% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 9 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pain in adults with cerebral palsy: A systematic review.Developmental medicine and child neurology · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Nelleke G LangerakNeuroscience Institute and Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0003-1567-3112
Elsabe BritzDivision of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0002-1491-6883
Stewart Dix-PeekDivision of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0002-3382-8790
Jacques du ToitDivision of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0002-0958-5450
A Graham FieggenNeuroscience Institute and Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0001-6541-8377
Robert P LambertsDivision of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa. rplam@hotmail.com.ORCID 0000-0003-1112-2604
Stellenbosch University · ZAUniversity of Cape Town · ZA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of spinal deformities in ambulant adults with cerebral palsy (CP) and spastic diplegia, more than 15 years after orthopaedic interval surgery approach (ISA) treatment, and its relationship to contextual factors, level of pain and physical status.

methodsSpinal X-rays, pain (Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and location/frequency) questionnaires and physical examination assessing lower extremity muscle strength (Medical Research Council scale), motor control (selectivity scale) and muscle tone (Ashworth score) were conducted in 30 adults with spastic diplegic CP.

resultsMild scoliosis (curve 12-22°) was determined in eight (28%) participants. Hyperkyphosis (> 50°) was reported in two (7%) and lumbar hyperlordosis (> 60°) in five (17%) participants. Pain was most commonly reported at cervical (n = 19, 63%) and lumbosacral (n = 18, 60%) area, resulting in 'moderate disability' for six (20%) and 'severe disability' for one (3%) participant. Most apparent physical abnormalities determined were hip abduction weakness and increased rectus femoris muscle tone. Regarding correlations, no relations were found for scoliosis curvature, but kyphosis curvature was related to females, ODI scores (lifting and sitting) and increased muscle tone of ankle plantar flexor muscles, lordosis curvature to passive hip extension mobility, and hip flexors and ankle plantar flexors muscle tone.

conclusionAdults with spastic diplegic CP who received their first orthopaedic intervention more than 15 years ago (based on ISA) showed similar incidence of spinal deformities as reported in the younger CP population, suggesting stability of spinal curvature into adulthood. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

Indexed as

Cerebral PalsyLordosisAdultAnimalsBack PainFemaleHumansIncidenceTreatment OutcomeBack painCerebral PalsyISAOrthopaedic surgeryPhysical statusSpinal deformities

Identifiers

PMID31797136
OpenAlexW2993442092

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.