Active clinical trials for "Cerebral Palsy"

Cerebral palsy (CP) concerns 2 children out of 1000 in the general population (SCPE 2002). It is the main cause of postural and motor deficits in children. During the past 20 years, the postural deficits exhibited by these children have been attributed to various factors : neuromuscular functions sensory integration muscular-squeletic functions. The common point of all these studies is the existence of immature motor patterns, probably related to an inability to implement more elaborated and adapted motor patterns with respect the task to perform. CP children do not develop the characteristics of the plant grad locomotion. They exhibit a uniform muscular activation with a high level of co-activation. Locomotion is generally characterized by an increase of stretching reflexes at short latencies and by a low level of activation associated to a low modulation of gastrocnemius muscles.. These data also suggest that it is the control of the temporal rather than the spatial parameters of the head which are mainly altered in CP children. Even though static postural control and locomotion are considered as automatic processes, this control requires, however, a significant amount of attentional resources. Within this context, the amount of attentional resources which need to be solicited can provide information on two complementary dimensions. On one hand, on the level of automaticity of postural control and/or locomotion when subjects' attention is oriented toward another task. On the other hand, on the cognitive cost of postural control and/or locomotion, depending on children age, that is, as a function of their level of maturation and of the nature and importance of their sensory-motor deficits. When the amount of required attentional resources is reduced, postural control and/or locomotion is considered as automatic processes with a low cognitive cost. The dual task paradigm in which subjects have to simultaneously process a cognitive (e.g. Stroop task) and a postural or motor task (e.g., standing upright on a force platform) is generally used to investigate these questions. How an appropriate allocation of attention is performed as a function of the cognitive and postural/motor tasks is important in the developmental process of posture and locomotion. It seems to be even more crucial in CP children and more generally in pathology. The main goal of the present project is to investigate the contribution of attentional processes in postural control and locomotion of CP children as compared to control healthy children.

This study examined the effect of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) exposure on adverse outcome in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. For infants included in the NICHD Neonatal Research Network Generic Database whose mothers were given prenatal MgSO4, data were prospectively collected on maternal/infant conditions and magnesium exposure (including indications, timing and duration of exposure).

The purpose of this study is to find the relationship between the stage and quality of developmental delay during infancy and toddler age, and the final diagnosis that the child gets a few years later (MR, type of PDD, CP or comorbidity of a few disorders).

The Evans calcaneal lengthening is a common surgical correction used for children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) and painful flat feet. This procedure involves the insertion of a trapezoidal bone graft into the calcaneus bone. Both autograft and allografting materials have been used for this procedure, but both types of grafting materials have associated limitations. Autologous grafting materials, which are harvested from the iliac crest at the time of surgery, are associated with high rates of prolonged donor site pain. There is limited bone available from the iliac crest. For this reason autologous bone grafts are not commonly used for the Evan's procedure. Cadaver allografting materials are variable in their mechanical and geometric properties. Recently, xenografting materials have been developed that have consistent mechanical properties and are available in a larger size that is formed to fit the individual patient intraoperatively. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the long term outcomes of the procedure with the different graft options. Another purpose is to compare the difference in surgical correction obtained with the cadaver allograft and the xenografting materials. This study will also observe and evaluate a wide range of outcome variables that encompass multiple levels of patient care, from clinical observation to parent and patient satisfaction, and compare these with the observed changes in the radiographic and plantar pressure parameters of the foot. This data will be evaluated pre to post surgery and for two years of follow-up time. The aim is to uncover the characteristics of collapse observed with the two different grafting materials.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether dexmedetomidine is effective in the treatment of emergence deliruim after sevoflurane anesthesia in children with cerebral palsy.

The purpose of this study is to try to correlate vitamin D dosing and dosing adjustment with Vitamin D levels, measure affects of seizure medications on levels as well as pathologic fractures and bone density in severely cognitively impaired, non-mobile children and adolescents with CP.

This study is designed to assess effectiveness, safety and cost-utility of conventional rehabilitation and traditional Korean medicine conjugated rehabilitation on children with cerebral palsy.

The investigators would like to understand how the physical activity levels and body size of a child with cerebral palsy (CP) in a clinical situations versus out in the community relates to what they want to do in day to day life (participation in life). The investigators believe that what a child really does out in day to day life will predict life participation to a greater degree than what they do in a structured clinical situation (i.e. therapy session with therapist). The investigators think that increased body size with normal growth is related to less physical activity and participation in day to day life for children with cerebral palsy (CP) who can walk. This project will use a novel accelerometer to measure walking activity during day to day life.

Premature infants are at risk for acute brain injuries and long-term developmental problems such as cerebral palsy (CP). Research suggests that high levels of magnesium at and around the time of birth may decrease the risk of brain injuries. This study will evaluate the effects of giving magnesium to premature infants.

The purpose of this study is to assess the predictive value of generalized movements in preterm and term infants who are at risk for development of cerebral palsy. The investigators will identify at-risk infants and observe their generalized movements, conduct a two year longitudinal follow-up, and interpret the predictive value of the investigators assessments based on the diagnosis of cerebral palsy.