An investigation of the effects on function, activity, participation and quality of life of dystonia and choreoathetosis in children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy

The aims of this study was to investigate the distinction of dystonic and choreoatetoid movements in individuals with dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP), to determine its severity and its effects on function, activity, participation and quality of life; differences between quality of life between typically developing children aged between 2-18 and children with dyskinetic CP were also compared. The dystonia and choreoetheteoid distinctions of the individuals with CP were determined by the Dyskinesia Impairment Scale (DIS); fourty children with dystonic CP, 15 with dystonic and 25 with choreoatetoid were included. Assessments used in finding relationships between function, activity, participation and quality of life; were based on, The World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health framework. 20 typically developing children to participate in the study to clearly demonstrate the difference in quality of life of children with dyskinetic CP. Socio-demographic characteristics of individuals and their distribution according to classification systems were shown. Unlike choreoathetosis, a strong correlation was found between dystonia and function, activity and participation (p<0,01). There was no significant relationship between total dystonia score and quality of life, but showed a weak association with choreoatetosis. Children with dyskinetic CP had a significantly lower quality of life than healthy children (p<0,01). In line with the results, this study is one of the few studies examining individuals with dyskinetic CP including severe forms of CP in the literature. It is important to have a detailed evaluation including the clinical type of dystonia and choreoatetoid in children with dyskinetic CP and to use the DIS. The results of the study are also important in terms of guiding clinicians and researchers in terms of presenting a holistic window by revealing the impairments in body structure and function, activity and participation limitations in individuals with dyskinetic CP. Key words: cerebral palsy, function, activity, participation, quality of life