Compliance in Children With Cerebral Palsy Supplied With AFOs

Background

About 1 in 400 children born in the UK has cerebral palsy (CP). CP is caused by injury to the foetal or infant brain, and results in problems with walking, balance and coordination. One of the most common strategies for treating walking limitations in children with CP is the use of Ankle Foot Orthoses (AFOs), which aim to correct deformity and improve walking efficiency.

Keeping children with CP mobile is important, not only because physical fitness contributes to quality of life, but also because lack of physical activity can result in a downwards spiral: low physical fitness can make activities of daily living more difficult, leading to further reduction in activity and fitness. One study showed that children with CP at age 10 who walked and did not use a wheelchair had only a small chance (11%) of becoming non-ambulatory, vs. 34% of children using a wheelchair.

AFOs can play an important part in keeping children with CP mobile, and reducing the need for a wheelchair. However, there is evidence that when they reach adolescence, some children are reluctant to wear their AFOs. One of the parents participating in a previous study said "... now we have a 13-year-old who just wants to be like other 13- year-old girls, and she doesn't want to wear AFOs ...". Studies show that children with CP often lose functional ability through adolescence and early adulthood, but it is not clear how that relates to their use or non-use of prescribed AFOs. There are also many factors which contribute to compliance with clinical recommendation and a scarcity of research into the psychological elements which can impact on this, though research indicates that perception and empowerment can increase the likelihood of a successful intervention application and compliance rates.

In this application the investigators seek to explore both the objective, functional benefits of using AFOs and the subjective experience of children and their families. A combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches will be used to understand the factors affecting children's compliance.

Purpose, aims or hypothesis

The overall aim is to understand the factors affecting compliance in children with cerebral palsy using AFOs. The investigators propose to do this by combining quantitative measurement of functional benefit, with qualitative exploration of the patient's experience.

To achieve this the investigators will:- Phase 1: Measure the functional effect of AFOs using 3D movement analysis technology in four children (treated as case studies).

Phase 2: Record patient compliance in the same group of children using sensors embedded in the AFOs Phase 3: Interview children and their families to explore the experience of using assistive devices.

Experimental plan, methods, timetable:

Children with cerebral palsy will be recruited from the routine clinics in ORLAU, at the RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital. The investigators will aim to recruit 4 children with cerebral palsy who have been prescribed bilateral moulded AFOs, two from primary school years 5/6 (1F, 1M) and two from secondary school years 7-9 (1F, 1M). The children will be GMFCS level 1 or 2 and be in main stream education.

Phase 1: 3D movement analysis

Children will be measured by means of 3D movement analysis (Vicon) at their supply appointment. Markers will be placed on the lower limbs and pelvis using the Plug-in-Gait model. Children will be measured walking in shoes with and without their AFOs. The gait analysis will provide detailed quantification of angles and moments at each joint, however the primary measures will be walking speed and the collated GPS which gives an overall score of the deviation from normal walking.

A full clinical examination will also be performed, along with video film of their feet when walking barefoot to assess the extent of any foot deformity.

Phase 2: Assessment of compliance

Each AFO will be fitted with an Orthotimer (www.orthotimer.com) sensor before it is supplied. This data will be downloaded at the review appointment, when the interviews will also be conducted. The device stores data every 15 min for up to 100 days recording whether the orthosis is in use at a given time.

Phase 3: Interviews

Semi-structured interviews will take place with the children recruited for phase 1, asking questions which will allow them to discuss their experiences of living with CP and of using assistive devices, particularly within their school environment; participants in secondary school will be also be asked about their experience in primary school. Questions will be as open as possible to allow the child to give rich, detailed accounts of their day to day experiences and their perceptions of AFOs. The interviews should provide a broad understanding of individual experiences and perspectives of AFOs and reasons for compliance. All children and their families will be invited back to verify the themes from the interviews at a separate, non-clinical, visit. Themes from the school group sessions will be used to shape the questions.

A mapping exercise, based on previous research will be used to enhance the discussion and visually identify locations where the children use their AFOs, their feelings triggered by a range of environments, and any issues they may have with the orthotic devices. These maps can then be used to facilitate further discussion about the children's experiences and analysed alongside the Orthotimer data to develop an in-depth view of the children's use and perception of their AFOs.