OBJECTIVE: To analyze the linear growth, the head circumference and the anthropometric differences between involved and non-involved sides of 24 children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, comparing them to standard values for age. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 24 consecutive children with cerebral palsy clinically classified as spastic hemiplegia. The anthropometric measures included: weight, lenght, head circumference, total upper limb length, hand length, palm width, total lower limb length, foot length, and limb circumference of upper-arm, thigh and calf. The anthropometric differences between both sides were calculated in centimeters and a comparison of the involved and non-involved sides was made. Two different reference values were used to compare the measures of hand and foot length: growth charts and the software ABase® (a PalmOS-based software). The Spearman's correlation coefficient was estimated for the association between quantitative variables and the Wilcoxon non-parametric test was used for age comparisons between involved and noninvolved sides. RESULTS: The mean values of weight, length and head circumference were within the normal range for age and 21% of the children presented microcephaly. Discrepancy was noted between both sides in all cases, being the largest discrepancy in hand length and width. There was a positive correlation between the discrepancy observed in superior and inferior affected limbs (r=0.48), and discrepancy increases with age (r=0.44). CONCLUSION: Growth impairment in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy was observed on the affected limbs and in smaller proportion in head circumference.
anthropometry; cerebral palsy; hemiplegia; growth; child
