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ABSTRACT: Background
The Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale is a universally applied instrument for the quantitative assessment of dystonia in both children and adults. However, immature movements by healthy young children may also show "dystonic characteristics" as a consequence of physiologically incomplete brain maturation. This could implicate that Burke-Fahn-Marsden scale scores are confounded by pediatric age.Objective
In healthy young children, we aimed to determine whether physiologically immature movements and postures can induce an age-related effect on Burke-Fahn-Marsden movement and disability scale scores.Methods
Nine assessors specializied in movement disorders (3 adult neurologists, 3 pediatric neurologists, and 3 MD/PhD students) independently scored the Burke-Fahn-Marsden movement scale in 52 healthy children (4-16 years of age; 2 boys and 2 girls per year of age). Independent of that, parents scored their children's functional motor development according to the Burke-Fahn-Marsden disability scale in another 52 healthy children (4-16 years of age; 2 boys and 2 girls per year of age). By regression analysis, we determined the association between Burke-Fahn-Marsden movement and disability scales outcomes and pediatric age.Results
In healthy children, assessment of physiologically immature motor performances by the Burke-Fahn-Marsden movement and disability scales showed an association between the outcomes of both scales and age (until 16 years and 12 years of age, β = -0.72 and β = -0.60, for Burke-Fahn-Marsden movement and disability scale, respectively [both P < 0.001]).Conclusions
The Burke-Fahn-Marsden movement and disability scales are influenced by the age of the child. For accurate interpretation of longitudinal Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale scores in young dystonic children, consideration of pediatric age-relatedness appears advisory.
SUBMITTER: Kuiper MJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6353340 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov-Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Kuiper Marieke Johanna MJ Vrijenhoek Loïs L Brandsma Rick R Lunsing Roelineke J RJ Burger Huibert H Eggink Hendriekje H Peall Kathryn J KJ Contarino Maria Fiorella MF Speelman Johannes D JD Tijssen Marina A J MAJ Sival Deborah A DA
Movement disorders clinical practice 20160503 6
<h4>Background</h4>The Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale is a universally applied instrument for the quantitative assessment of dystonia in both children and adults. However, immature movements by healthy young children may also show "dystonic characteristics" as a consequence of physiologically incomplete brain maturation. This could implicate that Burke-Fahn-Marsden scale scores are confounded by pediatric age.<h4>Objective</h4>In healthy young children, we aimed to determine whether ph ...[more]