Rehabilitation Outcomes in Children With Acute Flaccid Myelitis From 2014 to 2019: A Multicenter Retrospective Review.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-2023
Identifier
DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2023.04.027
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a childhood illness characterized by sudden-onset weakness impairing function. The primary goal was to compare the motor recovery patterns of patients with AFM who were discharged home or to inpatient rehabilitation. Secondary analyses focused on recovery of respiratory status, nutritional status, and neurogenic bowel and bladder in both cohorts.
METHODS: Eleven tertiary care centers in the United States performed a retrospective chart review of children with AFM between January 1, 2014, and October 1, 2019. Data included demographics, treatments, and outcomes on admission, discharge, and follow-up visits.
RESULTS: Medical records of 109 children met inclusion criteria; 67 children required inpatient rehabilitation, whereas 42 children were discharged directly home. The median age was 5 years (range 4 months to 17 years), and the median time observed was 417 days (interquartile range = 645 days). Distal upper extremities recovered better than the proximal upper extremities. At acute presentation, children who needed inpatient rehabilitation had significantly higher rates of respiratory support (P < 0.001), nutritional support (P < 0.001), and neurogenic bowel (P = 0.004) and bladder (P = 0.002). At follow-up, those who attended inpatient rehabilitation continued to have higher rates of respiratory support (28% vs 12%, P = 0.043); however, the nutritional status and bowel/bladder function were no longer statistically different.
CONCLUSIONS: All children made improvements in strength. Proximal muscles remained weaker than distal muscles in the upper extremities. Children who qualified for inpatient rehabilitation had ongoing respiratory needs at follow-up; however, recovery of nutritional status and bowel/bladder were similar.
Journal Title
Pediatric neurology
Volume
145
First Page
41
Last Page
47
MeSH Keywords
Humans; Child; United States; Infant; Retrospective Studies; Neurogenic Bowel; Myelitis; Treatment Outcome; Central Nervous System Viral Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases
Keywords
Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM); Mobility; Neurogenic bladder; Neurogenic bowel; Pediatrics; Rehabilitation outcomes; Self-care; WeeFIM
Recommended Citation
Marchese DL, Feldman K, Sinn C, et al. Rehabilitation Outcomes in Children With Acute Flaccid Myelitis From 2014 to 2019: A Multicenter Retrospective Review. Pediatr Neurol. 2023;145:41-47. doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2023.04.027
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