Occupational Therapy Extremity Evaluation

Abstract

Individuals with CP may present with spasticity that causes dynamic or fixed contractures. Typical orthopaedic deformities include shoulder excessive external rotation, elbow flexion, pronation, ulnar deviation, wrist flexion, thumb adduction, tight finger flexion, and swan neck fingers. Surgery should improve these areas, but some children use their limits for function and may not do better. Examples are children who use augmentative communication aids and need a pronated arm or whose ability to point requires wrist flexion (tight tenodesis).