Presence and severity of dystonia and choreoathetosis overflow movements in participants with dyskinetic cerebral palsy and their relation with functional classification scales.

Background: This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the presence and severity of overflow movements of dystonia and choreoathetosis in dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP) and to assess the relationship of overflow movements with functional classification scales. Methods: Fifty-two subjects with dyskinetic CP were included. Presence and severity of dystonia and choreoathetosis overflow movements were assessed with the Dyskinesia Impairment Scale. Functional abilities were classified with the Gross Motor Function Classification System, Manual Ability Classification System, Viking Speech Scale, Communication Function Classification System, and Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System. Results: Dystonia and choreoathetosis overflow movements were simultaneously present. Median scores of dystonia overflow movements were significantly higher than choreoathetosis overflow movements. Dystonia and choreoathetosis overflow movements were significantly higher in extremities than in the central body. Correlations between dystonia and choreoathetosis overflow movements were fair. Moderate to good correlations were found between dystonia overflow score and Gross Motor Function Classification System, Manual Ability Classification System, and Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System. Conclusions: This is the first study to assess overflow movements in dyskinetic CP. All participants presented with dystonia and choreoathetosis overflow movements, with higher values for dystonia overflow movements. Dystonia overflow movements seem to have a larger impact on functional abilities.Implications for rehabilitationDystonia and choreoathetosis overflow movements are both present in children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy, with dystonia overflow movements being more severe than choreoathetosis overflow movements.Overflow movements impact heavily on daily functional ability and the execution of voluntary activities.Dystonia overflow movements show good correlations with functional classification scales.The measurable characteristics of overflow movements can be used as a guideline for targeted treatment with, e.g., botulinum-toxin-A injections.