In children with cerebral palsy, bone density is decreased by disturbance of bone remodelling due to lack of normal weight bearing and muscle contraction through physical activity. Loss of bone density cause fracture, delays treatment with immobilization, and leads to functional limitation. The purpose of this study was to investigate bone mineral density of lumbar spine in children with spastic quadriplegia and diplegia. Six spastic quadriplegia and 14 spastic diplegia were evaluated in this study. QDR 4500 X-ray densitometer was used to measure bone density at lumbar spine (L1~L4). Children with cerebral palsy showed lower bone density than that of normal children. Bone density in children with spastic quadriplegia and diplegia was , , respectively. However, there was no significant differences in bone density between children with spastic quadriplegia and diplegia. There was no significant difference in bone density relation to motor development level, height, and weight. Further study is needed to find the appropriate interventions for preventing loss of bone density in children with cerebral palsy.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between components of population, maternal health, need for health care, maternal lifestyle and environment from a conceptual model for cerebral palsy, and the occurrence of cerebral palsy with spastic quadriplegic. This study was a case-control design. The subjects consisted of 53 children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy as a case who were receiving treatment after a diagnosis for cerebral palsy at 3 university hospitals and 3 rehabilitation facilities, and 186 children as a control who were visiting well baby clinics and pediatric departments after screening at the same hospitals in Seoul. The data were collected by a structured questionnaire survey from October, 1998 to February, 1999. The odds ratios of risk factor was produced by χ2 and simple logistic analysiss. The unconditional logistic analysis was done by modeling the data, after adjusting for gestational age. Statistically associated with an increase the risks for spastic quadriplegia were asphyxia(OR=221.89, 95% CI 15.8-999.0) and maternal history of admission during the pregnancy (OR=10.55, 95% CI 2.2-50.4). The result suggested that the improvement of obstetric and neonatal care is necessary to prevent cerebral palsy with spastic quadriplegia.