Affiliations: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of
Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,
Universiti Teknologi Mara, Shah Alam, Malaysia
Note: [] Corresponding author: Aishah Ahmad Fauzi, MBBS Malaya, MRehab
Med., Clinical Lecturer, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of
Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel.: +603
79675781/5782; Fax: +603 79675781; E-mail: aishah_fauzi@um.edu.my
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: The Gross Motor Function Classification System
(GMFCS) was developed to establish uniform communication between healthcare
providers, patients, and the patients' families. It is also used to
prognosticate the outcome of motor function. Based on previous reports,
prognostication of ambulation status in cerebral palsy is based on the motor
development curve, which shows a plateau at a certain known age. CASE REPORT: This report illustrates the case of a boy with spastic triplegic
cerebral palsy secondary to postnatal insult at early childhood. The patient
was noted to have tremendous progressive improvement in his GMFCS level beyond
7 years old: from level IV at 4 years old to level II at 9 years old. CONCLUSION: Prognostication of ambulation in cerebral palsy based on the motor
development curve provides a basis for physicians to predict motor function
outcome and plan appropriate intervention. This case report shows that other
important factors need to be considered in the clinical evaluation before
rendering the prognostication of motor function outcome, including
environmental factors as well as the etiology of cerebral palsy, for which
special consideration should be given in cases of postnatal insult-related cerebral palsy.
