Comparison of parents' and caregivers' satisfaction after spinal fusion in children with cerebral palsy

The purpose of this study was to delineate parents' and professional caretakers' satisfaction after spinal fusion in children with spasticity and to determine differences in their perceptions. A questionnaire assessing patients' functional improvement after spinal arthrodesis for correcting scoliosis was addressed to 190 parents. An expanded questionnaire was also addressed to 122 educators and therapists working in the care of children with cerebral palsy. Caretakers did not recognize effects of the scoliotic deformity on patients' head control, hand use, and feeding ability. Most of parents and caregivers reported a very positive impact of the surgery on patients' overall function, quality of life, and ease of care. Parents had more appreciation of the benefits in the children's appearance, whereas educators and therapists acknowledged more improvement in gross and oral motor function. Considering that the benefits from scoliosis correction clearly outweigh the increased risk of surgical complications, most parents (95.8%) and caretakers (84.3%) would recommend spine surgery.