These population specific references for children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy will facilitate uniformity in your clinical appraisal of growth and nutritional status. Deviations in growth may be the first or only signal of a more serious underlying health problem that requires assessment. This chart will also help you to educate families about the issue of growth and aid in evaluating the efficacy of your intervention strategies.
The estimate of ideal body weight is in part determined by the severity and topography of cerebral palsy. For those children with quadriplegia, ideal body weight should accommodate the principles of assuring good health by maintaining adequate fat and muscle stores and allow for ease in daily physical care and management.