Table 2

Detailed characteristics of the children

N=77
N (%)
Med (IQR)
1. Health status
Neurodevelopment status (months)*
 Language5 (2–9)
 Posture-motor ability3 (2–10)
 Coordination6 (2–6)
 Sociability6 (2–9)
Neurological handicaps
 Severe dystonia5 (7.5)
 Global hypotonia38 (52.1)
 Extrapyramidal syndrome13 (19.1)
 Ataxia5 (7.5)
Sensorial disorders
 Visual impairment22 (28.9)
 Hearing impairment7 (9.2)
Behavioural disorders†20 (27.0)
Sleep disorders
 Night wake up20 (26.7)
 Difficulties falling asleep12 (16.2)
 Short sleep3 (4.2)
 Inversion4 (5.4)
Epilepsia
 Presence of epilepsia40 (52.6)
 At least one crisis per day27 (67.5)
 Previous status epilepticus19 (24.7)
Orthopaedic
 Scoliosis31 (41.3)
 Limb deformation25 (34.2)
 Hip luxation11 (14.3)
 Arthrodesis, other surgery12 (15.8)
Pulmonary
 Aspiration syndrome18 (23.4)
 Recurrent pulmonary infections8 (10.4)
Digestive
 Drooling25 (32.5)
 Faecal impaction24 (31.2)
 Gastro-oesophageal reflux31 (40.3)
Urinary
 Recurrent urinary tract infections1
 Urinal retention2
Cutaneous
 Bedsores1
2.Treatments and rehabilitation
Medications
 More than 335 (45.4)
 Total number3 (2–7)
 Laxatives42 (54.5)
 Anticonvulsants48 (62.3)
 Psychotropics7 (9.1)
 Osteoporosis prevention15 (19.5)
 Antispastics12 (15.6)
 Antidystonics8 (10.4)
Devices‡
 No device54 (70.1)
 One device18 (23.4)
 Two devices4 (5.2)
 Four devices1
≥3 hours/day in a sitting device63 (81.8)
Verticalisation device use15 (19.5)
Air mattress11 (14.3)
3.Health pathway
Previous emergency and/or ICU admission18 (23.4)
Perception of referent physician
 Medical care inadequacy7 (9.1)
 Educational care inadequacy12 (15.6)
Request for an admission in institution§21 (27.3)
Life project structuration54 (70.1)
Palliative condition3 (3.9)
  • Med (IQR): median (IQR).

  • *Neurodevelopmental status levels range from 0 to 24 months.

  • †Behavioural disorders including intermittent screaming and/or agitation and/or stereotypies and/or intermittent crying and/or self-aggressivity and/or hetero-aggressivity.

  • ‡Including gastrostomy, non-invasive mechanical ventilation, cerebrospinal fluid derivation, tracheotomia, permanent urinary probe, nasogastric tube, invasive mechanical ventilation and central venous catheter.

  • §Registered on a waiting list and/or official request made by the French Department for Persons with Disabilities.

  • ICU, intensive care unit.