OBJECTIVE: The present study correlated fine motor function (FMF) and sensory function (SF) performance with magnetic resonance imaging classification, in cases of hemiparetic cerebral palsy. METHOD: Specific protocols were used to evaluate FMF, SF and brain lesion extent and location in the hemisphere. Forty-six patients were assessed: 23 with hemiparetic cerebral palsy (group 1) and 23 normal individuals (group 2). Their ages ranged from 7 to 16 years, with a mean of 12 years and 8 months. RESULTS: FMF and SF performance in group 1 was significantly worse than in group 2. Hemiparetic cerebral palsy cases with lesions in only one brain structure presented better results than those with two or more damaged structures larger than 10 mm. Patients with unilateral or bilateral cortical and subcortical impairment presented worse performance than those with subcortical lesions. CONCLUSION: Motor and sensory dysfunctions need to be identified and understood in order to provide routine training and special care for such children.
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