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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Iain Goff, Dr Belinda Bateman, Dr Andrea Myers, Emerita Professor Helen Foster
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Objective To evaluate the practicality and the acceptability of pGALS (pediatric Gait, Arms, Legs and Spine) screening, a simple pediatric musculoskeletal screening examination, when performed as part of an acute pediatric assessment. Study design Consecutive school-aged children attending an acute pediatric assessment unit were assessed with the addition of pGALS to the routine clinical examination. Practicality (ie, time taken, degree of completion) and patients/parent-assessed acceptability (ie, time taken, discomfort caused) were recorded. Results Fifty consecutive school-aged children (median age 8 years) were evaluated by pGALS. Median time taken was 3 minutes (range 1.2-5.3), and examination was completed in 47/50 (96%) children. Acceptability of pGALS was deemed high: time taken was "about right'' (98% children, 94% parents) and caused no or little discomfort (72% of children, 92% of parents). Abnormalities on pGALS examination were common, with most (17/50, 34%) explained by confirmed musculoskeletal disease, and 6 of 50 (12%) had non-musculoskeletal disease. Conclusions PGALS is practical and acceptable to perform in acute pediatric assessment performed by a non expert in musculoskeletal medicine. Abnormal musculoskeletal findings are common as part of the pGALS examination but need to be interpreted in the global clinical context and assessment. (J Pediatr 2010; 156: 657-62).
Author(s): Goff I, Bateman B, Myers A, Foster H
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Pediatrics
Year: 2010
Volume: 156
Issue: 4
Pages: 657-662
Print publication date: 12/01/2010
ISSN (print): 0022-3476
ISSN (electronic): 1097-6833
Publisher: Mosby
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2009.10.047
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2009.10.047
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