Comparison of stereognosis and two-point discrimination testing of the hands of children with cerebral palsy.

The authors compared tests of stereognosis using shape recognition and two-point discrimination with a paper-clip in evaluating sensation in the fingers of 51 patients with cerebral palsy between the ages of six and 20 years, and of 170 controls in the same age-range. The two-point discrimination test had significantly higher sensitivity in detecting tactile sensation than shape recognition, with slightly less specificity. Testing hand sensation should be part of the assessment of patients when considering reconstructive surgery, therapy, or the teaching of specific hand-skills. The two-point discrimination test with a paper-clip is a simple and reliable method of doing so.