Walking prognosis in cerebral palsy: a 22-year retrospective analysis.

A retrospective study was performed of 272 patients with spasticity to determine criteria for the prognosis for ambulation based on the ages at which children with cerebral palsy attain important gross motor milestones. The variables analysed were age at last clinical assessment, clinical type of cerebral palsy and ages at attainment of gross motor milestones. Achievement of head balance before nine months was an important parameter for good prognosis for walking and, after 20 months of age, an indicator for poor prognosis. Sitting by 24 months indicated a favourable outcome, and motor control of crawling at 30 months of age was a predictor for good prognosis. Based on these data, a chart for walking prognosis in children with cerebral palsy is presented.