Back pain is more frequent in girls and in children with scoliosis in the context of cerebral palsy

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of general and back pain in children with cerebral palsy and the relationships between scoliosis and back pain. Methods: Cross-sectional register study based on data from the Swedish Cerebral Palsy Follow-Up Programme. Descriptive analyses and logistic regression to regress age, sex, gross motor function, windswept, hip extension and source of report on the presence of pain. Results: The study included 3783 children (58% boys) 1-18 (mean 10.0) years of age. General pain was reported in 1538 (44% girls, 38% boys) and back pain in 226 (7% girls, 5% boys) children. The proportion of back pain increased from <4% prior to age 12 years to >12% from 16 years of age. Back pain increased from 4% in children without scoliosis to 16% in children with severe scoliosis. Moderate/severe back pain increased from 2% in children without scoliosis to 10% in children with severe scoliosis. Increased odds of reporting back pain were found for age, girls, low gross motor function and children with scoliosis. Conclusion: The proportion of children with general pain increased with age and was more frequent in girls. Age, female sex, low gross motor function and scoliosis were significant predictors of back pain.