Objective: The present study aimed to develop a clinical algorithm to comprehensively characterize CC in PD.

Background: Clinical assessment of Camptocormia (CC) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is not yet standardized.

Methods: The following parameters were evaluated in 10 patients with PD and CC: flexion of the trunk (TF), flexion of the legs (LF), total score (CC-SS = LF plus TF) in Med-ON/Med-OFF at rest and following activity (5 minutes walking). Supplemental clinical investigations included possible pareses of trunk muscles, „back pack“- test, electromyography of paravertebral (thoracal and lumbal) and abdominal muscles and Unified Parkinson’s disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor score III Med-ON/Med-OFF.

Results: At rest 10 patients showed a total CC-SS in Med-OFF of 47,2° (range 42,1-64,2°) and an isolated trunk score of 21,3° (range 9-32°). Following acitivity mean CC-SS and trunk scores worsened, i.e. 51,6° (range 25-86°) and 25,6° (7,3-50°), respectively. Interestingly, the ranking of severity of postural abnormality changed in 7/10 patients when CC-SS was applied instead of TF. After levodopa challenge UPDRS motor score III improved (p=0,017) without affecting TF and CC-SS.

Conclusions: The present results suggest that severity of CC may be incompletely reflected by quantification of trunk flexion only. Additional compensatory mechanisms (e.g. leg flexion) should be incorporated by calculating CC-SS. In addition assessment should be repeated after walking. The present assessment may be a valuable algorithm to validly quantify CC in PD.

Parkinson-Kongress 2015 Berlin.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/standardized-assessment-of-camptocormia-in-idiopathic-parkinsons-disease/