Friday, December 28, 2012

Outcomes for Children with CP - Early Identification and Comprehensive Management are Important!



This important article starts with great observations that a) early diagnosis is beneficial and b) prognostic information is importance. My problem with the article is that all types of CP are blended together.  
See the bottom for prognostic information. JR


"Parents believe professionals withhold prognostic information in an attempt to protect them from bad news. Research, however, suggests that the absence of prognostic information makes it more difficult, not easier, for parents to cope.

Dissatisfaction with delayed receipt of diagnostic information has been linked to higher rates of parental depression. In qualitative studies, parents advise professionals that they want and need prognostic information to assist them with planning services.

In addition, parents recommend that medical information be presented in “parent-friendly” language to facilitate their understanding and acceptance of information."


Clinical prognostic messages from a systematic review on cerebral palsy.

Source

MSc (Hons), BAppSc (OT), Head of Research, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute, PO Box 184, Brookvale NSW 2100, Australia. inovak@cerebralpalsy.org.au.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To summarize evidence on the rates of co-occurring impairments, diseases, and functional limitations with cerebral palsy into succinct clinical messages.

METHODS:

A search was conducted of the databases PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, and PsycINFO, and the results were supplemented with hand searches. Two independent reviewers determined whether retrieved abstracts met the following inclusion criteria: human subjects; >90% were children or adults with cerebral palsy; published after 1999; and population-based data. Articles were appraised, analyzing design, participants, level of evidence, rates of impairments, and functional implications. Methodologic quality was rated by using a standardized checklist.

RESULTS:

A total of 1366 papers were identified in the search; 82 were appraised and 30 were included in the meta-analyses. High-level evidence existed, as rated on the Oxford 2011 Levels of Evidence: 97% of prevalence studies were level 1. The data were of a moderate to high quality grade (with the exception of sleep disorders), allowing plain English clinical messages to be developed.

CONCLUSIONS:

Among children with cerebral palsy, 3 in 4 were in pain; 1 in 2 had an intellectual disability; 1 in 3 could not walk; 1 in 3 had a hip displacement; 1 in 4 could not talk; 1 in 4 had epilepsy; 1 in 4 had a behavior disorder; 1 in 4 had bladder control problems; 1 in 5 had a sleep disorder; 1 in 5 dribbled; 1 in 10 were blind; 1 in 15 were tube-fed; and 1 in 25 were deaf.
PMID:
 
23045562
 
[PubMed - in process]
 2012 Nov;130(5):e1285-312. doi: 10.1542/peds.2012-0924. Epub 2012 Oct 8.

Clinical Prognostic Messages 

From a Systematic Review on 

Cerebral Palsy


TABLE 3
Clinical Messages

ProblemHow Common Is This Problem?Who Is at Risk?Long-term Implications?Clinical Recommendations
Behavior1 in 4 children with cerebral palsy have a behavior disorder (moderate-quality GRADE)Children with cerebral palsy and an ID are more likely to have behavioral problems (high-quality GRADE)UnknownThorough assessment of behavior is recommended. Also a pain assessment is essential in the presence of behavioral problems, even for children with mild physical impairments.
The rate of abnormal behavior in children with cerebral palsy is 2 to 4 times higher than the population (moderate-quality GRADE)Children with cerebral palsy and epilepsy are more likely to have behavioral problems; these children are also more likely to have an intellectual impairment (moderate-quality GRADE)Pain control may remediate or minimize the behavioral problem.
Children with cerebral palsy and severe pain are more likely to have behavioral problems (high-quality GRADE)Standard psychometric IQ assessment is also recommended in the presence of behavioral problems to enable the family to understand the prognosis of the behavioral problem.
Children with cerebral palsy and milder physical disability are more likely to have behavioral problems than children with severe physical disability (high-quality GRADE)
Bladder and bowel control1 in 4 children with cerebral palsy do not have bladder control (moderate-quality GRADE)The risk of bladder and bowel control problems increases with severity of physical disability (moderate-quality GRADE)UnknownMedical investigations are warranted as abnormal anatomic findings are common
The rate of bladder control problems in children with cerebral palsy <4 2="2" 3="3" grade="grade" higher="higher" is="is" low-quality="low-quality" old="old" population="population" td="td" than="than" the="the" times="times" to="to" years="years">Children with cerebral palsy who are unable to walk or have an ID are most at risk for bladder and bowel control problems (moderate-quality GRADE)Children with cerebral palsy should be offered standard toilet training but over a longer period of time
1 in 3 to 4 children with cerebral palsy have constipation (low-quality GRADE)Prescription of incontinence aides will be required for 1 in 3-4 and this will be for longer periods of time that children without physical disabilities
Dribbling1 in 5 children with cerebral palsy dribble (moderate-quality GRADE)Children with severe physical disability are more likely to dribble (moderate-quality GRADE)UnknownSocial stigma is a major problem arising from dribbling and effective treatments such as Botulinum toxin A or surgical interventions should be explored.
Eating1 in 15 children with cerebral palsy are tube-fed (moderate-quality GRADE)Children with a history of poor sucking during infancy are more likely to have feeding problems (moderate-quality GRADE)Eating skills remain stable in adulthood (high-quality GRADE)Infants with cerebral palsy and poor sucking should have their eating comprehensively monitored.
Children with cerebral palsy are 3 times more likely to have feeding problems at 6 months of age (moderate-quality GRADE)Children with severe physical disability are more likely to need someone to feed them (moderate-quality GRADE) and are more likely to need tube feeding (moderate-quality GRADE).Swallowing safety should be comprehensively assessed if concerns are reported.
Children who are nonverbal are more likely to have difficulty feeding (high-quality GRADE)Weight should also be measured regularly as those with more severe physical disability have higher risk for malnutrition.
Epilepsy1 in 4 children with cerebral palsy have active epilepsy (high-quality GRADE)The risk of epilepsy with cerebral palsy increases with severity of physical disability (high-quality GRADE)Adults with cerebral palsy and epilepsy are less likely to work (high-quality GRADE)Anti-epileptic medications are usually effective for managing seizures and are considered standard practice for managing epilepsy in children with cerebral palsy
1 in 3 children with cerebral palsy have had epilepsy at some time (high-quality GRADE)Children with both sides of the body affected are more likely to have epilepsy (high-quality GRADE)Children with cerebral palsy are less likely to become seizure-free (low-quality GRADE)
Children with cerebral palsy and an ID are more likely to have epilepsy (high-quality GRADE)
Hearing1 in 25 children with cerebral palsy have severe hearing impairment or are deaf (high-quality GRADE)Children with more severe physical disability are more likely to have a hearing impairment (moderate-quality GRADE)UnknownEarly screening, assessment, and accommodation for hearing impairment is recommended
Hips and spine1 in 3 children with cerebral palsy have hip displacement (high-quality GRADE)Children with both sides of the body affected and who cannot walk are at the greatest risk of hip problems (high-quality GRADE) and scoliosis (low-quality GRADE)Long-term active hip surveillance reduces the likelihood of progression from hip displacement to hip dislocation (moderate-quality GRADE)6- to 12-month hip surveillance is recommended and is effective for ensuring access to early treatment. Radiograph and clinical assessment should commence very early. For those who receive hip surveillance the rate of salvage orthopedic surgery is lower
1 in 10 children with cerebral palsy have hip dislocation without hip surveillance (high- quality GRADE)The risk of hip abnormalities with cerebral palsy increases with severity of physical disability (high-quality GRADE)
The risk of associated spinal deformity increases with severity of physical disability (low-quality GRADE)
Intellect1 in 2 children with cerebral palsy have an ID (moderate-quality GRADE)Children with more severe physical disability are more likely to have an intellectual impairment (moderate-quality GRADE)UnknownFormal assessment and diagnosis of an ID is an important prognostic indicator for walking, bladder control, school performance, and likelihood of independent living
1 in 4 children with cerebral palsy have a severe ID (moderate-quality GRADE)Children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy who have an ID are more likely to have a severe ID than those with spastic cerebral palsy (moderate-quality GRADE)If multiple impairments exist, psychometric screening of intelligence is highly recommended for intervention and school planning
Pain3 in 4 children with cerebral palsy are in pain (moderate-quality GRADE)Children and adults with cerebral palsy regardless of level of disability are at risk for pain (high-quality GRADE)Pain is linked to higher rates of behavioral problems and lower participation (high-quality GRADE)Parents and children report levels of pain differently and therefore the child’s perceptions should always be sought
For those who can walk, neck, back, and feet are high-risk pain sites (low-quality GRADE)Pain increases with age (moderate-quality GRADE)Investigate a wide range of pain origins (eg, dental, gastrointestinal, muscular, neuropathic, rheumatology, skeletal, tonal)
Children and adults with contracture are at higher risk of developing pain (moderate-quality GRADE)Comprehensive pain management should be instigated to minimize the likelihood of secondary behavioral problems from developing
Sleeping1 in 5 children with cerebral palsy have a sleep disorder (low-quality GRADE)Children with cerebral palsy and active epilepsy are most at risk for sleep disorders (low-quality GRADE)UnknownThrough and specialist assessment of sleep problems are recommended
The rate of sleep disorders in children with cerebral palsy is 5 times higher than the population (low-quality GRADE)Children with spastic quadriplegia or dyskinesia or a severe visual impairment are more likely to have difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep (low-quality GRADE)Early treatment of sleep problems (both medical and behavioral) is advisable before secondary academic and behavioral problems emerge or are established
Talking1 in 4 children with cerebral palsy cannot talk (high-quality GRADE)Children with more severe physical disability/nonambulatory are more likely to have a speech impairment (high-quality GRADE)UnknownEarly assessment and recommendations of augmentative and alternative communication options for speech impairment is recommended
1 in 3 children with cerebral palsy have some speech impairment (high-quality GRADE)Children with dyskinesia are more likely to have speech problems (high-quality GRADE)
Walking1 in 3 children with cerebral palsy cannot walk (high-quality GRADE)Children with cerebral palsy who have 4 limbs affected and/or ID and/or epilepsy and/or a vision impairment have a higher risk of being unable to walk (high-quality GRADE)Children who walk using aids or cannot walk lose walking function during adolescence (moderate-quality GRADE)Children who walk using aides and their families should be emotionally prepared for potential loss of motor function in adolescence
1 in 6 children with cerebral palsy walk using aides (high-quality GRADE)At age 2 years, children with cerebral palsy who are unable to roll, sit, or pull to stand have a very high risk of being unable to walk (high-quality GRADE)Ability to walk further declines during later adulthood. (high-quality GRADE)Children who walk using aides require mobility assessments at the commencement of adolescence to enable prescription of appropriate mobility devices to accommodate declining motor function
1 in 2 children with cerebral palsy walk independently (high-quality GRADE)A child’s walking ability at age 12 years is predictive of their walking ability as an adult. (high-quality GRADE)
Vision1 in 10 children with cerebral palsy have a severe visual impairment or are blind (moderate-quality GRADE)Children with severe physical disability are more likely to have a visual impairment (high-quality GRADE). Among those with severe physical disability, severe visual impairment occurs more frequently with spasticity than dyskinesia (high-quality GRADE)UnknownEarly screening, assessment, and treatment of vision impairment is recommended
1 in 4 children with cerebral palsy have a vision impairment (moderate-quality GRADE)Children born prematurely with cerebral palsy are more likely than children without cerebral palsy to have visual impairments (high-quality GRADE)
  • GRADE system (Guyatt et al [2008])21 was as follows: high-quality: further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect; moderate-quality: further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate; low-quality: further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate; and very-low-quality: any estimate of effect is very uncertain.

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