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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Lindsay Pennington
This is the final published version of a review that has been published in its final definitive form by American Medical Association, 2017.
For re-use rights please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
IMPORTANCE: Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood, and occurs in 1 in 500 live births.OBSERVATIONS AND ADVANCES: Historically the diagnosis was made between 12-24 months, but now can be made early in infancy. In infants, clinical signs and symptoms emerge and evolve before 2-years of age and therefore a combination of standardized tools should be used to predict risk. Before 5-months corrected age, the most predictive tools for detecting risk of cerebral palsy are: term-age MRI (86-89%); Prechtl’s Qualitative Assessment of General Movements (98%); and the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Evaluation (90%). After 5-months corrected age, the most predictive tools for detecting risk of cerebral palsy are: MRI (86-89%) and the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Evaluation (90%). Topography and severity of cerebral palsy are most accurately predicted in infancy using the cut scores on the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Evaluation.CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The early diagnosis of cerebral palsy begins with a medical history and then involves using a combination of neuroimaging, standardized neurological and standardized motor assessments indicating congruent abnormal findings. Clinicians should understand the importance of prompt referral to diagnostic-specific early intervention to optimize infant motor and cognitive plasticity, prevent secondary complications and to optimize parent well being.
Author(s): Novak I, Morgan C, Adde L, Brunstrom-Hernandez J, Blackman J, Boyd RN, Cioni G, Damiano D, Darrah J, deVries L, Eliasson AC, Einspieler C, Fahey M, Fehlings D, Ferriero DM, Fetters L, Fiori S, Forssberg H, Gordon AM, Greaves S, Guzzetta A, Harbourne R, Hadders-Algra M, Kakooza A, Karlsson P, Krumlinde-Sundholm L, Latal B, Loughran-Fowlds A, Maitre NL, McIntyre S, Noritz G, Pennington L, Romeo D, Shepherd RB, Spittle AJ, Thornton M, Valentine J, Walker K, White R, Badawi N
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: JAMA Pediatrics
Year: 2017
Volume: 171
Issue: 9
Pages: 897-907
Print publication date: 01/09/2017
Online publication date: 17/07/2017
Acceptance date: 19/04/2017
ISSN (print): 2168-6203
ISSN (electronic): 2168-6211
Publisher: American Medical Association
URL: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.1689
DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.1689
