Acquisition and loss of best walking skills in children and young people with bilateral cerebral palsy.

Aim: To explore factors predicting acquisition and loss of best walking ability in young people with bilateral cerebral palsy (CP).

Method: In our population cohort (Study of Hips And Physical Experience) of 338 children (201 males, 137 females) with bilateral CP, age at achieving walking was recorded and walking ability predicted from early motor milestones. Walking was assessed at 5 to 8 years (mean 7y) and in 228 of 278 survivors at 13 to 19 years (mean 16y).

Factors associated with pain in adolescents with bilateral cerebral palsy.

Aim: We explored factors associated with pain and its severity in a population cohort of young people with bilateral cerebral palsy, comparing parent/carer and young people self-reports.

Method: Of 278 survivors (mean age 16y 8mo, SD 1y 4mo, range 13y 8mo-19y 3mo) from the South Thames in the Study of Hips and Physical Experience cohort of 338 young people with bilateral cerebral palsy, 212 parents/carers and 153 young people completed questionnaires on the presence, severity, timing, site, associated factors, impact, and treatment of pain.

Results: Seventy per cent of parents/carers reported pain within 3 months, 59% the previous week, and 50% the previous day with 56% reporting 'regularly experienced'.

Bladder and bowel continence in bilateral cerebral palsy: A population study.

Introduction: The attainment of continence is an important milestone in all children, including those with disability.

Objective: To describe the age of bladder and bowel continence in children with bilateral cerebral palsy (BCP), and the association with intellectual impairment (II) and severity of motor disability.

Patients And Methods: The parents of 346 children with BCP were interviewed as part of a population-based prospective study of the children at 3, 7, and 17 years of age.

Speech, communication and use of augmentative communication in young people with cerebral palsy: the SH&PE population study.

Background: Communication is frequently impaired in young people (YP) with bilateral cerebral palsy (CP). Important factors include motoric speech problems (dysarthria) and intellectual disability. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) techniques are often employed.

Mortality from 1 to 16-18 years in bilateral cerebral palsy.

Objective: To ascertain mortality from 1 to 18 years, and predictors of mortality.

Design: Long-term follow-up of population cohort born 1989-1992.

Setting: Births in South East Thames Region.

Position as a cause of deformity in children with cerebral palsy (1976).

Deformities in the child with cerebral palsy have been ascribed to muscle imbalance (Sharrard 1961) and increased tone (Pollock 1959) or to the type of cerebral palsy (Bobath and Bobath 1975). As far as we know, the position in which the child is nursed, especially during the first year of life, has not been considered as a cause of deformity. It is generally agreed that position in the postnatal period can be a cause of deformity in the normal baby.

Hip dysplasia in bilateral cerebral palsy: incidence and natural history in children aged 18 months to 5 years.

Children with bilateral cerebral palsy (CP) born during 1989 to 1992 (n=346) to a geographically defined population were ascertained and followed up to age 5 years. The aims of the study were to monitor hip development by serial X-rays; to record gross locomotor development, aspects of physical management, and any hip-related orthotics or surgery; to learn more of the natural history of hip development in this condition; and to provide guidelines for a surveillance protocol for those clinically managing children with bilateral CP. Children were X-rayed at 18, 24, 30, 48, and 60 months.

Opinion statement on the minimal acceptable standards of healthcare in cerebral palsy.

Purpose: Recent studies have shown a marked variation in the standards of healthcare for young people with disabilities in different regions of the UK and even within the same health district. Equity in the provision of healthcare is a fundamental principle of the NHS. However, this can only be measured against an agreed minimal standard of healthcare that serves as a benchmark for healthcare purchasers and providers.

Parents' perceptions of disclosure of the diagnosis of cerebral palsy.

The aim of the paper is to propose guidelines for good practice in disclosing the diagnosis of cerebral palsy to parents. The guidelines draw on an interview study with parents of 107 children, average age 24 months, in the South East Thames region. In addition case notes were examined, and mothers completed questionnaires to measure current levels of depression and coping strategies.

The causes of developmental deformity and their implication for seating.

This article attempts to touch upon several different aspects of developmental deformity. It is intended to show that the position in which children are placed and the time these postures are maintained are important in preventing fixed and structural deformity. These are considered to be the prime causes of deformity.