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. 2020 Feb 21;20(2):3.
doi: 10.1007/s11910-020-1022-z.

State of the Evidence Traffic Lights 2019: Systematic Review of Interventions for Preventing and Treating Children with Cerebral Palsy

Iona Novak  1 , Catherine Morgan  2 , Michael Fahey  3   4 , Megan Finch-Edmondson  2 , Claire Galea  2   5 , Ashleigh Hines  2 , Katherine Langdon  6 , Maria Mc Namara  2 , Madison Cb Paton  2 , Himanshu Popat  2   5 , Benjamin Shore  7 , Amanda Khamis  2 , Emma Stanton  2 , Olivia P Finemore  2 , Alice Tricks  2 , Anna Te Velde  2 , Leigha Dark  8 , Natalie Morton  8   9 , Nadia Badawi  2   5
Affiliations

State of the Evidence Traffic Lights 2019: Systematic Review of Interventions for Preventing and Treating Children with Cerebral Palsy

Iona Novak et al. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. .

Abstract

Purpose of review: Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability of childhood, but the rate is falling, and severity is lessening. We conducted a systematic overview of best available evidence (2012-2019), appraising evidence using GRADE and the Evidence Alert Traffic Light System and then aggregated the new findings with our previous 2013 findings. This article summarizes the best available evidence interventions for preventing and managing cerebral palsy in 2019.

Recent findings: Effective prevention strategies include antenatal corticosteroids, magnesium sulfate, caffeine, and neonatal hypothermia. Effective allied health interventions include acceptance and commitment therapy, action observations, bimanual training, casting, constraint-induced movement therapy, environmental enrichment, fitness training, goal-directed training, hippotherapy, home programs, literacy interventions, mobility training, oral sensorimotor, oral sensorimotor plus electrical stimulation, pressure care, stepping stones triple P, strength training, task-specific training, treadmill training, partial body weight support treadmill training, and weight-bearing. Effective medical and surgical interventions include anti-convulsants, bisphosphonates, botulinum toxin, botulinum toxin plus occupational therapy, botulinum toxin plus casting, diazepam, dentistry, hip surveillance, intrathecal baclofen, scoliosis correction, selective dorsal rhizotomy, and umbilical cord blood cell therapy. We have provided guidance about what works and what does not to inform decision-making, and highlighted areas for more research.

Keywords: Cerebral palsy; Evidence based; GRADE; Systematic review; Traffic light system.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Novak and coauthors have nothing to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram of included articles
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Evidence Alert System. AFOs ankle-foot orthoses, AT assistive technology, BoNT botulinum toxin, CIMT constraint-induced movement therapy, CO-OP cognitive orientation to occupational performance, COPCA coping with and caring for infants with special needs—a family centered program, DBS deep brain stimulation, GAME goals activity motor enrichment, NDT neurodevelopmental therapy, OT occupational therapy, SEMLS single-event multi-level surgery, tDCS transcranial direct current stimulation
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Evidence Alert System. AFOs ankle-foot orthoses, AT assistive technology, BoNT botulinum toxin, CIMT constraint-induced movement therapy, CO-OP cognitive orientation to occupational performance, COPCA coping with and caring for infants with special needs—a family centered program, DBS deep brain stimulation, GAME goals activity motor enrichment, NDT neurodevelopmental therapy, OT occupational therapy, SEMLS single-event multi-level surgery, tDCS transcranial direct current stimulation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Register ACPR. Report of the Australian Cerebral Palsy Register: birth years 1995-2012. November 2018.
    1. • Novak I, McIntyre S, Morgan C, Campbell L, Dark L, Morton N, et al. A systematic review of interventions for children with cerebral palsy: state of the evidence. 2013. p. 885–910. This overview systematic review provides a summary of best available evidence for interventions that treat and manage cerebral palsy up to 2013. - PubMed
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