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. 2021 Feb;57(2):246-250.
doi: 10.1111/jpc.15191. Epub 2020 Sep 17.

Early detection of cerebral palsy in high-risk infants: Translation of evidence into practice in an Australian hospital

Arrabella R King  1 , Catherine Machipisa  2 , Francyne Finlayson  2 , Michael C Fahey  1 , Iona Novak  3   4 , Atul Malhotra  1   5   6
Affiliations

Early detection of cerebral palsy in high-risk infants: Translation of evidence into practice in an Australian hospital

Arrabella R King et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

Aim: The early diagnosis of cerebral palsy (CP) allows children timely access to early intervention. In 2018, Monash Children's Hospital established an Early Neurodevelopment Clinic based upon evidence-based guidelines for the early diagnosis of CP in high-risk infants. In this study, we aimed to characterise the infants presenting to the clinic and determine the rate of CP diagnosis.

Methods: This study analysed data from infants attending the Early Neurodevelopment Clinic between May 2019 and April 2020. Infants at high-risk for CP attended the clinic at 3 months corrected age. Neuroimaging reports were reviewed, and a Prechtl's General Movement Assessment and Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination were performed. Infants were diagnosed as having typical development, delayed development, high-risk of CP or CP at the time of clinic attendance and referred on to the appropriate pathway.

Results: Ninety-six high-risk infants attended the clinic over the 1 year study period. Sixty-eight (71%) infants were extremely preterm or extremely low birthweight, and 28 (29%) were infants at born at older gestation with evidence of moderate to severe brain injury. Nine (9.6%) infants received a CP diagnosis and 12 (12.5%) were considered high-risk of CP. All infants with CP or high-risk of CP were referred to the Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service.

Conclusions: It is feasible to implement the early CP diagnosis guidelines into a high-risk infant follow-up clinic. Implementation of the guidelines allows for early diagnosis of CP and appropriate referral of high-risk infants.

Keywords: Hammersmith infant neurological examination; follow-up; general movement; neuroimaging.

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