The impact of instrumented gait analysis on decision-making in the interprofessional management of cerebral palsy: A scoping review

Abstract

Background: Management of gait-related problems in children and young people with Cerebral Palsy (CYPwCP) is complex and requires an interprofessional approach. Irrespective of underlying mechanisms, instrumented gait analysis (IGA) can provide quantification of gait to support clinical decision-making for CYPwCP when planning treatment interventions.

Aim: This scoping review aimed to determine the impact of instrumented gait analysis (IGA) on treatment decision-making for CYPwCP, paying particular attention to interprofessional decision-making.

Method: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Scopus databases were searched from inception to October 2019 for studies including CYPwCP age<25 years. The PRISMA ScR protocol was followed, and Quality was assessed with the Downs and Black (D&B) scale. Influences on decision-making were coded according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth framework (ICF-CY).

Results: Seventeen studies (1144 patients, 2.8-23 years) of varying quality (mean D&B = 17.2, range = 11-26) were included. Studies considered IGA influence at three decision-making stages 'Clinical Planning', 'Treatment Performed' and 'Follow up'. Child and Family, and Clinician and Service-centred factors had a high impact on engagement with IGA recommendations.

Interpretation: IGA guided recommendations can differ from initial clinical plans, and often lead to modification of the treatment ultimately performed. The effect on individual patients' outcomes when treatment recommendations based on instrumented gait analysis are followed is not yet clear and warrants further research. The differences in clinicians' engagement with IGA recommendations occur due to an array of Child and Family, and Clinician and Service-centred factors. Overall, IGA leads to less surgical recommendations, and has the potential to influence conservative gait-related management in CYPwCP.

Keywords: Cerebral palsy; Decision-making; Gait analysis; Interprofessional healthcare; Neurodisability; Scoping review.