VicCPchild- prospective cohort study of children with cerebral palsy

Funded Activity Summary

Cerebral palsy is the most common cause of physical disability in children affecting 1 in 500 young Australians. While the brain lesion is static, the musculoskeletal problems are progressive and require lifelong management (cost of US$946,000 over life per person). Only large prospective population-based studies give a true indication of the incidence of physical problems, determine the pathway(s) to outcome and determine the best pathways to successful treatment and efficient resource allocation. The broad aim of this project is: This population based cohort study (n - 240) aims to determine the pathway to motor outcome from diagnosis at 18 months to 5 years based on the nature of the brain injury at 24 months (structural MRI of the nature, location and timing of the brain lesion). Secondary Aims: Determine the rate of musculoskeletal deformity (hip displacement, spasticity, muscle contracture). Potential impact of medical co-morbidities (nutrition, epilepsy, respiratory problems) Patterns of participation and HRQOL. Patterns of medical resource use: treatment costs and outcomes. This study will: Allow clinicians to better the likely functional outcomes of children with CP from an earlier age based on the rate and limit of gross motor development and nature and severity of the brain lesion, determine the nature and timing of physical deformities to aid prevention and treatment; provide information on resource use for future planning and organisation of medical and therapy services. This in turn will give more accurate prognostic counseling as well as target areas for early therapy. Our multidisciplinary research group is uniquely placed to conduct this world-first study with access to two entire birth years of children linked to our Victorian Cerebral Palsy Register. Recruitment is conducted at both the Royal Children's Hospital and the Monash Medical centre in order to ensure state wide referral and easy access for families.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2007

End Date: 01-01-2010

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $613,587.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Care For Disabled

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

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Other Keywords

Brain injury classification | Brain structure in cerebral palsy | Cerebral Palsy | Child Health | Gross motor development | Motor development | Population based health | Population based research

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