12^th World Pediatric Congress

Biography

Biography: Simone Battibugli

Abstract

Cerebral Palsy (CP) arises due to an injury in the immature brain and even in patients in whom the disorder is considered to be non-progressive, the resulting disability is life-long. During the growth of a child with CP deformities get worse and lead to decreased function and ability to perform daily life activities, depending on orthopedic and general management program implemented. As many different aspects of orthopedics in general, management of children with CP has changed significantly over the past 10 years. It is a common ground that long term best results come from individualized and multidisciplinary approach. Functional priorities of a person with CP are, in order of importance, communication, activities of daily living, mobility in the environment and walking. International guidelines for early diagnosis and intervention for cerebral palsy were published in 2017. They state that early recognition of CP should occur as early as possible leading to provide diagnostic-specific early intervention and surveillance to optimize neuroplasticity and prevent complications, as well as to provide parents psychological and financial support, if available. It is a recent concept that low muscle strength and not spasticity, causes the greatest limitations in motor function in children with CP and this has shifted focus from spasticity management towards active, intensive and task specific training for these children. During the past 20 years, increasing emphasis has been placed on correction of soft tissue contractures and bony deformities in a Single Event Multilevel Surgery (SEMS), which has become the standard of care in CP management despite difficulties of make its results objectively measurable. One of the most important aspects of successful SEMS is to custom made the surgical technique and choosing right surgical dose according to patient’s functional level.