The American Academy of Pediatrics partnered with the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine to release an updated version of their clinical report on cerebral palsy entitled, “Providing a Primary Care Medical Home for Children and Youth with Cerebral Palsy.” The report is more comprehensive than the 2011 version, and that’s a good thing. Our understanding and knowledge of CP and its related conditions has grown exponentially since that time. Moreover, the updated report highlights some previously under recognized aspects of CP. This will help the CP community direct attention to the fact that CP isn’t just a childhood musculoskeletal disorder, but also includes other conditions which may need to be managed into adulthood. There is information on topics such as cerebral vision impairment (CVI), pulmonary conditions, hip dysplasia and swallowing issues among others.^[1]

This revised version includes:

1. Early detection of CP
2. Transition to adulthood and transfer to adult medical care
3. More information for pediatricians about providing general care for individuals with CP & collaborating with their specialists
4. A list of family resources listed throughout the document that includes the CP Research Network and The CP Tool Kit.

When summarizing his perspective on the clinical report for cerebral palsy, Dr. Garey Noritz says, “We emphasize child and family strengths, family choice, and collaboration early on. Physicians also act as advocates who can help families navigate their relationships with the medical system, therapy providers, school, community groups and other resources.” -Dr. Garey Noritz, FAAP, FACP, lead author of the report and chairperson of the AAP Council on Children with Disabilities.^[2]

The 2022 AAP clinical report is an outstanding resource for clinicians, and we hope that many of them will learn from it and refer to it when caring for their patients with CP. It is a modern and forward-thinking approach to managing the diversity and complexity of cerebral palsy. We have heard from many families and individuals who feel “lost at sea”, trying to access and coordinate their own care, perhaps this will help alleviate some of these circumstances.

References:
¹https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/150/6/e2022060055/190094/Providing-a-Primary-Care-Medical-Home-for-Children?autologincheck=redirected?nfToken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000

²https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2022/major-health-organizations-release-guidance-on-identifying-treating-cerebral-palsy2/