Clinical presentation, associated disorders and aetiological moments in Cerebral Palsy: a Dutch population-based study.

PURPOSE

Cerebral Palsy (CP) contains varying clinical presentations, associated disorders and aetiological moments. Quantitative data and trends on these aspects were lacking in The Netherlands.

METHOD

Within a population-based study on prevalence, presentation and functioning of Dutch children with CP born in the years 1977-1988, individual history taking, examination and medical file checking was done by experienced clinicians. Clinical subtypes, motor disability, important co-morbidity (mental retardation, visual disability and epilepsy) were recorded, aetiological moments identified if possible. By comparing the four most recent years with the earlier years possible trends were studied.

RESULTS

A quarter of children beforehand recorded as CP did not meet inclusion criteria after individual examination. Spastic subtypes accounted for over 90% of all CP cases: bilateral spastic cerebral palsy as a group are the majority although spastic hemiplegia is percentage-wise the largest individual clinical subtype. Epilepsy and mental retardation are common. Clinical patterns and associated disorders remained rather constant comparing earlier to more recent birth years.

CONCLUSIONS

An early diagnosis of CP may be challenged. General clinical patterns remained rather constant in following years, as did most studied items. Even if this study revealed a prevalence rise, no aspect stood out as a possible explanation for this prevalence rise. Comparable studies performed elsewhere showed similar findings.