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[Classification systems for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: their use in clinical practice]
Maria de Las Mercedes Ruiz Brunner1, Johana Escobar Zuluaga2, María Elisabeth Cieri3
1Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Clínicas y Epidemiológicas (INICyE). Córdoba, Argentina.. mercedesruizb@fcm.unc.edu.ar.
Insights
This study reviewed six international classification systems for children with cerebral palsy (CP). These validated tools assess gross motor function, manual skills, communication, eating, and visual functions for clinical and research applications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Developmental Disabilities
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) affects children's functions and body structures.
- Standardized classification systems are crucial for clinical practice and research in CP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize available classification systems for children with CP.
- To describe the utility and clinical application of these systems.
Main Methods:
- Conducted an exhaustive bibliographic review from 1997-2019.
- Searched databases including Cochrane, MEDLINE, LILACS, and Google Scholar.
- Included validated systems focusing on functions and body structures, aligned with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).
Main Results:
- Identified six classification systems for children with CP.
- Systems focus on specific functions: gross motor, manual skills, communication, eating/drinking, MRIs, and visual functions.
- All identified systems are validated, standardized, and used internationally.
Conclusions:
- These validated systems provide a comprehensive description of functional levels and body structures in children with CP.
- They are valuable tools for clinical, population-based, and research settings.
- Facilitate consistent assessment and comparison across different contexts.
Introduction:
Classification systems are internationally used tools to characterize the functions of children and young people with cerebral palsy (CP), for clinical and research use. The aim of this study was to characterize the different classification systems available and describe the usefulness of each of the classifications, describing their use in clinical practice.
Methods:
An exhaustive bibliographic revision was performed using the Cochrane Database, MEDLINE, LILACS y Google Scholar databases. The search period was from 1997 to 2019 using key words. Classification systems were included that focused on functions and body structures, considered the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, were validated and in English and Spanish. The quality of the works was assessed according to the AGREE reporting checklist.
Results:
Six classification systems were found for children with CP regarding their functions and body structures. Each of the systems focuses on a specific function or skill, which are: gross motor function, manual skills, communication functions, eating and drinking skills, MRIs, and visual functions.
Main Conclusion:
All systems have been validated, standardized and used internationally. They serve to more fully describe the functional levels and body structure of children with CP both at the clinical, population and research levels.
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