The changing pattern of cerebral palsy in Avon

The overall rate of cerebral palsy excluding post-neonatal cases, has remained relatively constant, varying between 1.93 and 2.27 per 1000 births over the 20-year period between 1969 and 1988 in Avon. The rate of the subgroup of spastic cerebral palsy varied from 1.40 to 1.78 per 1000 births over the same time period. In singletons the corresponding figures were 1.80-2.17 per 1000 births and 1.28-1.67 per 1000 births, and in multiple births the figures were 7.12-8.80 per 1000 births and 7.12-8.44 per 1000 births. Although the overall rates have remained fairly constant there was an increase in incidence in the later years among children with low birthweight and short gestation.