Hip surveillance in cerebral palsy: are current programme implementations benefiting patients and clinicians? (a scoping study)

Professors Sue Stott and Alexandra Sorhage (Wilson Sweet Fellowship recipient 2019) are leading a 3 part study that is looking at current hip surveillance practice in New Zealand.
For the first part of the study, we are inviting all health professionals who care for children with cerebral palsy (CP) and paediatric radiologists to participate in a brief survey to help us understand how hip surveillance is being implemented into practice. The remainder of the study will be using data from the New Zealand Cerebral Palsy Register (NZCPR) linked to radiological and out-patient data sources to understand current hip surveillance practice and how the outcomes compares to international hip surveillance guidelines.

Background

Progressive spastic hip displacement is the second most common deformity (35%) seen in children with CP which can result in hip dislocation causing severe pain and loss of function, extending into adulthood. Early surgical interventions are available to address hip subluxation, however as it occurs silently, clinical presentation of hip subluxation is often at a late stage. Hip surveillance programmes have international recognition in having a role in early detection of at risk children and ensuring a timely referral to specialist orthopaedic services when indicated.

What we would like to know is how hip surveillance has been adopted into clinical practice and if there are any barriers and/or facilitators that influence how hip surveillance programmes are implemented.

A survey of health professionals and paediatric radiologists looking after children with cerebral palsy

This survey is now closed.

The project has Auckland Health Research Ethics Committee approval (AHREC # 1375) for three years from the 26/05/2020.

Contact details

Lead Investigator: Professor Susan Stott (Clinical Director Paediatric Orthopaedics Starship Hospital and University of Auckland Department of Surgery)

For any further questions please contact Alexandra Sorhage: asorhage@adhb.govt.nz