Article

An international multidisciplinary group of healthcare professionals and
researchers participated in a consensus conference on the management of cerebral
palsy, convened by the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics.
Participants reviewed the evidence and considered contemporary thinking on a
range of treatment options including physical and occupational therapy, and
medical, surgical and orthotic interventions. The quality of many of the reviewed
papers was compromised by inadequate reporting and lack of transparency, in
particular regarding the types of patients and the design of the interventions
being evaluated. Substantial evidence suggests that ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs)
that control the foot and ankle in stance and swing phases can improve gait
efficiency in ambulant children (GMFCS levels I-III). By contrast, little high
quality evidence exists to support the use of orthoses for the hip, spine or
upper limb. Where the evidence for orthosis use was not compelling consensus was
reached on recommendations for orthotic intervention. Subsequent group discussions identified recommendations for future research. The evidence to
support using orthoses is generally limited by the brevity of follow-up periods
in research studies; hence the extent to which orthoses may prevent deformities
developing over time remains unclear. The full report of the conference can be
accessed free of charge at www.ispoint.org.

Langue : ANGLAIS