SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--There is new hope for children born with cerebral palsy, thanks to work being done at Shriners Hospitals for Children ˗ Northern California.
Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects coordination, balance and the ability to walk. It is the most common cause of motor disability in children. Approximately one in every 300 children is born with cerebral palsy, and hip dysplasia is one of the most common causes of pain and disability in these children.
"Up to this point, doctors are able to recognize hip dysplasia only when advanced, yet we know earlier diagnosis and treatment leads to better outcomes," says Jon R. Davids, M.D., Assistant Chief of Orthopaedics and Director of the Cerebral Palsy Center of Excellence at the Northern California Shriners Hospital.
Hip dysplasia limits a child's range of motion and may ultimately cause pain. Surgical intervention helps restore mobility and prevents pain later in life. "Earlier surgeries are more successful and eliminate the need for complex surgery typically used in treating those diagnosed as teens," says Dr. Davids.
Medical professionals in Australia and Sweden have integrated hip surveillance programs into their care plans. Work in these countries shows that a schedule of regular physical exams and x-rays in children with cerebral palsy leads to earlier diagnosis of hip dysplasia. Shriners Hospitals for Children − Northern California has pioneered a similar hip surveillance program in California by partnering with key pediatric providers including:
- California Children's Services (CCS);
- Stanford University, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital;
- University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland and Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco.
Together they are creating the California Cerebral Palsy Hip Alliance.
On Friday, October 2, 2015, medical professionals who take care of children with cerebral palsy will gather at the Shriners Hospital in Sacramento to discuss "The Hip in Children with Cerebral Palsy ˗ Surveillance to Salvage." The all-day seminar is sponsored by Shriners Hospital in partnership with CCS.
Presenters from Shriners Hospital include Jon R. Davids, M.D., an internationally recognized pediatric orthopaedic surgeon; Vedant Kulkarni, M.D., a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon; and Loren Davidson, M.D., a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist. Joining them are Scott A. Hoffinger, M.D., Associate Director of Pediatric Orthopaedics at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital; and Jason Jagodzynski, M.D., Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the UCSF School of Medicine.
The seminar concludes with an in-depth discussion regarding hip surveillance outreach for children with cerebral palsy led by Robert J. Dimand, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at California Children's Services. Dr. Dimand and other conference faculty will engage participants in a discussion of how the care is coordinated through the California Cerebral Palsy Hip Alliance.
"The goal of the California Cerebral Palsy Hip Alliance is to take the first level of screening into the community through CCS," says Dr. Davids. Children identified as candidates for care through the hip surveillance program will be followed by Shriners Hospital and other academic medical centers, where surgeons will partner with pediatricians and other professionals to determine the optimal age for intervention for each child.
"The formation of the California Cerebral Palsy Hip Alliance provides a path for early diagnosis and positive outcomes," says Dr. Davids.
To learn more about the seminar and hip surveillance, please go online to www.shrinerschildrens.org/cphip.
Shriners Hospitals for Children is devoted to transforming the lives of children through excellence in treatment, teaching and research. Located at 2425 Stockton Boulevard in Sacramento, Shriners Hospitals for Children – Northern California provides care to children with orthopaedic conditions, spinal cord injuries, burns, cleft lip, scars from any cause and other complex surgical needs. There are no barriers to care as admission is based on age and diagnosis. Care is provided regardless of the family’s ability to pay. For further information call (916) 453-2000 or go online to www.shrinerschildrens.org.
