Synopsis of resource
This CarePathway describes the definition, assessment and management of dystonia in children with CP. It provides links to evidence-based assessment tools, including the Hypertonia Assessment Tool (HAT), which is an easy to use clinical tool to differentiate spasticity, dystonia and rigidity. The CarePathway addresses medical and rehabilitation management of patients, and provides a clear algorithm of care for patients with both focal and generalized dystonia
Key learning outcome
- Describe an algorithm for evidence-informed care of children with dystonia
- Describe evidence-based clinical tools to evaluate dystonia in children with CP
- Describe rehabilitation strategies in the management of dystonia in children with CP
- Describe management of “dystonia storming” in children with CP
Authors
This product is a publication of the AACPDM CarePathways committee, a standing committee whose responsibilities include Provide thought leadership for the Care Pathways process including monitoring of the utilization of the Care Pathways, iterative refinement of the process and development of an assessment of impact of the Care Pathways. The lead author is Darcy Fehlings, who is Head of the Division of Developmental Paediatrics and a Professor in the Department of Paediatrics, at the University of Toronto. She is the inaugural holder of the Bloorview Children’s Hospital Foundation Chair in Developmental Paediatrics. Dr. Fehlings is the Senior Physician Director of the Child Development Program at Holland Bloorview Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital and provides medical leadership for a large ambulatory program for cerebral palsy and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Dr. Fehlings is a Senior Clinician Scientist in the Bloorview Research Institute. Her research focuses on the innovation and evaluation of interventions for children with cerebral palsy. She is the lead investigator of an Ontario Brain Institute integrated neuroscience network focused on children with cerebral palsy (CP-NET) and leads the CP Discovery Project in the Canadian NeuroDevNet Networks of Centres of Excellence. Professor Fehlings was the president of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) in 2015.
