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This prospective, population based longitudinal study of children, with cerebral palsy, aged 18 months to 5 years will track early motor development and will utilise magnetic resonance imaging to determine the anatomical pattern and likely aetiology and timing of the brain lesion. This will help predict the likely need for, type and timing of interventions(spasticity management, rehabilitation, orthopaedic surgery) and their associated costs, this study will enable more informed resource planning for cerebral palsy in young children for the future.

Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) therapy is used to manage severe spasticity. ITB therapy is available to children and adolescents at 6 tertiary Paediatric hospitals in Australia. ITB is a new therapy, with 12-15 ITB pumps implanted in Australian children and adolescents each year. There is no standard pre assessment tool or follow up protocol for children and adolescents receiving ITB therapy in Australia. The objective of this study is to identify and collect a minimum data set for assessment and follow up of children and adolescents receiving ITB therapy in Australia. Two of the aims of this study are (1) Identifying which assessment tools are useful at assessing the effect of ITB upon your child’s daily functioning; and, (2) document the complications associated with ITB therapy. For the purposes of data collection a prospective multicentre audit is proposed. This would include children attending Princess Margaret Hospital for Children (Perth), Royal Childrens Hospital (Melbourne), Monash Medical Centre (Melbourne), Westmead Childrens Hospital (Sydney), Women & Childrens Hospital (Adelaide) and the Royal Childrens Hospital (Brisbane). All Australian children and adolescents who are offered ITB therapy will be asked to enrol in this audit. A standardised assessment protocol will be utilised by each centre to capture data across each domain of the World Health Organsiation international classification of functioning, disability and health. Participation in this prospective audit reflects standard care and is voluntary.