Definition and eligibility criteria for SCPE data collection

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a group disorders involving movement and posture and of motor function; it is permanent, but not unchanging; it is due to a non-progressive interference, lesion, or abnormality of the developing/immature brain. (SCPE, Dev Med Child Neurol 42 (2000) 816-824)

Inclusion criteria

In order to be included in the SCPE database, cases must fulfil the definition. The diagnosis is made solely on the basis of clinical description. Additional features such as imaging, laboratory results, etc. are not part of the inclusion criteria.

Although 5 years is the optimal age for confirmation of diagnosis, cases would be considered for inclusion in the SCPE database if they fulfil the clinical criteria after their 4th birthday.

Children in whom a diagnosis of CP is made after the age of 2 years, but who die before this diagnosis can be reconfirmed (between 2 and 5 years) are also notified to in the SCPE database. These cases will be 'flagged', and then included in or excluded from the analyses as appropriate.

Children lost to follow-up but with unambiguous diagnosis of CP after the age of 3 years should also be submitted to SCPE database.

Exclusion criteria

The neurology must be clearly defined. Children with hypotonia as the sole neurological finding and children with isolated spinal diseases should be excluded.

The definition specifically excludes progressive conditions resulting in loss of acquired skills.

Children who survive beyond the age of 5 years, and in whom a clinical diagnosis of CP is not confirmed, or in whom a progressive condition is identified are not included in the SCPE study.

Please consider the decision tree:

The definition and inclusion/exclusion criteria were agreed upon at the 2nd SCPE plenary meeting, held in Oxford, July 1999, and published in Cans et al. (2000) DMCN (2000).

Post-neonatally acquired CP

Results from a recognized brain damaging event that is unrelated to factors in the ante-, peri- or neonatal period.

A timing of brain insult beyond 28 days of life is used but all cases with an identified damaging event not related to the perinatal period in a child assumed to be previously neurologically normal may be appropriately classified as post-neonatally acquired. These cases will be 'flagged'.

A timing of brain insult beyond 28 days of life is used but all cases with an identified damaging event not related to the perinatal period in a child assumed to be previously neurologically normal may be appropriately classified as post-neonatally acquired. These cases will be 'flagged'.

No upper age limit of onset of the brain damage has been identified.