Cerebral palsy early recognition and classification — formative SAQs

SAQ 1 (10 marks)

An ex-preterm infant is reviewed at 4 months corrected age. Parents report stiffness when dressing. A trained clinic documents abnormal fidgety-quality movements and a low HINE score. MRI shows white-matter injury. ^{[1] [11]}

1. Define cerebral palsy using consensus language. (3) ^{[2] [3]}
2. Outline the early-detection approach that supports a high-probability formulation in this infant. (4) ^{[1] [10] [11]}
3. List three reasons not to delay early intervention until age two years. (3) ^{[1] [13]}

Model answer — SAQ 1

Definition (3): Permanent disorders of movement and posture due to non-progressive disturbance in the developing fetal/infant brain; often accompanied by epilepsy, sensory, cognitive, communication and secondary musculoskeletal problems. Clinical description, not a single disease. ^{[2] [3]}

Early detection (4): Combine perinatal risk, standardised neurological examination (HINE), movement-quality assessment (GMA principles/trained observation), and neuroimaging pattern. Formulate high probability when tools converge; name emerging motor type/topography; do not wait for independent walking. ^{[1] [10] [11]}

Do not delay therapy (3): High plasticity window; evidence supports early motor intervention; delayed labelling delays services and family planning; investigations can run in parallel. ^{[1] [13]}