Fifteen-minute consultation: Management of the upper limb in unilateral cerebral palsy.

Children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) have complex health, education and social care needs. Delayed gross motor milestones are the most common presenting feature, and much of the early management focuses on gross motor skills and lower limb management. In later childhood, adolescence and adulthood, upper limb function has significant impact on activity, participation and independence. There is clear pathophysiological rationale and emerging clinical evidence that earlier intervention to improve upper limb function is beneficial. Whereas most children with UCP are managed in secondary care, it is recommended that the assessment and delivery of specialist intervention for the upper limb occurs at a regional centre.

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Competing interests: JC has received personal honoraria for delivery of teaching and development of training materials from Ipsen Pharmaceuticals. JC has received funding for an alternative study regarding postural management in cerebral palsy from the National Institute for Health Research. AB is funded by a Career Development Fellowship award from the National Institute for Health Research. AB has received funding from Ipsen to develop educational materials around early detection of abnormal movements in infants. JP has also worked on this study.