Synopsis:

In three parts, this Grand Round intends to describe the significant developments in the management of musculoskeletal conditions associated with cerebral palsy. First, the critical role that the Victorian Cerebral Palsy Register (VCPR) has played in epidemiological research, clinical research, and public health policy will be outlined. The second section will discuss technical developments in the management of Neuromuscular Hip Dysplasia, including novel imaging techniques and new aids for surgeons when considering surgical treatment. The final section will focus on common gait problems in children with cerebral palsy, as well as novel treatment concepts.

Speakers:

Professor Kerr Graham is a Professorial Fellow in the Department of Paediatrics at The University of Melbourne, and a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.  Professor Graham’s clinical and research interests are principally in the area of cerebral palsy, clinical gait analysis, clinical trials of spasticity management, and gait improvements surgery for children with cerebral palsy.

Dr Benjamin Shore is currently an Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School. He serves as the Director of the Orthopaedic Fellowship Program and is the Director of the Cerebral Palsy and Spasticity Centre at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr Shore grew up in Toronto, Canada. He completed his undergraduate training at the University of Victoria in British Columbia where he was a Rhodes Scholar nominee and played varsity and international rugby for Canada. He then completed medical school and orthopaedic residency at the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada. Dr Shore completed his orthopaedic fellowship at the Royal Children’s Hospital in 2009 and Boston Children’s Hospital in 2010. He is very excited to return to Melbourne and participate in Grand Rounds and reconnect with old friends.

Associate Prof Erich Rutz is the Bob Dickens Chair of Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Melbourne. He is also a consultant orthopaedics surgeon in the Orthopaedic Department and Director of The Hugh Williamson Gait Analysis Laboratory at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. Eric joined the Orthopaedic department and The Hugh Williamson Gait Laboratory at the Royal Children’s Hospital in April 2020. For the last 15 years he worked as a consultant at the University Children’s Hospital Basel, Switzerland, where he was Head of the Gait Laboratory and Head of Neuromuscular Hip Surgery Programme. Erich has a strong interest in all neuromuscular conditions and in particular in cerebral palsy (CP). In 2009/2010 he worked as a research fellow in the Hugh Williamson Gait Laboratory at RCH on a major project “Outcomes of Single-Event Multilevel Surgery (SEMLS)” in children with CP. Erich focuses on the surgical management of children with neuromuscular conditions, both ambulant and non-ambulant. His surgical expertise is in both surgery for ambulant children (SEMLS) and one-stage, hip reconstruction. He has written more than 100 scientific papers and 22 book chapters and completed his thesis (“Venia Docendi”) in 2013 at the medical faculty of the University Basel, which is the highest university degree that can be awarded for orthopaedics and traumatology of the musculoskeletal system. In addition, he completed of his PhD thesis in biomechanics by June 2021. Dr. Rutz’ academic work has been recognised by eight national and international awards. In March 2022 he was appointed as inaugural Bob Dickens Chair in Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Melbourne.