Taking a lifelong perspective on Cerebral Palsy: Challenges and opportunities

Emma Livingstone, CEO of UP – The Adult Cerebral Palsy Movement, will share insights from her lived experience and advocacy work on the evolving care and understanding of cerebral palsy (CP) across the lifespan. Her presentation will explore recent research advancements, the lifelong nature of CP, and the importance of addressing co-morbidities. She will also discuss how child practitioners can better equip children with CP for adulthood.

Exploring the role of rehabilitation services in the management of Functional Neurological Disorders

The approach and attitude towards Functional Neurological Disorders (FND) has changed over the last decade and anecdotally at least, we seem to be seeing more cases in our day-to-day practice.  Patients with functional symptoms present to many disciplines and functional symptoms can co-exist with organic pathology. There is now evidence to show earlier diagnosis and treatment can lead to more positive outcomes.   

Reddihough Symposium: Disability care in 2023

What does disability care for children and young people look like in 2023, and what could it be like in the future? In 2023 it is more holistic, more funded, more early intervention, more complex, and more positive for children and their families.

Paediatric upper limb transplantation: A new frontier of surgery, immunology, and ethics

Hand transplantation is a technique to reconstruct absent and functionless upper limbs using cadaveric donor limbs.

In the 20 years since the world’s first hand transplant, the technique has developed into a reliable and valuable option for carefully selected adult amputees. The downside is the need for immunosuppression with its inherent risks (metabolic, infective, neoplastic, and renal impairment) for the duration of the transplant.

The Hopkins Symposium: Complex Movement Disorders – the Genesis of Contemporary Care

The Complex Movement Disorders program at the Royal Children’s Hospital commenced in 1997 and has evolved since then. It is currently funded by RCH Foundation and the fundraising efforts of A/Prof Andrew Kornberg’s Fly for the Kids event in 2017. The program allows coordinated multidisciplinary assessment and management of children with movement disorders and associated neurodevelopmental comorbidities.

Personalised care of children with medical complexity and their families:

Dr Doug Bryan is a paediatrician who has worked at the Royal Children’s Hospital since 1970. During those 48 years the prognosis and life prospects for children with chronic and complex medical conditions have improved dramatically. This has occurred partly from the discovery of new interventions but also in large part to the development of systems of care that specifically focus on the care and needs of these children and their families.