Epidemiology of the cerebral palsies.

Half of the most severe cases of cerebral palsy (CP) survive to adulthood, but because this longevity is relatively recent, there is no empirical experience of their life expectancy past middle age. The last 2 decades have seen significant developments in the management of persons with CP, involving specialist services from an increasing number of disciplines that require coordination to maximize their effectiveness. This article provides an overview of CP. The author discusses definitions of CP, its epidemiology, pathologies, and range of possible clinical descriptions, and briefly touches on management and prevention.