Team Approach: The Perioperative Management of Reconstructive Hip Surgery for the Non-Ambulatory Child with Cerebral Palsy and Spastic Hip Disease

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the leading cause of physical disability in children. Although physical disability is the hallmark of CP, children with CP also often have complex medical comorbidities. Spastic hip subluxation is the second most common orthopaedic deformity in children with CP, and the incidence increases with the severity of CP. Hip surveillance should be implemented in children with CP to monitor hip stability over time. A reconstructive surgical procedure is recommended when the migration percentage is >40%. Perioperative care of children undergoing a hip reconstructive surgical procedure is a multidisciplinary endeavor requiring the expertise of professionals with different backgrounds. The core team should comprise orthopaedic surgeons, nurses, nurse practitioners, pediatricians, nurse case managers, anesthesiologists, and physical therapists. Additional team members include nutritionists, clinical pharmacists, social workers, child life therapists, and consulting specialty services. This review describes the team approach to the perioperative care of non-ambulatory children with spastic hip subluxation undergoing a reconstructive hip surgical procedure, utilizing a case scenario of a 7-year old girl with CP and complex associated medical comorbidities.