Practical application of the International classification of functioning during medical and social expertise of a child with cerebral palsy

Abstract

The aim of the work is to assess the degree of dysfunction and limitation in daily life activities in a child with cerebral palsy, to provide an expert opinion for medical and social expertise by Medical Supervisory Committee (MSC) in accordance with the principles of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Materials and methods. A clinical example of measuring the degree of disability of the cerebral palsy child in accordance with the ICF principles using standardized tools for functional status assessment and the ICF Categorical Profile. International standardized scales recommended by the international expert group to be applied for cerebral palsy children were used at the State Institution “Ukrainian Medical Center for Rehabilitation of Children with Organic Nervous System Disorders of Ministry of Health”. Results. During a comprehensive examination of the child with cerebral palsy, a multidisciplinary team of specialists determined the degree of body dysfunction and limitation in daily life activities as well as environmental effect influence on the level of functioning and social adjustment. Based on these findings, ICF Categorical Profile of the patient was formed capturing all spheres of his activity according to the functional state. Parents of the child received the medical conclusion based on the results of the examination for MSC expertise at the place of residence. Conclusions. The IСF covers the whole complex of life activity and functioning of CP children and reflects all the changes associated with their growth, development and state of health, as distinct from the classical clinical examination of patients. Standardized tools for the assessment of the degree of dysfunction and life activity limitations in CP children allow to avoid controversies between specialists from different medical institutions during medical and social assessment and when making a rehabilitation diagnosis. Members of multidisciplinary rehabilitation team can timely identify and correct dysfunctions, provide early career guidance based on child functional capacity by using the IСF principles to assess life activity in CP children.