Role of Rehabilitation-Centred Transition Clinics for Adults with Childhood-Onset Neurodisabilities: A Narrative Literature Review.

Abstract

Neurodisability encompasses a broad range of childhood-onset neurological conditions associated with persistent functional limitations, including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and neuromuscular disorders. Advances in medical care have improved survival into adulthood, resulting in a growing population living with complex and evolving functional needs. Healthcare transition programmes aim to support the shift from paediatric to adult services; however, many remain diagnosis-specific and focus primarily on medical surveillance rather than long-term functional outcomes. This narrative literature review examined existing transition care models for individuals with childhood-onset neurodisabilities, identified challenges within current systems, and explored the potential role of rehabilitation-focused transition clinics. Electronic searches were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Embase using terms related to neurodisability, healthcare transition, and rehabilitation. The literature consistently highlights fragmentation during transition, with loss of coordinated multidisciplinary care, reduced engagement, and unmet functional needs. Although existing transition programmes improve readiness and continuity of care, long-term functional outcomes such as participation and quality of life are rarely evaluated. Integrating rehabilitation expertise into transition care may address these gaps through coordinated functional surveillance, disease prevention, adapted exercise programmes, and vocational planning.