14. Neuromuscular Conditions Flashcards
What are Neuromuscular Conditions?
Conditions affecting control of Voluntary Muscles:
- Cerebral Palsy (Problem in the Brain)
- Spina Bifida (Problem in the Spinal Cord)
- Muscular Dystrophy (Problem in the Skeletal Muscle)
What are the Range of Needs for someone with a Neuromuscular Condition?
1 .Outpatient Care
- Inpatient Care
- Complex Needs
- Complex Exceptional Needs
When is a Child with Multiple (Complex) Disabilities regarded to have Complex Needs?
Whe it has at least 2 different types of severe / profound impairment such that no one professional, agency, or discipline has a monopoly in the assessment and management
What is included in Complex Exceptional Needs?
Severe impairment 4+ categories (or 2+ with ventilation): 1. Learning and Mental Function 2. Communication 3. Motor Skills 4. Self Care 5. Hearing 6. Vision Note - Also the case if impairments are sustained for 6 months +
What is Cerebral Palsy?
- A permanent (non-progressive) motor disorder, due to the brain being damaged before the child reaches 2
- The lesion is static but the clinical picture is not
What can cause Cerebral Palsy?
- Prenatal:
- a) Placental insufficiency
- b) Smoking / Alcohol / Drugs
- c) Infection (Toxoplasmosis, Rubella, CMV, Herpes) and Toxaemia
- Perinatal: Prematurity, Anoxic Injuries, Infections
- Postnatal: Infection (CMV, Rubella) / Head Trauma
What are the different Physiological Classifications of Cerebral Palsy?
- Spastic (Pyramidal System, Motor Cortex)
- Athetoid (Extrapyramidal System, Basal Ganglia)
- Ataxia (Cerebellum, Brainstem)
- Rigid (Basal Ganglia, Motor Cortex)
- Hemiballistic
- Mixed (Combination of Spasticity and Atheosis)
What are the Different Anatomical Classifications of Cerebral Palsy?
- Monoplegia (One Limb Involved)
- Hemoplegia (One Side of the Body)
- Deiplegia (Lower Limbs)
- Quadriplegia / Total Body Involvement
How might Cerebral Palsy present?
- Spasticity
- Lack of Voluntary Control / Poor Coordination
- Weakness / Sensory Impairment
- Persistence of 2+ Primitive Reflexes
- Dynamic Contractures (Increased Muscle Tone and Hyperreflexia; No Fixed-Deformity of Joints)
- Fixed Muscle Contractures (Persistent Spasticity and Contractures; Shortened Muscle Tendon Units)
- Fixed Contractures with Joint Subluxation / Dislocation and Secondary Bone Changes
What are the Orthropaedic Priorities in Cerebral Palsy?
- Spine
- Hip
- Feet
- Torsional Lower Limb Problems
What are the System Goals of Orthopaedics in Cerebral Palsy?
- Sitting Balance
- Standing Posture
- Gait
How is Pathology of Cerebral Palsy assessed?
- History - Functional Problems
- Examination - Forces of Concern; Anatomical Issues
- Investigation - Gait Analysis; Radiographs; MRI
How is Gait Analysed in Cerebral Palsy?
Note - This is done in a compliant patient > 5 years old
- Observation (Antalgic, Trendelenburg)
- Video
- 3D instrumented Analysis
- EMG, Energy Expenditure
What is analysed in Gait in Cerebral Palsy?
Kinematics:
- Cadence - Steps per Minute
- Step Length - Right Initial Contact to Left Initial Contact
- Stride Length - Right Initial Contact to Right Initial Contact
- Velocity - Distance / Time
What Spine Complication is common in Cerebral Palsy?
Scoliosis
Note - Severity parallels Neurological Involvement