Cerebral palsy

Question 1

What is cerebral palsy?

Answer 1

A disorder of movement and posture due to a non-progressive lesion of the motor pathways in the developing brain

Question 2

What is cerebral palsy due to?

Answer 2

Permanent neurological problems resulting from damage to the brain around the time of birth.

Question 3

What are the causes of cerebral palsy divided into?

Answer 3

Antenatal
Perinatal/ Intrapartum
Postnatal

Question 4

What are the antenatal causes of cerebral palsy?

Answer 4

• Cerebral malformation

* Congenital infection: Rubella, toxoplasmosis,

Question 5

What congenital infections can result in cerebral palsy?

Answer 5

Rubella

Toxoplasmosis,

Question 6

What are the perinatal causes of cerebral palsy?

Answer 6

• Birth asphyxia

* Pre-term birth

Question 7

What are the post natal causes of cerebral palsy?

Answer 7

• Meningitis
• Intraventricular haemorrhage
• Head injury

Question 8

What are the least common causes of cerebral palsy?

Answer 8

Post natal

Question 9

What are the different types of cerebral palsy?

Answer 9

Spastic
Dyskinetic
Ataxic
Mixed

Question 10

What is spastic cerebral palsy?

Answer 10

Hypertonia (increased tone) and reduced function

Due to damage to upper motor neurones

Question 11

What is dyskinetic cerebral palsy?

Answer 11

Oro-motor problems.

This is the result of damage to the basal ganglia. and substantia nigra

Question 12

What is ataxic cerebral palsy?

Answer 12

Problems with coordinated movement

Due to damage to the cerebellum

Question 13

What is mixed cerebral palsy?

Answer 13

A mix of spastic, dyskinetic and/or ataxic features

Question 14

What is spastic cerebral palsy also known as?

Answer 14

Pyramidal cerebral palsy

Question 15

What is dyskinetic cerebral palsy also known as?

Answer 15

Extrapyramidal cerebral palsy

Question 16

What are the different subtypes of spastic cerebral palsy?

Answer 16

Diplegia: four limbs are affects, but mostly the legs
Hemiplegia: one side of the body affected
Quadriplegia: four limbs are affected more severely

Question 17

What are the possible manifestations of cerebral palsy?

Answer 17

abnormal tone early infancy
delayed motor milestones
abnormal gait
feeding difficulties.

Question 18

What additional problems is cerebal palsy associated with?

Answer 18

learning difficulties (60%)
epilepsy (30%)
squints (30%)
hearing impairment (20%)

Question 19

What is the management of cerebral palsy

Answer 19

Multidisciplinary approach is needed
Treatments for spasticity
Anticonvulsants, analgesia as required

Question 20

What are possible medications that can be given for spasticity?

Answer 20

Oral diazepam
Oral and intrathecal baclofen
Botulinum toxin type A
Orthopaedic surgery 
Selective dorsal rhizotomy