Cerebral Palsy Flashcards
What is cerebral palsy?
A group of permenant movement disorders caused by damage to the motor control area of the CNS
How does cerebral palsy progress?
Cerebral palsy is non-progressive
What are the antenatal causes of cerebral palsy?
Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy
Infection
What are the post-natal causes of cerebral palsy?
Meningitis
Trauma
Haemorrhage
Medication toxicity
Neonatal jaundice
What are the categories of cerebral palsy?
Spastic
Athetoid/dyskinetic
Ataxic
What is the most common category of cerebral palsy?
Spastic
What are the features of spastic cerebral palsy?
Increased tone and reflexes
Clasp-knife response
Flexed hip and elbows
Scissor gait
WWhat is the clasp-knife response?
Initial resistance when performing passive movement, then a decrease in resistance
Where is the damage to the brain in spastic cerebral palsy?
Pyramidal pathways - upper motor neurones
Where is the damage to the brain in dyskinetic cerebral palsy?
Basal ganglia pathways
Where is the damage to the brain in ataxic cerebral palsy?
Cerebellar pathways
What are the features of dyskinetic cerebral palsy?
Parkinsonism
Choreiform movements
What investigations would be performed for cerebral palsy?
MRI brain
EEG
Genetic testing
Additional investigations to screen for problems associated with cerebral palsy
What are the general signs of cerebral palsy?
Not meeting milestones
Increased or decreased tone
Hand preference below 18 months
Problems with coordination, speech or walking
Feeding or swallowing problems
Learning disability
What medications may be used in cerebral palsy?
Muscle relaxants e.g baclofen
Anti-epileptic drugs for seizures
Glycopyrronium bromide for drooling
