Cerebral Palsy Flashcards
What is cerebral palsy?
non-progressive disorder of motion and/or posture, secondary to an insult in the developing brain
How is CP classified?
according to the type of neuromotor dysfunction
Name the different classes of CP?
- Spastic
- subgroups: monoplegic, diplegic, triplegic, quadriplegic - Dyskinetic
- extrapyramidal; subgroups: athetosis, chorea, rigidity or dystonia - Ataxic
- Atonic
- Mixed
- subgroups: spastic-athetoid, ataxic-spastic
Important areas to consider for each child?
- Classification
- Function severity
- The underlying aetiology
- Prognosis
Clinical presentation?
- abnormal limb and/or trunk posture and tone in infancy with delayed motor milestones this may be accompanied by slowing of head growth
- feeding difficulties, with locomotor incoordination, slow feeding, gagging and vomiting
- abnormal gait once walking is achieved
- asymmetric hand function before 12 months
What could the underlying aetiology be?
- Unknown (over one-third)
- Prenatal problems
e.g. cerebral malformations, intrauterine TORCH infection, placental insufficiency, or chromosomal anomalies - Perinatal problems
e.g. prematurity, asphyxia, kernicterus - Postnatal problems
e.g. trauma, cerebrovascular accident, intracranial infections.
Spastic cerebral palsy types?
- unilateral (hemiplegia)
- bilateral (quadriplegia)
- bilateral (diplegia)
What to ask with regards to current symptoms in CP cases?
- Vision
e.g strabismus, myopia, hemianopia - Hearing
- Speech
- Seizures
e.g. type, duration, treatment/side effects, compliance, last seizure - Other problems
- urinary incontinence, constipation, chest infections, pressure sores
What to ask with regards to current functioning in CP cases?
- Intellectual abilities (or present developmental status)
- current placement regarding education, domestic
- Behaviour
e.g. hyperactivity, affect, depression - Communication problems
e.g. expressive or receptive; dysphasia; dysarthria; athetoid movements - Activities of daily living
e.g. bathing, cleaning teeth, combing hair, dressing, writing and other hand usage, toileting etc. - Feeding and nutrition
e.g. suckling and swallowing ability, tube feeds, gastro-esophageal reflux, aspiration, failure to thrive - Mobility
- gait pattern, wheelchair mobility
- skeletal problems (e.g. kyphoscoliosis, hip sublaxation, contractures, unequal leg length)
- Abnormal posture
Spastic CP: unilateral (hemiplegia)?
- unilateral involvement of arm and leg (arm affected more and face spared)
- 4 - 12 months of age
- fisting of affected hand gt
Developmental history in CP cases?
- Age at which milestones achieved
- Quality of attainment, e.g. bottom shuffling, bunny-hopping in gross motor development
- Early hand preference in fine motor
Family history in CP cases?
family history of CP
Questions to ask on management of CP?
- Recent/past management in hospital
- Usual treatment at home
- Daily routine
- Frequency of therapies (e.g physiotherapy), compliance with therapy
Questions to gauge the understanding of problems and prognosis?
- Degree of knowledge regarding CP
- Questions of resuscitation
- by parents and siblings
Important signs in examination of the child with CP under general observation?
- Dysmorphic features (e.g chromosomal anomalies).
- Posture (e.g. fisting, increased extensor tone, hemiplegia, quadriplegia)
- Movement
- Asymmetry (e.g. hemiatrophy)
- Behaviour (e.g lack of interaction with environment, crying)
- Eye signs (e.g. squint)
- Bulbar signs (e.g. dysarthria, drooling)
- Interventions (e.g nasogastric tube)
- Clothing (e.g. nappies in a child over 4 years old)
- Peripheral aids (e.g. wheelchairs)
Parameters of dysmorphic features?
- Head circumference (often obvious microcephaly)
- Weight (often failing to thrive)
- Height (usually decreased)
- Progressive centile charts
Types of movement seen under general observation?
- Involuntary
e.g choreathetoid movements, dystonic spasms, seizures - Voluntary
e.g. gait: wide base, up on toes, hemiplegic, diplegic
What is seen on a standard gait examination?
- Toe walking
- scissor walking
- early hand preference