Cerebral Palsy

Question 1

cerebral palsy is a group of clinical syndromes with permanent _____ dysfunction that range in severity

Answer 1

motor

Question 1

what causes the disorder of cerebral palsy?

Answer 1

abnormalities of the developing fetal or infantile brain

Question 2

what is the key characteristic of cerebral palsy?

Answer 2

not progressive

Question 3

what 3 things can the variable dysfunction in cerebral palsy affect?

Answer 3

muscle tone
posture
movement

Question 4

what is the most common cause of cerebral palsy?

Answer 4

prematurity

Question 5

what is the 2nd most common cause of cerebral palsy?

Answer 5

perinatal hypoxia-ischemic injury

Question 6

what is the 3rd most common cause of cerebral palsy?

Answer 6

intrauterine growth restriction

Question 7

which patients will have an increased risk of intrauterine growth restriction?

Answer 7

women with multiples fetuses

Question 8

how and around what age is cerebral palsy diagnosed?

Answer 8

clinically
around age 2

Question 9

what diagnostic is required to identify the underlying cause of cerebral palsy and to exclude other conditions?

Answer 9

MRI

Question 10

in what percentage of cerebral palsy cases is an MRI abnormal?

Answer 10

90%

Question 11

cerebral palsy entails abnormal motor development and posture that is _____ and _______

Answer 11

permanent
nonprogressive

Question 12

what must we rule out? (2)

Answer 12

thyroid issues
inherited metabolic disorders

Question 13

what are 3 common findings in a brain MRI in cerebral palsy?

Answer 13

hypoxic-ischemic lesions
cortical malformations
basal ganglia lesions

Question 14

what diagnostic should be done if there is seizure activity?

Answer 14

electroencephalography (EEG)

Question 15

what diagnostic should be done if there are refractory seizures and movement disorders?

Answer 15

lumbar puncture

Question 16

what diagnostic should be done if there are atypical symptoms, brain malformations on MRI, or no etiology is identified by clinical history or neuroimaging?

Answer 16

genetic testing

Question 17

what is the diagnosis of cerebral palsy considered?

Answer 17

diagnosis of exclusion

Question 18

what are 5 clues to an early diagnosis of cerebral palsy?

Answer 18

abnormal behavior
abnormal tone
abnormal posture
persistence of primitive reflexes
failure to achieve motor milestones

Question 19

at what age may it be difficult to determine the specific classification of cerebral palsy?

Answer 19

age 5

Question 20

what is the most common classification?

Answer 20

spastic syndromes

Question 21

a patient presents with increased tone and contractures with tight/stiff muscles, hypertonia, scissor gait, and toe walk. what classification of cerebral palsy is this?

Answer 21

spastic syndrome

Question 22

which extremities are most commonly affected by spastic biplegia?

Answer 22

lower extremities

Question 23

a patient presents with random, slow uncontrolled movements in the limbs and trunk, and random dance like movements moving from muscle to muscle with a variable degree of intellectual disability. what classification of cerebral palsy is this?

Answer 23

dyskinetic syndrome (athetoid)

Question 24

what causes dyskinetic syndrome in cerebral palsy?

Answer 24

damage to basal ganglia (initiates and terminates movement)

Question 25

a patient presents with clumsy, unstable movements and poor balance and coordination while walking or grasping objects. what classification of cerebral palsy is this?

Answer 25

ataxic cerebral palsy

Question 26

what is the prognosis of cerebral palsy?

Answer 26

majority survive to adulthood

Question 27

what is the most common cause of death in cerebral palsy?

Answer 27

respiratory disease (aspiration pneumonia)

Question 28

what is the management for cerebral palsy?

Answer 28

multidisciplinary approach to improve coordination, strength, and functional limitations