cerebral palsy

Question 1

what is cerebral palsy

Answer 1

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

Question 2

cause of CP

Answer 2

Insult to the growing brain before, during or after birth
-often no identifiable cause

Question 3

antenatal causes of cp

Answer 3

• Maternal infections
• Trauma during pregnancy

Question 4

perinatal causes of CP

Answer 4

• Birth asphyxia
• Pre-term birth

Question 5

postnatal causes of CP

Answer 5

• Meningitis
• Severe neonatal jaundice
• Head injury

Question 6

spastic CP

Answer 6

hypertonia(increased tone) and reduced function resulting from damage toupper motor neurones

Question 7

dyskinetic CP

Answer 7

• problems controllingmuscle tone, withhypertoniaandhypotonia, causingathetoid movementsandoro-motorproblems
  
  • This is the result of damage to thebasal ganglia

Question 8

ataxic CP

Answer 8

problems withcoordinated movementresulting from damage to thecerebellum

Question 9

Monoplegia:

Answer 9

one limb affected

Question 10

hemiplegia:

Answer 10

one side of the body affected

Question 11

diplegia:

Answer 11

four limbs are affected, but mostly the legs

Question 12

quadriplegia:

Answer 12

four limbs are affected more severely, often with seizures, speech disturbance and other impairments

Question 13

signs and symptoms during development

Answer 13

• Mobility problems, spasticity and orthopaedic problems
• Learning difficulties
• Epilepsy
• Visual/hearing impairment
• Communication difficulties
• Feeding difficulties
• Sleep problems
• Behavioural problems

Question 14

management of CP

Answer 14

MDT approach to manage symptoms maximise function

Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, dieticians, orthopaedic surgeons, paediatricians, social workers, support groups