Cerebral palsy

Question 1

Risk factors of cerebral palsy

Answer 1

Risk factors
1. Low socioeconomic status (–> associated with preterm birth and low birth weight, which are consequently associated with cerebral palsy
2. African-american (–> associated with higher prevalence of preterm birth)

Preterm birth is the most importanr risk factor

Question 2

Perinatal risk factors of cerebral palsy in premature infants

Answer 2

1. Chorioamminionitis: intrfavenous-amniotic infection
2. Transient hypothyroxinaemia: low maternal thyroid hormone levels
3. Hypocapnoea: reduced carbun dioxide levels which can induce cerebral vasoconstriction
4. Intrauterine growth restriction
5. Postnatal inflammation

Question 3

What is the most important birth-related risk factor?

Answer 3

Preterm birth

Question 4

Pregnancy and birth-related risk factors in full-term infants

Answer 4

1. Signs of birth depression
2. Placental abnormalities
3. Perinatal abnormalities often attributed to birth asphyxia
4. Fetal growth retardation
5. Neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia
6. Perinatal ischemic stroke

Question 5

Pregnancy and birth-related risk factors in premature infants

Answer 5

1. Evidence of white matter damage
2. Perinnatal factors (such as chorioamnionitis, hypocapnoea etc)
3. Neonatal asphyxia
4. Intrauteirne growth retardation
5. Postanatal inflammation

Question 6

Cerebral palsy

Answer 6

A group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitation, that are attributed to non-progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain

Question 7

True or false

Cerebral palsy results in 90% of cases from destructive processes that injury healthy brain tissue rather than from abnormalities in brain development

Answer 7

True

Examples of brain injury in cerebral palsy are hypoexia and ischaemia

Question 8

Hypoxia

Answer 8

Refers to a reduction in the supply of oxygen to organs, including the brain

Question 9

Ischemia

Answer 9

Refers to an inadequate supply of blood to the organs, including the brain

Question 10

Therapeutic hypothermia

Answer 10

Standard care for full-term newborns with moderate or severe perinatal asphyxia

Question 11

Dystonia

Answer 11

Movement disorder characterized by sustained or intermittent muscle contractions or co-contractions causing abnormal and repetitive movements and/or postures

Often initiated or worsened by voluntary action, the intention to move and non-specific stress, emotion or sensations

Question 12

Spasticity

Answer 12

A clinical phenomenon in which muscles overreact to rapid stretch

Question 13

Quality of life of children with CP

Answer 13

Similar to that of their peers in the general population

Question 14

Quality of life of adolescents with CP

Answer 14

Lower quality of life on the social support domain

Question 15

Quality of life of adults with CP

Answer 15

Little research, but demonstrates disadvantages in social support and employment. The transition to adult health care seems inadequate