Cerebral Palsy

Question 1

What is the definition of cerebral palsy?

Answer 1

A disorder of movement and posture due to a non-progressive lesion of the motor pathways in the developing brain.

Question 2

How can cerebral palsy present?

Answer 2

• Abnormal tone early infancy
• Delayed motor milestones
• Abnormal gait
• Feeding difficulties

Question 3

What non-motor problems do children with cerebral palsy also have?

Answer 3

• Learning difficulties (60%)
• Epilepsy (30%)
• Squints (30%)
• Hearing impairment (20%)

Question 4

What are the causes of cerebral palsy/

Answer 4

• Antenatal (80%): e.g. cerebral malformation and congenital infection (rubella, toxoplasmosis, CMV)
• Intrapartum (10%): birth asphyxia/trauma
• Postnatal (10%): intraventricular haemorrhage, meningitis, head-trauma

Question 5

How is cerebral palsy classified?

Answer 5

• Spastic (70%): hemiplegia, diplegia or quadriplegia
• Dyskinetic
• Ataxic
• Mixed

Question 6

How is cerebral palsy managed?

Answer 6

• MDT approach
• Spasticity - diazepam, baclofen, Botox, Orthopaedic surgery.
• Anticonvulsants
• Analgesia