Cerebral Palsy

Question 1

Why are sex hormones (like estrogen) important ?

Answer 1

Because it prevents hypoxic-ischemic injury and influences neonatal brain

Question 2

Males are less vulnerable to CP than women: True or False?

What’s the ratio?

Answer 2

False (more vulnerable)

1.3 males for every female

Question 3

Prenatal males also more vulnerable to ______________

Answer 3

White matter injury and intraventricular hemorrhage

Question 4

Brain Lesion occurrence and causes before or during birth

Answer 4

Occurs 90% of time
Causes: Maternal infections (Rubella, AIDS and herpes), Chemical toxins (alcohol, drugs, tobacco), Brain damage or oxygen deprivation during delivery, Genetic disorder, chromosomal abnormality, poor blood supply

Question 5

Brain Lesion occurrence and causes after birth

Answer 5

Occurrence: 10%
Causes: Brain infections (meningitis), oxygen deprivation (drowning), cranial traumas (shaken baby syndrome, accidents)

Question 6

What are topographical and neuromotor perspectives?

Answer 6

Topographical: used to classify type of CP by number of limbs affected
Neuromotor: used to classify type of CP by movement disorder

Question 7

Types of CP (classified by movement disorder):

1. “Tug of war”, co-contraction = _____________
2. Mixed muscle tone, constant motion = _______________
3. Unsteady and shaky = ___________

Answer 7

1. Spastic CP
2. Athetoid CP
3. Ataxic CP

Question 8

Spastic CP is most/least________________ common and affects __________

Answer 8

Most common

Affects motor cortex and premotor cortex

Question 9

Athetoid CP is most/least ___________ severe and affects ___________

Answer 9

Most severe

Affects basal ganglia

Question 10

Ataxic CP is most/least ________common and affects ____________

Answer 10

Least common

Affects cerebellum

Question 11

a) What is spasticity?
b) what is it caused by?
c) what does it interfere with?

Answer 11

a) abnormal muscle tightness and stiffness
b) damage to motor cortex and cortical tracts (basal ganglia and cerebellum make it worse)
c) interferes with voluntary muscle movement (flexors in upper limbs and extensors in lower limbs)

Question 12

What is dorsal rhizotomy?

Answer 12

Cutting certain sensory nerve fibers that connect to the long tracts which are neurons that pass up and down the spinal cord and cause the reflex arc to become hyperactive (spastic)

Question 13

a) What is athetosis CP?
b) what is it caused by?
c) what are some problems associated with this type of disorder?

Answer 13

a) constant, unpredictable and purposeless movements caused by fluctuations in muscle tone (hypotonia-hypertonic)
b) caused by damage to basal ganglia
c) problems with facial expression, eating, speaking, head control, fingers and wrist control

Question 14

a) what is ataxia ?
b) what is it caused by?
c) characteristics of ataxic CP?

Answer 14

a) disturbance in balance and coordination
b) cerebellum and vestibular system
c) hypotonia, decreased postural tone

Question 15

The test where the patient is asked to touch a toy or a finger in front of them is used for what type of CP?

Answer 15

Ataxic CP