Cerebral Palsy

Question 1

Cerebral Palsy

Answer 1

An umbrella term describing a physical condition that affect movement and posture caused by damage to the developing brain.

Question 2

Causes of prenatal cerebral palsy

Answer 2

Radiation, infection, hypoxia

Question 3

Causes of postnatal cerebral palsy

Answer 3

Head trauma, infection

Question 4

Three types of cerebral palsy

Answer 4

Spastic, dyskinetic, ataxic

Question 5

Spastic cerebral palsy

Answer 5

Result of damage to the cerebral cortex which controls movement, speech and memory, and the motor cortex, which is important for planning, control and voluntary movement

Question 6

Dyskinetic cerebral palsy

Answer 6

Damage to the basal ganglia, which initiates and prevents movements

Question 7

Pathophysiology of dyskinetic cerebral palsy

Answer 7

Divided into two types, dystonia and athetosis

Question 8

Dystonia

Answer 8

Usual twisting postures, repetitive movements due to fluctuating muscle tone

Question 9

Athetosis

Answer 9

Slow, continuous writhing movements

Question 10

Ataxic cerebral palsy

Answer 10

Damage to the cerebellum, which controls coordination and precise movements

Question 11

General problems with cerebral palsy

Answer 11

Pain, tight muscles, stiff joints, abnormal posture, visual differences, hearing loss, learning difficulties, epilepsy

Question 12

Treatment of cerebral palsy

Answer 12

Management of movement, general management, drug management and specialist education programmes

Question 13

Management of movement

Answer 13

Physiotherapy, OT and SALT

Question 14

General management

Answer 14

Gastrostomy and rhizotomy

Question 15

Normal number of blood cells in the CSF

Answer 15

Zero

Question 16

Drug management

Answer 16

Botulinum toxin and intrathecal baclofen

Question 17

Botulinum toxin

Answer 17

A muscle relaxant that prevents the release of the neurotransmitter from axon endings and the neuromuscular junction

Question 18

Specialist education programmes

Answer 18

Deep brain stimulation

Question 19

Deep brain stimulation

Answer 19

Surgery to implant a device that sends electrical signals to brain areas responsible for body movement

Question 20

Why does cerebral palsy cause tight muscles?

Answer 20

The ability to receive an inhibitory neuron is impaired; nerve impulses cannot be inhibited and nerves are overexcited. Increased muscle tone.

Question 21

Why does cerebral palsy cause hearing loss?

Answer 21

Damage to nerve receptors in the inner ear blocks the transmission of sound to the brain

Question 22

Why does cerebral palsy affect speech?

Answer 22

Can affect a persons ability to finely coordinate the muscles around the mouth and tongue. Coordinated breathing that is needed to support speech can be affected

Question 23

Why does cerebral palsy affect food and drink?

Answer 23

Can affect a persons ability to finely coordinate the muscles around the mouth and tongue, and often impacts fine motor movement so people are unable to easily use cutlery

Question 24

Rhizotomy

Answer 24

A procedure to sever nerve roots in the spinal cord and intradural space which can help to relieve muscle spasms

Question 25

Gastrostomy

Answer 25

Creation of an artificial opening into the stomach for nutritional support which a feeding device is then inserted into

Question 26

Pathophysiology of SCP

Answer 26

The MC uses upper motor neurons to communicate messages to the muscles. Upper MN come together with other neurons to form high waves that the MC uses to control the muscles

Question 27

Basal Ganglia

Answer 27

A collection of individual nuclei, or a cluster of cell bodies that use high waves of neurons to send messages to help control muscle movement

Question 28

Pathophysiology of ACP

Answer 28

The cerebellum receives information from the brain and spinal cord and uses it to regulate motor movements. The damage causes poor coordination and balance