Cerebral Palsy Flashcards
Describe cerebral palsy. Does it involve sensory abnormalities?
It is a static encephalopathy that occurs due to a CNS insult during early development that results in chronic, nonprogressive afflictions of movement, posture, and tone. CP refers only to motor deficits but frequently occurs in conjunction with seizures, intellectual disability, and learning disabilities.
What are the 5 types of cerebral palsy and their associated frequencies?
Spastic (70%), dyskinetic (15%), ataxic (5%), hypotonic (7%), and mixed (3%).
What causes cerebral palsy?
It is a multifactorial disorder which has never been linked to one isolated source. Potential contributing factors are: neonatal encephalopathy, neonatal asphyxia, low birth weight, congenital malformations, and infection.
T/F: Birth asphyxia is the major cause of cerebral palsy.
False. This was thought to be a major cause in the past, but is now thought to account for < 10% of cases.
What treatment administered to pregnant women has been shown to decrease the incidence and severity of cerebral palsy?
Magnesium sulfate given to women in preterm labor reduces the incidence and severity of cerebral palsy. It does not affect mortality.
How does spastic cerebral palsy present?
It presents with upper motor neuron signs, including weakness, hypertonicity with contractures, and hyperreflexia with clonus.
What neurological exam finding would you expect in a patient with spastic cerebral palsy?
Because spastic CP involves upper motor neuron signs, abnormal reflexes such as extensor plantar response are typically seen in these children.
Where is the brain abnormality located that causes dyskinetic cerebral palsy?
The pathologic tissue is located in the basal ganglia.
What characterizes dyskinetic cerebral palsy?
Dyskinetic CP refers to the presence of impaired, uncontrolled, and purposeless movements of the axial and/or appendicular muscles that disappear during sleep.
What is one important identifiable cause of dyskinetic cerebral palsy?
Neonatal bilirubin encephalopathy (kernicterus).
What brain structure is affected in ataxic cerebral palsy?
Ataxic CP occurs when there is damage to the cerebellum and its pathways.
How common are seizures in children with cerebral palsy?
Seizures occur in ~25-40% of children with cerebral palsy.
How common is intellectual disability in children with cerebral palsy?
Intellectual disability occurs in 25-75% of children with CP.
