Cerebral Palsy (Part 1) Flashcards
Define Cerebral Palsy
A group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitations that are attributed to non-progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain
The motor disturbances of CP are often accompanied by disturbances of what?
- sensation
- perception
- cognition
- communication
- behavior
__% of children with CP have mental retardation, when combined with the slow learners and persons with disabilities that number climbs to __%
40
75
Epilepsy occurs in __% of children with CP
35
Visual impairments occur in __% of children with CP
20
Hydrocephalus occurs in __% of children with CP
9
What is a way to distinguish CP from other diagnoses?
CP is nonprogressive
True or False
No upper age limit has been determined for postnatal onset of CP
True
Why has there been an increase in the prevalence of babies with CP?
There is increased survival of preterm and very preterm babies
The incidence of CP is - per every 1000 live births
OR
_ in every 300 babies
2-3
1
The prevalence of CP in twins is said to be __ per every 1000 live births
15
The prevalence of CP in triplets is said to be __ per every 1000 live births
80
The prevalence of CP in quadruplets is said to be __ per every 1000 live births
43
75% of all CP cases are due to what?
Changes in prenatal brain development
What are some potential prenatal (before birth) causes of CP?
- vascular events such as middle cerebral artery infarct
- maternal infections during the 1st and 2nd trimesters
- metabolic disorders
- maternal ingestion of toxins
- rare genetic syndromes
What are some potential perinatal (during birth) causes of CP?
- obstructed labor
- antepartum hemorrhage
- cord prolapse
- hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
- untreated jaundice
- severe neonatal infection
Perinatal asphyxia is though to cause -% of CP
6-8
What percentage of CP is thought to be caused postnatally?
10-18%
What are some potential postnatal (after birth) causes of CP?
- metabolic encephalopathy
- infections
- injuries
What are some maternal characteristics that are associated with a higher likelihood of CP development?
- delayed onset of menstruation
- irregular menstruation
- long intermenstrual intervals
- unusually short or long interval between pregnancies
What paternal characteristic is associated with a higher likelihood of CP development? What specific type of CP?
advanced age
athetoid dystonic CP
What are the likely causes of perinatal asphyxia?
- prolapsed cord
- massive intrapartum hemorrhage
- prolonged or traumatic birth
- large baby with shoulder dystocia
- maternal shock
What APGAR scores are associated with an 81-fold increased risk of CP?
0-3 a 5 minutes
Why is the diagnosis of CP so difficult?
The immature brain has much more plasticity, which allows for the uninjured part to assume the function of the injured part of the brain
When will a child be diagnosed with CP prior to 2 years of age?
The present with:
- abnormal muscle tone
- atypical posture
- movement with persistence of primitive reflexes
Milder cases of CP may not be diagnosed until - years of age
4-5
What are the 3 key elements when diagnosing CP?
- evaluation of motor skills
- neuroimaging
- evidence that symptoms are not progressing
What neuroimaging studies can show the location and type of brain injury?
- cranial ultrasound
- CT
- MRI
What neuroimaging technique is preferred?
MRI
When is cranial ultrasound used? Why?
In high-risk preterm infants, because it is less invasive then other techniques
When neuroimaging is unremarkable, what should you suspect next?
Other disorders that mimic the diagnosis of CP, such as metabolic or mitochondrial disorders
Cerebral hemorrhages may be associated with CP, what are the 3 types of hemorrhages? Describe each
- Intraventricular hemorrhages (IVH): bleeding into the ventricles
- Germinal matrix hemorrhages (GMH): bleeding into the tissue around the ventricles
- Periventricular intraventricular hemorrhages (PIVH): bleeding into both areas
What may form in the area where the bleed occurred once the acuteness has resolved?
Periventricular cyst (PVC)
What are 2 known risk factors for hemorrhages?
- mechanical ventilation
- injury during critical periods of brain development
When is the periventricular white matter most sensitive to insult? What is the most predominant cause of this?
Between 24-34 weeks of gestation
Mother uses drugs
What are the grades of hemorrhages from least to most severe?
Grade I
Grade II
Grade III
Grade IV