CEREBRAL PALSY

Is a disorder that affects muscle

tone, movement and motor skills. It
is one of the most common
congenital disorders of childhood.
Types:
1. Spastic Cerebral Palsy- causes stiffness and movement difficulties
2. Athetotic Cerebral Palsy- leads to involuntary and uncontrolled movements
3. Ataxic Cerebral Palsy- causes a disturbed sense of balance and depth
perception
Causes:
- the exact causes of most cases of cerebral palsy are unknown, but many are
the result from an abnormality or injury to the cerebrum. Cerebrum is the
largest area of the brain, which controls sensation and involuntary motor
function.
- this can also be the result of problems during pregnancy in which the brain is
either damaged or doest develop normally.
- this can be due to infections, maternal health problems or something that
interferes with oxygen reaching the fetal brain.
Signs and Symptoms:
- lack of muscle coordination when performing voluntary movements.
- stiff muscles and exaggerated reflexes (spashaty)
- asymmetrical walking gait, without foot or leg dragging
- variations in muscle tone, from too stiff to too floppy
- execessive drooling or difficulties of swallowing, sucking or speaking
- tremors
- difficulty with precise motions, such as writing or buttoning a shift.
Diagnostic Tests:
- Cerebral palsy is generally diagnosed by age 1 or 2. the doctor wil check your
child’s reflexes, muscle tone and movements. Additional test may rule out and
your child may undergo one or more of these procedures.
- CT Scan- images created with a CT scanner show the structure of the child’s
brain, as well as the presence and extent of any damage.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan- cylinder shaped MRI scanner uses no x-
rays, instead this creates tissue-slice images of the brain from data generated
by a powerful magnetic field and radio waves.
- Other tests. Some children may need genetic or metabolic tests to help rule out
other conditions.
Treatments:
- It is often require long term care and the type and amount of treatment depend
on how many problems your child’s has.
- Currently there is no cure for this, but there are variety of resources and
therapies can provide and improve the quality of a child with cerebral palsy.
- Physical therapy- wil help prevent musculoskeletal problems and to help the
child to perform everyday activities.
- Occupational therapy- specializes in improving the development of the small
muscles of the body such as hands, feet, face, fingers and toes.
- Also teach daily living skil s such as dressing, eating and proper position in
wheelchairs.
- Teach better or easier ways to write, draw and brush teeth.
- Speech and language therapy- develop better of the jaw and mouth muscles,
which can improve speech and language skil s.
- Surgery- sometimes recommended to improve muscle development, correct
contractures and reduces plasticity in the legs.
- Drug therapy- Tegretol, Dilatin and Phenobarnital may prevent or control
seizures associated with cerebral palsy. Diazepam, Badofen and Dantrolene can
reduces plasticity associated with cerebral palsy.
- Adaptive equipment
- wheelchair- use when a child cannot walk. It also allows a child to move
from one place to another.
walker- help a child to balance their body and get around with the use of
wheelchair.
Nursing and Medical managements:
- perform the surgery
- promote growth and development
Complications:
- Besides difficulty with movement and posture, cerebral palsy may result in
these health problems.
- Development of joint deformities or dislocation, if there is considerable
spasticity.
- Nutrition problems, if there are swallowing or feeding difficulties.
- Difficulty in vision, hearing and speech
- Dental problems
- Mental retardation
- Seizures
- Abnormal sensation or perception
- Urinary incontinence