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Cerebral palsy - Overview

Alternative Names

Spastic paralysis; Paralysis - spastic

Definition of Cerebral palsy:

Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders involving movement, learning, hearing, seeing, and thinking that occur due to problems with brain development.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Cerebral palsy is caused by injuries or abnormalities of the brain. Most of these problems occur as the baby grows in the womb, but they can happen at any time during the first 2 years of life, while the baby's brain is still developing.

In some people with cerebral palsy, parts of the brain are injured due to low levels of oxygen (hypoxia) in the area. It is not known why this occurs.

Trauma and low oxygen levels during birth (birth asphyxia) is an uncommon cause of cerebral palsy.

Premature infants have a slightly higher risk of developing cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy may also occur during early infancy as a result of several conditions, including:

Types of cerebral palsy include:

  • Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type.
  • Dyskinetic (athetoid) cerebral palsy involves abnormal movements (twisting, jerking, or other movements).
  • Ataxic cerebral palsy involves tremors, unsteady gait, loss of coordination, and abnormal movements.
  • Hypotonic cerebral palsy involves floppy muscles, especially at rest, and increased range of motion in the joints.
  • Mixed cerebral palsy involves any combination of symptoms.
  • Reviewed last on: 9/21/2008
  • Jennifer K. Mannheim, CRNP, private practice in Autism Treatment and Research, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Krigger KW. Cerebral palsy: an overview. Am Fam Physician. 2006;73:91-100.

Johnston MV. Encephalopathies. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 598.

Whelan MA. Practice parameter: diagnostic assessment of the child with cerebral palsy: report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the Practice Committee of the Child Neurology Society. Neurology. 2004;63:1985-1986.

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