Cerebral Palsy: Opinions on Development, Occurrence, Presentation and Management

Abstract

Abhijay B. Shah, Dev Andharia and Dev Desai

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common childhood disability affecting motor function as a result of injury to the under- developed brain, occurring in 2-3 children in every 1000 live births. However, CP as a disease is been studied well, and understood by the pathologist, general physicians, researchers, obstetricians, and paediatricians. The motor disorders of cerebral palsy are often associated with disturbances of sensation, perception, cognition, communication, and be- haviour, epilepsy, and secondary musculoskeletal problems. There are multiple risk factors have been identified for CP in the last decade, likely; premature birth (before 37 weeks) and low birth weight (less than 2.7 KG) these. two are most classically associated with CP. Others include the mother’s systemic illness, substance abuse, maternal undernutrition, Gestational diabetes, excessive bleeding per vagina, and preeclampsia, along with multiple gestations, C-section, vac- uum-assisted delivery, forceps delivery, post-term delivery, induction of labour, obstructed labour, asphyxia, etc. When considered to be a movement disorder, it can be classified as spastic, dyskinetic, or ataxic. When considering the area of presentation, it can be quadriplegic, hemiplegic, diplegic, and monoplegic. Hypertonicity of the muscles is the most common symptom along with other motor issues such as impaired balance, coordination, and hand function. periven- tricular leukomalacia is the most common neurological finding seen. Keeping cognizance of the impairment these symp- toms can cause to the independent functioning of the child in society, early diagnosis is extremely important.

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