Cerebral Palsy Flashcards Chapter 2

Cerebral Palsy Overview

• A group of clinical syndromes affecting movement, muscle tone, and coordination caused by injury to the immature brain.
• Classified as a developmental disability, not a single disease.
• First identified by Freud.

Developmental Disabilities

• Interfere with the development of motor and cognitive skills during early life.

Misconceptions about Cerebral Palsy

• Often mislabeled as static encephalopathy which is incorrect; cerebral palsy can change over time and is not static.

Characteristics of Cerebral Palsy

• Condition is non-progressive; no worsening or additional damage to the central nervous system (CNS).
• Involves sensorimotor disorders indicated by abnormal muscle tone and movement patterns, varying from mild to severe.
• Originates from the brain, not from muscles or nerves.
• Considered a lifelong disability.

Congenital Cerebral Palsy

• Accounts for 70-80% of cases, indicating brain injury occurred prior to birth.
• A small percentage arises from birth complications.

Risk Factors

• Difficult to pinpoint specific causes, though low birth weight and prematurity are significant risk factors.
• Intrauterine infections, coagulation disorders, and maternal infections also contribute.

Brain Hypoxia

• Oxygen deprivation to the brain, often leading to cerebral palsy.

Types of Brain Injuries Resulting in Cerebral Palsy

• Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL)
• Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
• Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH)
• Cerebral Dysgenesis

Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL)

• Damage to white matter near lateral ventricles due to ischemia, leading to necrosis and cyst formation.
• Associated with premature birth before 32 weeks; 60-100% of affected infants display signs of cerebral palsy.

Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)

• Also known as perinatal asphyxia, results from loss of oxygen damaging brain tissue, predominantly in full-term infants.

Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH)

• Bleeding into the brain's ventricular system, mainly in infants born over 10 weeks prematurely due to underdeveloped blood vessels.
• Grades 1 & 2 typically cause minimal long-term issues; Grades 3 & 4 can lead to severe bleeding and cerebral palsy.

Hydrocephalus

• Occurs in IVH grades 3 & 4; blood clots obstruct cerebral spinal fluid flow due to pressure or leakage from bleeding.

Cerebral Dysgenesis

• Brain malformation resulting from improper or incomplete brain development.

Traumatic Brain Injury

• Closed head injuries may mimic symptoms of cerebral palsy.

Postnatal Cerebral Palsy

• Rare; caused by cerebrovascular incidents such as meningitis, poisoning, trauma, and endocrine disorders.

Prevalence and Incidence

• Most common childhood motor disability.
• Incidence ranges from 3.1 to 3.6 per 1000 births in the U.S.
• More prevalent in males (1.4:1 ratio) and among black children.
• Higher rates (70% increase) reported in middle to low-income areas.
• Twins have a 400% higher risk due to low birth weights.

Early Signs and Symptoms

• Abnormal muscle tone.
• Reflex and postural abnormalities.
• Delayed motor development.
• Atypical motor performance.

Tone Abnormalities

• Includes hypertonicity, hypotonicity, and fluctuating tone, leading to variable muscular responses.