It is defined as non-progressive posture and movement disorder and weakness due to a lesion and defect suffered by the developing brain. Its frequency in our society is 4 out of 1000. This condition is usually accompanied by epilepsy, mental retardation, hearing and vision problems. It can develop before the age of two due to various intrauterine, birth and postnatal reasons. It is classified as spastic, dyskinetic, ataxic and mixed type. In the spastic type, it can be seen as bilateral (quadriparesis, diparesis) or unilateral (hemiparesis).
Dyskinetic type is divided into two as choreoathetotic and dystonic. Ataxic type is the least common. In the mixed type, two clinical types are observed together. Close neurological monitoring of all risky babies is important for early recognition and rehabilitation.
It is the most common type of spastic diparesis in premature babies. Dyskinetic type is seen in babies who undergo blood exchange due to high jaundice (kernicterus table). The most severe prognosis is for the spastic quadriparetic type. Lack of oxygen at birth is one of the main causes of this condition. Congenital brain development disorders, vascular causes, and bleeding cause spastic hemiparesis. Brain imaging (CT, MRI) is used in the diagnosis of cerebral palsy.
EEG examination is also required in patients with epilepsy. Treatment includes medications for contractions, physiotherapy, botulinum toxin, and orthopedic interventions for permanent contractures. A multidisciplinary approach is essential for these patients due to feeding difficulties due to swallowing dysfunction, which may accompany especially in severe cases, respiratory problems in bedridden patients, behavioral problems in patients with moderate and severe mental retardation, and hearing and vision defects.
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