Spastic Cerebral Palsy Explained
Spastic cerebral palsy is a developmental disorder caused by damage to the brain before or during birth or within the first few years of life. It is the most common type of cerebral palsy. Spastic CP is characterized by jerky movements and muscle and joint stiffness.This condition prevents the normal development of motor function. Spastic cerebral palsy often makes simple tasks difficult, such as walking and picking up small objects. Some children with spastic cerebral palsy also develop co-occurring conditions as a result of their brain injury. These co-occurring conditions range from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to seizures.
Types of Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Spastic cerebral palsy is classified based on the location of movement issues. Children with spastic CP may have muscle stiffness in an arm, both legs or even on one half of their body. The most common types of spastic CP are:Spastic diplegia – Muscle stiffness occurs primarily in the legs but may also slightly affect the child’s arms.
Spastic hemiplegia – One side of the body is affected by movement problems, with the arm typically being stiffer than the leg.
Spastic quadriplegia – All four limbs are affected as well as the torso and face. Children with quadriplegia often have co-occurring disorders, such as epilepsy.
Causes and Risk Factors
Cerebral palsy is a catch-all term for developmental movement disorders caused by a brain injury. Each type of cerebral palsy is caused by damage to a specific part of the brain. Spastic CP is caused by damage to the motor cortex and the pyramidal tracts of the brain, which connect the motor cortex to the spinal cord.Motor cortex
The motor cortex is located in the cerebral cortex, which is the largest part of the brain. The motor cortex is composed of several parts that are responsible for relaying signals to other parts of the brain to control movement. The most important aspect of the motor cortex in relation to cerebral palsy is its regulation of voluntary movement. Damage to this region of the brain makes voluntary movement harder to control and less fluid.
Pyramidal tracts
The pyramidal tracts in the brain are the roads of communication between the cerebral cortex and the nerves in the spinal cord. If pyramidal tracts are damaged, the motor cortex can’t send proper signals to the spinal cord. The spinal cord is one half of the central nervous system (the other half being the brain and brain stem), which is essential for sensory functions such as sight, touch and movement.
Understanding the function of the motor cortex and pyramidal tracts helps to explain how damage to these systems affects movement in those with spastic CP.
The motor cortex and pyramidal tracts may be damaged by:
Prenatal brain hemorrhage or infection
Lack of oxygen to the brain during birth
Brain trauma or infection after birth
Several risk factors may increase the likelihood of a developmental brain injury occurring. Poor maternal health and a low birth weight are just some of the risk factors for any type of cerebral palsy.
Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of spastic cerebral palsy are different for every child. Differences in symptoms depend on the severity of the child’s brain injury and any co-occurring disorders that may be present.In general, the most common symptoms of spastic CP are:
Exaggerated movements
Stiff, tight muscles (hypertonia)
Contractures
Abnormal reflexes
Co-occurring issues may also present themselves, such as hearing and vision impairment, but these aren’t directly related to the cerebral palsy; they are caused by the initial birth injury.
In the first years of a child’s life, it is hard to recognize the signs of spastic cerebral palsy. This is because the signs do not present themselves until a child begins missing developmental milestones. In the early developmental years, children have some of the same jerky reflexes that are associated with the spastic CP. It usually takes up to 18 months of age before spastic CP can be diagnosed.
The most common signs of spastic cerebral palsy are:
Abnormal gait
Crossed knees
Joints don’t extend fully
Walking on toes
Tight muscles in one part of the body
Treatment Options
Treatment for spastic cerebral palsy varies with each case. The severity and specific location of movement problems are the biggest factors in outlining treatment. However, there are often secondary conditions that require treatment. There are three routes of treatment for spastic CP: physical therapy, medications and surgery.Physical therapy
The first type of treatment prescribed to children with spastic cerebral palsy is usually physical therapy. The goal of physical therapy is to provide as much independence to the child as possible. This treatment is centered on flexibility exercises and stretching out stiff muscles. Physical therapy can help children with spastic CP improve their overall motor function and prevent future complications.
Medications
Medications are used widely to treat children with spastic cerebral palsy. Benzodiazepines, such as Valium, are taken orally to relieve muscle stiffness and improve movement throughout the body. There are also medications that can treat muscle stiffness in specific parts of the body, usually via injection. Children with spastic CP are often given medication to treat secondary conditions like ADHD and seizures.
Surgery
Surgery may be a large part of treatment for children with spastic cerebral palsy. There are several types of surgeries that are used to correct joint dislocations, shortened muscles and sensory impairments that hinder normal motor function.
Every child with CP is different, and some require more treatment than others. All parents should have the same goal when it comes to treatment, which is to give their child the best life possible. There is help available for parents exploring treatment options and the costs associated with their child’s condition.
没有评论:
发表评论