<p>Cerebral Palsy: Current Opinions on Definition, Epidemiology, Risk Factors, Classification and Treatment Options</p>

Abstract

Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most frequent causes of motor disability in children. According to the up-to-date definition, CP is a group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitations that are attributed to non-progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing foetal or infant brain. The CP definition has evolved over time; the problem is aetiologically and clinically very heterogeneous. According to European data, the average frequency of CP is 2.08 per 1000 live births, but in the group of children born with a body weight below 1500 g, the frequency is 70 times higher when compared with the group of children with a body weight over 2500 g at birth. The risk factors for CP can be divided into preconception, prenatal, perinatal and postnatal ones. CP commonly co-exists with epilepsy, in particular drug-resistant epilepsy, but also with mental retardation, visual and hearing impairment, as well as feeding and behavioral disorders. The degree of motor problem varies from mild to very severe making the child totally dependent on caregivers. Cerebral palsy is divided into forms depending on the type of motor disorders which dominate the clinical presentation; the traditional classifications by Ingram and Hagberg have now been replaced by the Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe classification which divides CP into spastic, dyskinetic and ataxic forms. Although cerebral palsy is a clinical diagnosis, modern diagnostic imaging provides information that allows the division of the results of magnetic resonance imaging in children with cerebral palsy into five groups according to the magnetic resonance imaging classification system. Just as the clinical presentation and the factors predisposing for CP are very diverse, treatment is also a very complex problem. Modern treatment of spasticity includes both botulinum toxin therapies and surgical techniques, eg, rhizotomy. The authors present current views on definitions, risk factors, diagnostics and treatment of CP as well as comorbid problems, eg, drug-resistant epilepsy.

The evaluation of children with cerebral palsy admitted to the pediatric neurology outpatient department

“…Spasticity is the most common movement disorder seen in 80% of children with CP. [2] The incidence of CP differs between genders. CP is reported to me more common among boys.…”

“…dysfunctions, epilepsy, and secondary musculoskeletal system problems. [2] In parallel with technological advancements, new approaches are emerging in treatment and rehabilitation techniques in CP. Etiological distribution of CP, life expectancy and increased quality of life are accepted as criteria determining the development level of societies.…”

The association between ADHD and physical health: a co-twin control study

“…Moreover, our findings from a twin sample should be interpreted with caution when extending to singleton samples. Twin pregnancy has increased risk for perinatal morbidity 77 , which is associated with neurodevelopmental conditions and neurological complications 3 , 78 . Second, the sample size of adult ADHD in our study was limited, making results for association between physical comorbidity and ADHD among children and adults harder to compare.…”

Unmasking the Enigma of Cerebral Palsy: A Traditional Review

“…The drug of choice for the treatment of spasticity is an antispasmodic known as baclofen [ 35 ]. Botox or botulinum toxin A is also another option but is reserved for cases of focal spasticity [ 36 ]. Refractory cases of spasticity may require surgical intervention.…”