Infant Cerebral Palsy
"In the Clinic we have all the professionals that should compose the multidisciplinary team. We work as a team, in an agile and coordinated way, to allow an integral vision of the patient".
DR. ALBERTO VIECO GARCÍA
SPECIALIST. NEUROPEDIATRICS UNIT
What is infantile cerebral palsy?
Infantile cerebral palsy is the most common cause of physical disability in the paediatric age group. The prevalence in developed countries remains around 2 cases per 1,000 live births.
It is caused by injury to the developing brain, either during pregnancy, birth or the first months of life. Although the brain damage is non-progressive, it can affect movement, muscle tone and coordination.
In addition to motor difficulties, other associated problems such as epilepsy, visual or auditory disturbances, learning difficulties, sleep disorders, intellectual development disorders and digestive problems, among others, can occur.
In 75% of cases, spasticity is the most frequent clinical symptom and is considered the main cause of discomfort, gait disturbance and functional limitation in these patients.
What are the symptoms of infantile cerebral palsy?
Some of the most common symptoms of infantile cerebral palsy are:
- Spasticity present in 75% of cases.
- Gait, orthopaedic and postural disturbances
- Fine motor disturbances
- Vision or hearing problems
- Learning or language difficulties
- Sleep disorders
- Digestive and eating disorders
Do you have any of these symptoms?
If you suspect that you have any of the above symptoms,
you should consult a medical specialist for a diagnosis.
What is your prognosis?
- Spastic cerebral palsy: the most common (about 75% of cases). It is characterised by muscle stiffness that limits movement. It can affect only the legs (diparesis), one side of the body (hemiparesis), or all four limbs (tetraparesis).
- Dyskinetic (or dystonic) cerebral palsy: causes involuntary, slow or jerky movements, which can make muscle control, speech and feeding difficult.
- Ataxic cerebral palsy: less common. It is associated with problems with balance, coordination and precision of movement.
- Mixed cerebral palsy: combines features of more than one type, often with a mixture of spasticity and dyskinesia.
What is your prognosis?
The prognosis is highly variable and depends on the type and degree of initial involvement. Although brain damage does not progress, its manifestations may change over time.
Early and individualised treatment can significantly improve the child's quality of life and functionality, and co-morbidities need to be addressed.
What are the causes of infantile cerebral palsy?
Infantile cerebral palsy can occur at various points in a child's development:
- Prenatal: Factors may be maternal, fetal or placental. These include maternal infections, coagulation disorders, exposure to drugs or other pregnancy complications, placental disorders, foetal CNS malformations, multiple gestation, etc.
- Perinatal: prematurity, hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, CNS infection, hyperbilirubinaemia, etc.
- Postnatal: infection, trauma, cardiorespiratory arrest, etc.
How is infantile cerebral palsy diagnosed?
The diagnosis of infantile cerebral palsy is primarily clinical. It is based on clinical history, physical examination and neuroimaging tests to assess brain damage.
When paralysis is associated with other problems, such as epilepsy, visual, cognitive or hearing defects, additional tests are needed to assess the damage and predict the prognosis.
How is infantile cerebral palsy treated?
Treatment is multidisciplinary given the different affectations:
- Physiotherapy and occupational therapy to improve movement and autonomy
- Orthotics and technical aids to facilitate walking or posture
- Medications / botulinum toxin to improve spasticity
- Orthopaedic surgery
- Nervous system surgery such as selective dorsal rhizotomy (which can reduce spasticity)
- Treatments for associated problems (epilepsy, vision, hearing, learning or nutrition)
- Educational therapies
Where do we treat it?
IN NAVARRA AND MADRID
The Neuropediatrics Unit
of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra
The Unit is part of the Department of Pediatrics and works closely with specialists from other departments to provide integrated care for children and adolescents with risk factors or diseases affecting the central nervous system and neuromuscular system.
It is made up of a team of neuropediatric specialists and psychopedagogues.
Diseases we treat
- Early development and its deviations.
- Motor control disorders.
- Global developmental disorders. Autism.
- Epilepsy in children. Dravet syndrome.
- Sleep disorders.
- Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders. ADHD.
Why at the Clinica?
- Teamwork to offer a valuation in 24 hours.
- Most experienced nationally in Dravet Syndrome.
Our team of experts in infantile cerebral palsy
