Cerebral palsy (CP) is the name given to the permanent neurological problems resulting from damage to the brain around the time of birth (from prenatal to < 1 month postnatal)

Aetiology

• Insult to the growing brain before, during or after birth
• Only 1 in 10 cases are due to problems during labour
• Often no identifiable cause

Antenatal

• Maternal infections
• Trauma during pregnancy

Perinatal

• Birth asphyxia
• Pre-term birth

Postnatal

• Meningitis
• Severe neonatal jaundice
• Head injury

Pathophysiology

Types of cerebral palsy

• Spastic: hypertonia (increased tone) and reduced function resulting from damage to upper motor neurones
• Dyskinetic: problems controlling muscle tone, with hypertonia and hypotonia, causing athetoid movements and oro-motor problems
  • This is the result of damage to the basal ganglia
• Ataxic: problems with coordinated movement resulting from damage to the cerebellum