Other Type of cerebral palsy

Mild cerebral palsy

Because there are so many different factors as to the cause of cerebral palsy, each case is as individual as the person affected. The symptoms and severity of cerebral palsy can range from mild, barely noticeable effects, to severe, in which the individual has extremely poor motor skills and mental retardation.

Mild cerebral palsy indicates that the severity of the brain damage suffered was only significant enough to cause slight impairment. The symptoms of mild cerebral palsy are subtler and not easily recognizable. In cases of mild cerebral palsy, symptoms are not as disruptive, and usually not apparent to the naked eye. Sometimes parents and doctors are less likely to realize that a child even has mild cerebral palsy. The parents usually detect mild cerebral palsy as children may begin to have trouble reaching more advanced developmental milestones because of physical complications.

Because mild cerebral palsy is seldom detectable, early intervention is difficult. However with earlier detections of mild cerebral palsy, corrective treatment can prove to be highly effective. In the instance of toe walking, for example, a plastic boot can help to train the motor skills and alleviate the problem. Sometimes mild cerebral palsy can affect the arms in subtle ways. A child with mild cerebral palsy may have trouble lifting heavier objects with a certain hand. However, the same child with mild cerebral palsy may have no difficulty writing with a pencil. The same muscles are used for both tasks, but the brain has trouble sending the message for one of them.
Mild cerebral palsy can be more severe than other cases of cerebral palsy, in the sense that some won’t get the benefit of treatment. Some children with mild cerebral palsy are affected by physical limitations, but their intelligence is not affected at all. Because they are not educationally deficient they will not qualify to receive occupational or physical therapy through their respective school.

A mild cerebral palsy diagnosis with physical limitations can be difficult when the child seems normal in every other way. While the child manages to stay on top of educational tasks, other coordination type tasks, such as gym class, give the child difficulties and can hurt self-esteem. It is important to remind a child with mild cerebral palsy that not everyone is coordinated and regardless, they can still function beyond expectations.

Spastic cerebral palsy

A type of cerebral palsy, called spastic cerebral palsy, occurs when the brain damage occurs in the cerebral cortex, the outer layer of the brain. Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common form of cerebral palsy, affecting 70 to 80 percent of patients. Spastic cerebral palsy has varying forms depending on the areas of the body it affects, whether its one side of the body or just the legs.
Spastic cerebral palsy refers to the increased tone, or tension, in a muscle. Normal muscles work in pairs. When one group contracts the other group relaxes, allowing free movement in the desired direction. Due to complications in brain-to-nerve-to-muscle communication, the normal ebb and flow of muscle tension is disrupted. Muscles affected by spastic cerebral palsy become active together and block effective movement. This causes the muscles in spastic cerebral palsy patients to be constantly tense, or spastic. Spastic cerebral palsy patients may have mild cases that affect only a few movements, or severe cases that can affect the whole body. Although spastic cerebral palsy is not thought to be a progressive disorder, as brain damage does not get worse over time, spasticity in muscles can increase over time. This increased muscle tone and stiffness in spastic cerebral palsy can limit the range of movement in the joints. The effects of spastic cerebral palsy may increase with anxiety or exerted effort, leading to excessive fatigue.
Spastic cerebral palsy negatively affects the patient’s muscles and joints of the extremities, causing abnormal movements, and can disrupt normal growth in children. Spastic cerebral palsy can inhibit several things such as normal motions in body movement, longitudinal muscle growth, and protein synthesis in muscle cells. Spastic cerebral palsy also limits stretching of muscles in daily activities and causes the development of muscle and joint deformities. Children born with spastic cerebral palsy do not have deformities of the extremities at birth but develop them over time due to joint contractures.

Treatments for spastic cerebral palsy vary depending on the severity of the symptoms in the individual. Oral medications, such as Valium and baclofen, have been tried but the general consensus is that they do not reduce spasticity. Baclofen infusion, however, a relatively new procedure, has been slightly more effective in spastic cerebral palsy. Using a pump inserted in the abdomen, baclofen is distributed to muscles, reducing spasticity. However, when baclofen treatment is stopped, spasticity returns. Risks associated with baclofen include overdose, meningitis, and other complications, and since it is a relatively new treatment, long-term affects are currently not known.

Botox injections placed in the muscles of spastic cerebral palsy patients are also a relatively new treatment. When injected into affected muscles, botox weakens the group of muscles, reducing spasticity. Botox injections usually last 3 to 4 months and side effects appear to be minimal.
Orthopedic operations are also used for the treatment of spastic cerebral palsy. Orthopedic surgery usually involves lengthening tendons and muscle release to improve range of motion. Surgery will not reduce spasticity directly, but does reduce the consequences of it.

The treatment for spastic cerebral palsy greatly depends on the severity of the condition and prior development of the patient. Deciding on treatment for children can be difficult for parents without medical knowledge. Consulting with a treatment team including a physical therapist, pediatrician, physiatrist, neurologist and neurosurgeon, and an orthopedic surgeon will aid in the decision making process.

Spastic diplegia cerebral palsy

A form of cerebral palsy, called spastic cerebral palsy, is caused when the brain damage occurs in the outer layer of the brain, the cerebral cortex. Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common form of cerebral palsy, affecting 70 to 80 percent of patients. Spastic cerebral palsy symptoms include increased tone, or tension, in a muscle. Normal muscles work in pairs; when one group of muscles contract, the other group relaxes. This allows uninhibited movement in the desired direction. Due to complications in brain-to-nerve-to-muscle communication, the normal degree of muscle tension is disrupted. Muscles affected by spastic cerebral palsy become active together and block effective movement. This causes the muscles in spastic cerebral palsy patients to be constantly tense, or spastic. Cerebral palsy can be classified by the way it affects movement or by the number of limbs it affects. These classifications can be combined to describe severe conditions such as spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. In spastic diplegia cerebral palsy all four limbs are affected; both legs, as well as mild affects in the arms are present.

Spastic diplegia cerebral palsy tends to affect the legs of a patient more than the arms. Spastic diplegia cerebral palsy patients have more extensive involvement of the lower extremity than the upper extremity. This allows most people with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy to eventually walk. The gait of a person with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy is typically characterized by a crouched gait. Toe walking and flexed knees are common attributes and can be corrected with proper treatment and gait analysis.

In many cases the IQ of a person with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy may be normal. However, other side effects like strabismus are common. Strabismus, the turning in or out of one eye, commonly called cross-eye, affects three quarters of people with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. This is due to weakness of the muscles that control eye movement. In addition, these individuals are often nearsighted. If not corrected, strabismus can lead to more severe vision problems over time.

Specialized treatment teams for individuals with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy can help decide which treatments are best suited for them. Treatments such as leg braces, gait analysis, botox injections, hyperbaric oxygen treatment, and several other treatments can help to manage spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. Treatment teams should include a physical therapist, pediatrician, physiatrist, neurologist and neurosurgeon, and an orthopedic surgeon that can all aid in the decision making process.

Ataxic cerebral palsy

Ataxic cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the cerebellum, which is in the base of the brain. The cerebellum is the control center for balance and coordination and coordinates the actions for different groups of muscles. Ataxic cerebral palsy therefore affects coordination of movement. Ataxic cerebral palsy usually affects all four limbs and the trunk. In addition, ataxic cerebral palsy is characterized by poor or low muscle tone, also known as hypotonic.

Ataxic cerebral palsy can affect an individual in several ways. A person with ataxic cerebral palsy will usually have a wide-based gait, or walk. Because of their poor sense of balance they tend to walk with their feet unusually far apart. In appearance, a person with ataxic cerebral palsy will look very unsteady and shaky. This is due to low muscle tone where the body is constantly trying to counter-balance itself.

The most significant characteristic of ataxic cerebral palsy is tremor, especially when attempting quick or precise movements, such as writing or buttoning a shirt. Also known as intention tremor, this symptom of ataxic cerebral palsy worsens when attempting a voluntary movement. For example, when reaching for an object, such as a book, the hand and arm will begin to shake. As the hand gets closer to the object the trembling gets more severe, increasing the completion time necessary for the task.

Although there is no cure for intention tremor in ataxic cerebral palsy, several treatments can help in reducing its effects. Although not suggested for long term us in ataxic cerebral palsy, drugs such as primidone and benzodiazepine can be effective in alleviating ataxic cerebral palsy symptoms. Botulinum toxin A, commonly referred to as botox, has also been found effective in treating head, hand, and voice tremors by relaxing tightened muscles.

A relatively new technique in treating intention tremor in ataxic cerebral palsy is cooling. Cooling of the forearm is achieved by wrapping the forearm, excluding the wrist and hand, in a cryomanchet using a circulating fluid. After being cooled, the arm of the individual with intention tremor experienced reduced tremor for approximately 30 minutes after cooling. Cooling of the arm may be useful before performing activities of daily life such as applying make up, taking a meal, or writing and signing documents. As a consequence, this may lead to a decrease in patients' dependency on caregivers.

Ataxic cerebral palsy can be extremely difficult for an individual to handle. Through testing different methods of treatment the most effective method can give some independence to an individual affected by ataxic cerebral palsy. A team of medical practitioners is necessary to properly evaluate the patient and determine which treatment is right for them.

mixed cerebral palsy

There are several different forms of cerebral palsy including spastic, athetoid, and ataxic. While each one is devastating in its own way, mixed cerebral palsy combines different types of cerebral palsy along with each individual type's effect. Roughly 10 percent of cerebral palsy patients suffer from mixed cerebral palsy; a combination of two or more types.

Children with mixed cerebral palsy usually have both the tight muscle tone of spastic cerebral palsy and the involuntary movements of athetoid cerebral palsy. This is caused by injury to both the pyramidal and extra pyramidal areas of the brain. Spasticity is usually the more obvious type, with the involuntary athetoid movements increasing when the child is between nine months and three years old. It usually takes months or years to notice the presence of mixed cerebral palsy more obvious.

The most common combination of mixed cerebral palsy involves both spasticity and athetoid movements, but other combinations are also possible. The least common mix is athetoid and ataxic, however any mix of types may occur. It is possible to have a mix of all three types of cerebral palsy: spastic, athetoid and ataxic.

Mixed cerebral palsy with spastic and athetoid cerebral palsy is the most common type of mixed cerebral palsy, accounting for nearly 10 percent of mixed cerebral palsy cases. Spastic cerebral palsy causes one or more tight muscle groups, which limit movement in the patient. Children with spastic cerebral palsy have stiff and jerky movements. They often have trouble moving from one position to another and have a difficulty holding and letting go of objects.

Mixed cerebral palsy with athetoid characteristics are caused by damage to the cerebellum or basal ganglia. These areas of the brain are responsible for processing the signals that enable smooth, coordinated movements as well as maintaining body posture. Injury to these areas may cause a child to develop involuntary, purposeless movements, especially in the face, arms, and trunk.

Involuntary movement in missed cerebral palsy is not under the control of the brain. A "twitch" is a form of involuntary movement that everyone has experienced at some time. The movement is caused by electrical stimulation of the muscle, and in individuals with mixed cerebral palsy, the involuntary movement happens so often that it interferes with their ability to function.
The involuntary movements caused by mixed cerebral palsy often interfere with speaking, feeding, reaching, grasping, and other skills requiring coordinated movements. Involuntary grimacing and tongue thrusting may lead to swallowing problems, drooling, and slurred speech. The movements often increase during periods of emotional stress and disappear during sleep. In addition, children with mixed cerebral palsy often have low muscle tone and have problems maintaining posture for sitting and walking.

Mixed cerebral palsy can be difficult to treat in severe cases. While the early stages of childhood may not show signs of mixed cerebral palsy, frequent checkups will catch symptoms at their earliest. If you think your child is showing signs of mixed cerebral palsy you should contact your child's physician.

Hemiplegia and Cerebral Palsy

Hemiplegia is a condition that affects one side of the body in cerebral palsy patients, however it is not exclusive to cerebral palsy. Hemiplegia affects either the right or left side of the body. Hemiplegia is caused by damage to a part of the brain, which can occur before, during, or soon after birth, when it is known as congenital hemiplegia. If it occurs later in childhood (up to age 3), it is called acquired hemiplegia. Generally, injury to the left side of the brain will cause a right hemiplegia and injury to the right side a left hemiplegia. Childhood hemiplegia is a relatively common condition, affecting up to one child in 1,000.

The causes of congenital hemiplegia are mostly unknown, and usually parents become aware of their child's hemiplegia gradually during his or her infancy. The risk for hemiplegia is higher in premature babies, and difficulty at birth may be an occasional factor. Brain damage causing hemiplegia usually occurs during pregnancy, and researchers have as yet been unable to isolate any contributory factors besides the previously known risk factors of cerebral palsy. Acquired hemiplegia results from damage to the brain during childhood. The most common cause is a stroke, but it can also result from an accident or infection.

Hemiplegia affects each child differently. The most obvious affects are a varying degree of weakness and lack of control in the affected side of the body. In one child this may be very obvious, in another child it will be so slight that it only shows when attempting specific physical activities.

Although there is no cure for hemiplegia, its effects can be minimized through therapy. Your child, once diagnosed, will probably be referred to a Child Development Centre (CDC) or the children's department of your local or regional hospital, where therapists will work with you to develop his or her abilities.
Because the immature brain is so flexible, many of the functions of the damaged area can be taken over by completely functional parts of the brain. Children and young people with hemiplegia will see a relatively small difference in their general development in the area of the brain that was damaged, especially in comparison to their elder counterparts.

A child with hemiplegia should be treated as normally as possible, when the circumstances allow. However, it is essential to include the weaker side in play and everyday activities, to make your child as ambidextrous as possible. Children with hemiplegia can be encouraged to develop better use of their weaker side through involvement in their chosen sports and hobbies, as they get older.

About half of children with hemiplegia do have additional problems related to cerebral palsy. Additional problems are usually medical in nature, such as epilepsy, visual impairment or speech difficulties. It has also become clear that many children have less obvious additional problems, such as perceptual problems, specific learning difficulties or emotional and behavioral problems, but with specialist treatment their effects on the child's life can be minimized.

Understanding hemiplegia and knowing how you can help your child achieve his or her potential is vital. Make good use of the healthcare specialists dealing with your child's hemiplegia. Be sure to ask questions and make sure you understand your child's needs regarding hemiplegia.

Quadriplegia and Cerebral Palsy

Quadriplegia is a form of cerebral palsy that is characterized by the lack of the ability to move or feel both arms, both legs, and other parts of the body affected. Quadriplegia in cerebral palsy is caused by an injury to the spinal cord, which sends messages to body parts important for movement and sensation.

Spastic quadriplegia is the most severe from of cerebral palsy in which all four limbs and the trunk are affected. Children with spastic quadriplegia usually have several compounded disabilities including mental retardation, problems with muscles that control the mouth and tongue, and difficulty in speaking. Some children with quadriplegia also suffer from hemiparetic tremors; an uncontrollable shaking that affects the limbs on one side of the body and impairs normal movement.

A common problem with children suffering from quadriplegia is fluid buildup. Diuretics and steroids are medications administered to decrease any buildup of fluid in the spine that is caused by leakage from dead cells. Additional therapies and surgery are often performed to relieve some symptoms of quadriplegia in cerebral palsy children.

Health care providers can make sure that any complications are avoided or treated quickly in patients with quadriplegia. A bandage known as an abdomen binder can provide support to the abdomen area where weak muscles are unable to do so in quadriplegia. Providing the patient with a special stocking to wear on the legs can prevent blood clots. Rolling over the patient into different body positions can also prevent pressure sores, which develop from staying in the same position for an extended period of time from quadriplegia.

It is important to monitor the heart rate of a person with quadriplegia, and a slow heart rate can be treated with special medications. Hardened feces in a quadriplegia patient are important to monitor because it can cause high blood pressure. Autonomic dysreflexia can be caused by hardened feces, urinary infections, and other problems, resulting in the overreaction of the nervous system and can result in high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes. Blockage of tubes inserted into the body to drain or enter fluids also needs to be monitored to prevent autonomic dysreflexia in quadriplegia. The proper functioning of the digestive system needs to be monitored as well.

When quadriplegia occurs, it is characterized by a decrease in the normal level of tension that exists in muscles of the arms and legs. There is also a loss of power and sensation below the area of the spinal cord injury. Many people with quadriplegia die of breathing failure because voluntary control over the muscles and organs that are necessary to breathe is dramatically impaired. Thus, it is crucial for health care providers to make sure that someone with quadriplegia can breathe properly. To help people with quadriplegia breathe properly, they may need a machine known as a respirator that artificially breathes for them.

Quadriplegia is an extremely difficult form of cerebral palsy to deal with. The dedication of a family and healthcare provider is critical for a quadriplegia cerebral palsy patient well being. Your support is the best therapy that they can get, and although they may have difficulty showing you, they really do appreciate it.

Source http://www.cerebralpalsysource.com