Spastic Cerebral Palsy –Know its Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment 

What is Cerebral Palsy? 

Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders affecting movement, muscle tone, and posture. It is caused due to damage to a developing, immature brain, which usually occurs before birth.

There are many types of Cerebral Palsy but Spastic Cerebral Palsy is the most common type of Cerebral Palsy disorder. Muscle stiffness  is common in children with spastic Cerebral Palsy. These can be in the upper, lower, or both parts of the body. They can be found on either one or both sides of the body. 

What is Spastic Cerebral Palsy?

Spastic cerebral palsy is a disorder that occurs due to brain damage before birth, during labor/pregnancy, or in the first few years of life. Spastic cerebral palsy occurs when the motor cortex of the brain is injured before, during, or after birth.

Spastic Cerebral Palsy Symptoms: Some of the most common signs & symptoms include are mentioned below:

• Muscle stiffness and tightness on one or both sides of the body
• Problem in walking, a crouched gait, a scissors-like gait with knees crossed, a wide gait, or an asymmetrical gait
• Difficulties with fine motor skills, such as buttoning a shirt or picking up utensils
• Instability of balance and coordination of muscles
• Abnormal reflexes
• The joints do not extend completely

Spastic Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis:

MRI brain, cranial ultrasound, EEG, and some blood tests may be advised by doctors to diagnose Spastic Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis. If the patients are diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, they may be advised to visit specialists to examine some other common conditions associated with Cerebral Palsy disorder such as – speech, hearing, development, vision, movement, and some other medical conditions.

• Spastic Cerebral Palsy Treatment: Treatment for spastic Cerebral Palsy differs from case to case. The most important factors in determining treatment are the severity of symptoms, the location of movement problems, and any secondary conditions. Medication, physical, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and surgery are some of the treatment options for Cerebral Palsy:

1. Physical Therapy: - This therapy is very important to improve a child’s mobility, physical strength, balance, motor development, and flexibility. Physical therapy is usually the first type of treatment given to children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy. The goal of physical therapy is to give the child as much independence as possible. The focus of this treatment is on flexibility exercises and stretching stiff muscles.
2. Occupational therapy- Occupational therapy is another type of therapy used to treat children with spastic CP. Occupational therapy aims to improve a child's ability to perform daily tasks and activities independently at home, school, work, and in public. Occupational therapists work on specific muscles in the wrist, forearm, thumb, and upper body. Because it focuses on improving motor control, bilateral coordination, and upper body strength, this treatment is beneficial for spastic CP. Occupational therapists can also determine the need for assistive devices such as adaptive scissors or writing utensils.
3. Speech Therapy - Children with spastic CP benefit from speech therapy to improve their oral movements. Speech therapy aims to improve articulation and coordination by strengthening the muscles used for speech. Some children with this type of CP may drool or have trouble swallowing or speaking. Exercising with assistive communication devices can help improve motor, cognitive, and confidence abilities.
4. Medications - Doctors frequently prescribe medications to control the frequency of seizures in children with spastic CP who also have seizures. Similarly, muscle relaxants such as diazepam (Valium) can be used. This is especially useful for treating spasticity in the lower legs. Oral medications, such as benzodiazepines, are used to relieve muscle stiffness and improve movement throughout the body. Few medications help treat muscle stiffness in specific areas of the body, such as the legs or arms.

Spastic cerebral palsy surgery: Surgery plays a significant role in the treatment of children with spastic cerebral palsy. Surgical intervention is done to correct joint dislocations, shortened muscles, and sensory impairments that impair normal motor function. These surgeries include:-

• Orthopaedic Hand Surgery for Cerebral Palsy- Orthopaedic Hand surgery for Spastic Cerebral Palsy is usually considered when all the other treatments are ineffective and this is the most common type of surgery used to treat spastic cerebral palsy. Surgery is intended to improve mobility, fine and gross motor skills, balance, and coordination. The procedure involves the surgery of bones, ligaments, joints, tendons, nerves, and muscles. The surgery can be performed on either the upper or lower extremities, but the upper extremities are usually more successful due to a lower risk of sensory damage. Surgery for cerebral palsy Aakash healthcare is also popular due to its ability to significantly reduce pain in affected areas.

Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR)/cutting nerve fibers: When other treatments have failed in severe cases, surgeons may cut the nerves serving specific spastic muscles in a procedure known as a selective dorsal rhizotomy. This relaxes the muscles in the legs and relieves pain, but it can also cause numbness. 

Spastic Upper Limb: Upper limb spasticity is a condition that affects how your arms move. It stiffens and flexes your muscles. A spasm occurs when your arms move or twitch uncontrollably. Upper limb deformities can have a significant impact on a child's appearance and confidence. If not treated properly, children completely disregard the involved upper limb, and the hand becomes completely non-functional. Deformities occur as a result of muscle imbalance, and surgical procedures are used to restore muscle balance.

Role of hand surgeon in Spastic Upper Limb: The common deformities of elbow flexion, forearm pronation, wrist flexion, ulnar deviation, and thumb-in-palm deformity are all addressed surgically in the spastic upper extremity. One goal is to achieve optimal function and limb positioning. Limb aesthetics have a significant impact on self-esteem and satisfaction. Aakash Healthcare is best known for managing spastic upper limbs through surgery. 

If you have any queries related to Cerebral Palsy or surgery for Spasticity, or if you want to know who is the right candidate for cerebral palsy operation, book an appointment today with our Hand surgeon and get consulted by our expert clinicians.

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