Cerebral Palsy

In the immortal words of Dr. John C.M. Brust, world-renowned neurologist from the Neurological Institute of New York, this condition is "neither cerebral nor palsy".

It is a condition that results from injury to the developing brain of a fetus at or around the time of delivery.  The symptoms are a function of which particular part of the brain is involved.  The most common problem is that of spasticity, or increased muscle tone in the limbs to the point of them being stiff, rigid, and difficult to use.  This can produce problems with walking and carrying out activities with the hands.  Other patients have involvement in the basal ganglia which leads to abnormal movements such as the dance-like movements known as chorea.

Most commonly, cognitive function is not affected, and patients with cerebral palsy can have normal or supernormal intelligence.

The condition is usually diagnosed in infancy when abnormal muscle tone or motor development problems are noted.  The condition is static in that the deficits present at birth remain through life without worsening.

Treatment is aimed at improving abnormal muscle tone and helping the patient to move better.