Epilepsy and Cerebral Palsy DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82804

pregnancy and before the onset of premature labor lead to placental damage developing throughout the pregnancy. These factors predispose the infant to an increased

It is not unreasonable, therefore, to assume that with increased awareness of possible preventive measures, CP could be reduced substantially, reducing as a consequence the burden on families and saving tremendous sums of money for

The diagnostic evaluation must include standardized assessment of neurologic

Screening for thrombophilia is recommended in children with MRI evidence of

Other testing depends on clinical and anamnestic concerns and may include:

• Metabolic and genetic testing, which should be pursued in the presence of atypical symptoms or MRI findings (e.g., a brain malformation or injury) or if

• Infectious work-up (TORCH titers) if pre- or perinatal history is suggestive

All children with CP need to be screened for commonly associated conditions, such as intellectual disability, ophthalmologic abnormalities, hearing impairment,

A combination of clinical findings supports the diagnosis of CP; a single clinical

3.Motor impairment is attributed to an insult that occurred in the developing

4.Motor impairment results in limitations in functional abilities and activities.

Survival to adulthood is currently a standard for most children. An analysis of children with CP born in different geographical areas of the United Kingdom

5. Motor impairment is often accompanied by secondary musculoskeletal problems, epilepsy, and/or disturbances of sensation, perception, cognition,

risk of hypoxic ischemic episodes, leading to white matter damage.

and motor development and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

no etiology is identified by clinical history and neuroimaging

• Electroencephalogram (EEG) if seizure activity is suspected

health services. Figure 1 shows the MRI findings in CP.

7. Evaluation of patient with cerebral palsy

Neurodevelopment and Neurodevelopmental Disorder

speech and language disorders, and growth failure.

Key features in the diagnosis of CP include:

1. Abnormal motor development and posture.

2. Brain injury is permanent and nonprogressive.

finding is generally not sufficient to establish the diagnosis.

8. Diagnosis of cerebral palsy

fetal or infant brain.

communication, and behavior.

9. Prognosis of cerebral palsy

56

cerebral infarction.

between 1980 and 1996 revealed a 20-year survival in 87–94% of cases [15]. The multivariate analysis revealed that survival was related to severity of impairment, birth weight, and socioeconomic status, with the number of severe impairments having the greatest effect.

Those children who do not achieve head balance by 20 months retain primitive reflexes, have no postural reactions by 24 months, or do not crawl by approximately 5 years of age have generally poor prognosis for walking. Generally, all children with hemiplegic CP and many with athetosis or ataxia will walk. Those who walk independently do so around the age of 3; those who walk only with support may take up to 9 years. Those who do not walk by 9 years of age are unlikely to ever walk, even with support [16].

Functional outcome in CP also depends on other non-motor factors. These include intelligence, physical function, ability to communicate, and personality attributes.
