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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's 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.
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Provides general information about birth injuries and other resources.
Homepage to the United Cerebral Palsy of Philadelphia organization.