Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a broad ranging term used to define a group of nonprogressive disorders that affect the development of movement and posture and occurred within the developing fetal or infant brain. Its etiologies are extensive, and it remains the most prevalent chronic childhood motor disability. In addition to impairments in fine and gross motor function, affected individuals may have problems with cognition, epilepsy, vision, speech and language, psychological issues, swallowing, bowel/bladder dysfunction, and orthopedic deformities. Conventionally, CP has been subclassified based on its predominant motor disability (spastic, dyskinetic, ataxic), but it is essential to recognize that other neurogenetic disorders can impersonate each of these categories. This chapter also reviews the diagnostic evaluation, assessment scales, and management of CP.