Cerebral palsy: The Daily PANCE Blueprint
Which of the following is the most important risk factor for cerebral palsy?
A. Preterm birth
B. TORCH infections
C. Maternal drug abuse
D. Infertility treatments
E. Neonatal seizure
Answer and topic summary
The answer is A. Preterm birth
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of musculoskeletal disorders due to damage to the brain during development (up to 3 years old) or in utero. It is the most common motor disability in children and leads to permanent motor dysfunction. Risk factors include low birth weight and preterm birth (most important), infertility treatments, TORCH infections, maternal drug/alcohol abuse, neonatal seizures, and post-natal infections. There are different types of CP (spastic vs. dyskinetic vs. ataxic), but some clinical features you may see include: excessive irritability, developmental delays, increased muscle tone, persistent primitive reflexes, hand preference in those < 1 year old, toe walking, muscle weakness/atrophy, etc. Workup may include cranial US during the early neonatal period or MRI in infants. There is no cure, sadly.
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Covered under ⇒ PANCE Blueprint Neurology ⇒ ⇒
