Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

The term cerebral palsy includes a number of non-progressive neurological disorders. That adjusts in childhood. Key symptoms are muscular hypotension and muscle weakness, motor impairments and coordination problems with gait disorders. Accordingly, a division into spastic, dyskinetic, dystonic and atactic forms. Ataxic cerebral palsy (AZP) is characterized mainly by persistent ataxia and is caused by lesions of the cerebellum.

Symptoms

The cause of AZP is pre-, peri- or postnatal damage to the cerebellum, with a range of potential causes ranging from infectious and inflammatory processes to hypoxia and cerebral ischemia to skull trauma. These underlying conditions may lead to presentation to the doctor, but in some cases, AZP appears to be spontaneously occurring, with no indication of relevant pre-existing conditions. It is possible that mutations, innate or acquired, are responsible for the disease [1].

AZP usually becomes symptomatic in children between the ages of three and five years. Conversely, this means that early childhood usually runs inconspicuously. The parents report some cases that their child has reached the milestones of development at the expected age. When delays have been noticed, they are not necessarily given more importance. Often, with targeted demand, however, indications of an early existing, neuromuscular disease: Perhaps the patient is emphasizing one side of the body while sitting, crawling, getting up or walking, has trouble coordinating his limbs or the posture of the head, maybe he seems overly awkward or clumsy.

As the name AZP suggests, coordination problems dominate, Ataxia and gait disturbances are the clinical picture. While in other forms of cerebral palsy often spastic paralyzes are observed [2], the muscle tone of AZP patients is reduced. A tremor has also been described repeatedly. Some sufferers suffer from seizures. In addition, there are more common visual and hearing disorders as well as difficulty speaking [3], Read and write. At times, AZP is associated with mild to moderate mental retardation.

Diagnostics

A thorough medical history should be taken, to receive evidence of possible brain damage or family history. In this context should also be asked about possible complications during pregnancy. An increased risk of cerebral palsy exists, especially in premature births.

This is followed by a detailed general and neurological examination, paying particular attention to muscle tone, reflexes and the distribution pattern of the deficits. Among other things, it is about differentiating central nervous and peripheral pathologies.

It is also essential to perform standard blood tests to rule out systemic conditions such as metabolic or endocrine disorders.

The gold standard for the diagnosis of structural cerebellar anomalies is magnetic resonance imaging. While pathological findings can be found in approximately 86% of cases of cerebral palsy — often periventricular leukomalacia, gray matter lesions, vascular anomalies, dilated ventricles or malformations — 24-57% of AZP patients show an inconspicuous picture [4].

In these cases, AZP remains a clinical diagnosis at the present time [2]. It is of differential diagnostic importance that AZP is chronic, non-progressive ataxia, which is usually accompanied by generalized muscular hypotension [5] [6].

Therapy

Also important is the preparation of a magnetic resonance tomogram of the skull. 7 Therapy After the diagnosis has been made, therapy should be started early

His current therapies are speech therapy, occupational therapy, gymnastics in the water and Bobath.

Physical therapy for cerebral palsy Patients in the form of exercises that promote muscle gain must be scrutinized to avoid surgeries and promote social and independence skills and academic achievement that boost morale.

Health and Fitness

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy