Tag Archive 'Orthopedic surgery'

Oct 13 2008

What is the Definition of Spastic Diplegia?

Published by pooch under Cerebral Palsy News

Spastic diplegia is a form of cerebral palsy, where both his arms and legs have abnormal stiffness. The legs are usually more affected than the upper extremities. Spastic means stiff or contracted. The word diplegia is broken down into a “di”, ie, two, and “plegia,” the Latin word for weakness. Therefore, spastic diplegia means stiff or contracted muscles affecting two limbs, causing weakness. Spastic diplegia is sometimes also called paraplegia.

There are other forms of spastic diplegia, in addition to cerebral palsy. Some forms of hereditary spastic diplegia are. You can differentiate the two by several factors:

* The age of the patient begins to show symptoms of spastic diplegia
* The victim in the past medical history
* Recorded problems at birth or during pregnancy
* The presence of genetic factors

People who suffer from hereditary spastic diplegia typically have a family history of disease and do not show symptoms until late childhood or middle age. People suffering from cerebral palsy spastic diplegia form of often diagnosed with the condition of children. Cerebral palsy spastic diplegia is the result of brain damage and mainly affects the legs. The damage consists of malformations of the brain around the ventricles, which are the spaces filled with fluid. Normally, a lack of oxygen in the brain causes the formation of a failure of development in the pyramidal tracts. RM easily detect these errors of the areas that are called periventricular leukomalacias.
Disease and little spastic diplegia

Spastic diplegia was originally called “Little of the disease.” The disease was named for William Little, a British surgeon who first described the disorder in the 19th century. The children who observe with the disease had stiffness in the legs and arms that do not progress in severity, since years of age. Littles disease was soon recognized as a disorder, or group of disorders, rather than a disease, and the name changed to static encephalopathy, or spastic diplegia.
What are the symptoms of spastic diplegia?

Whatever you call the disorder, spastic diplegia, paraplegia, Littles disease or static encephalopathy, the symptoms are the same. Both legs spastic diplegia of the victims are spastic, in the sense of rigidity or hired. The legs are weak and it is hard to walk. People with spastic diplegia often walk with a “scissor gait” caused by tight muscles in the hips and legs. The muscles become so tight legs want to turn inward and sometimes cross each other in the knees. A spastic diplegia victim of the arm, face and neck muscles are affected to a lesser degree than the legs. Beyond the physical characteristics of spastic diplegia, the disorder is often accompanied by mental retardation.
What can be done to help people with cerebral palsy spastic diplegia?

Statistics show spasticity affects 80% of people with cerebral palsy and cause many problems for those suffering from the disease. In growing children, muscle rigidity inhibits the growth of the longitudinal muscle. This is especially bad because it causes muscle contractions and orthopedic deformities, the muscle that snaps into place permanently.

Spastic cerebral palsy symptoms are usually treated with a combination of drugs, physical therapy, braces, and if necessary, orthopedic surgery. However, a relatively new surgery called conducted selected dorsal rhizotomy (SDR.) The surgery works best in young children, 2 to 4 years old, but it can be beneficial for older children and some adults. SDR usually brings better results for people who suffer from spastic diplegia only and not spastic quadriplegia, which is important spasticity in the arms and legs.

DEG works to prevent the development of deformities by reducing the nerve fibers in the spinal cord. The elimination of the vertebrae to reach the spinal cord can cause problems in the spine. Experts agree, however, that the success of SDR surgery can improve the voice, vision and function of the leg. The surgery also helps reduce the number of orthopedic surgeries spastic diplegia a victim may require in the future.

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Oct 08 2008

What Cerebral Palsy Treatments Can Help With Controlling The Symptoms?

Published by pooch under Cerebral Palsy Treatment & Therapy

There are an ever growing number of methods of treatment for the symptoms of Cerebral Palsy and research is being done to find more. The effects of Cerebral Palsy can be lessened by a combination of methods which can include medication, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, orthopedic surgery, mechanical aids and operations. Obviously, the earlier a child can start any of these treatments, the better. Parents and carers need to work closely on formulating a plan for managing the child’s Cerebral Palsy with various professionals. This is the time when it is important for anyone involved in the child’s life to get involved in the decision making. Parents and carers may also be a little bewildered by all the titles that members of the team have to care. Here is a list of the most common medical professionals who are likely to be a part of a child’s support network, to help clarify their areas of expertise: - A paediatrician (a doctor that deals specifically with children) - they act as team leader and co-ordinator as they collect and analyze the information they get from other specialists. - A physical therapist - they will work with you and your child to create unique exercise programs aimed at your child’s level of Cerebral Palsy to help improve their movement and strength - An occupational therapist - they provide ideas to help your child learn basic life Skills - A social worker - they are available to help you obtain any community assistance, education, and training programs that are suitable for your child. The options available very greatly from one area to another so they are a great resource for wading thru the red tape! - A speech therapist - they are often responsible for diagnosing and treating any communication problems your child may have due to their Cerebral Palsy. They will also often assist with feeding and drinking problems. - A psychologist - they are going to be able to help you and your child deal with any behavioral problems caused by Cerebral Palsy. They are also there for you and the rest of your family to help work thru the stresses of dealing with a child diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. - An orthopedic surgeon - in some cases of Cerebral Palsy, surgery may be necessary. The orthopedic surgeon will help to analyze the possible benefits of surgery on your child’s muscle and bone development. It is important to know about living with cerebral palsy When living with cerebral palsy in the family, one must realize that every child is unique, whether they have Cerebral Palsy or not. It is also true to say that every case of Cerebral Palsy is also different from another. No one can predict precisely how Cerebral Palsy will affect the everyday life of the afflicted child. Cerebral Palsy can impact on a child’s physical development, brain functions and sight and hearing. The degree to how each of these affects their everyday life is heavily dependent on the level of the child has Cerebral Palsy and the success of treatments they undergo. We have spoken about the problems that a child will experience because of their Cerebral Palsy, but what about the effects of living with cerebral palsy on the everyday lives of those around them? This is probably the most underrated issue about children with Cerebral Palsy - how it affects those close to the child, especially the parents and other members of the family. One thing that often occurs in families when a new baby arrives, regardless of whether the baby has Cerebral Palsy or not, is that the older child (ren) can feel neglected. It can be harder having a child with Cerebral Palsy it is important that your other child (ren) still receive the attention they need from you because they have a higher risk of developing emotional and behavioral problems. ALL parents and carers go through a wide range of feelings after the birth of any child. They are more likely to have Deeper and more heart-felt negative feelings because the child has Cerebral Palsy. There is a theory about the different stages of feelings that people go through upon hearing that a child has Cerebral Palsy. These include: - Shock and Denial-Anger and Grief-Acceptance-Guild It is important that people deal with these feelings in a constructive manner and find someone to help work through with them.
There are an increasing number of methods of treatment for the symptoms of cerebral palsy and research is being done to find more. The effects of cerebral palsy can be reduced through a combination of methods that may include medication, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, orthopedic surgery, mechanical aids and operations.

Obviously, the first one a child can start any of these treatments, the better. Parents and caregivers must work closely in formulating a plan for managing the child with cerebral palsy various professionals. This is the time it is important for all those involved in the lives of children to participate in decision making.

Parents and caregivers can also be a bit bewildered by all the titles that members of a team of care they have. Here is a list of the most common medical professionals that it is likely that a part of a child of the support network to help clarify their areas of specialization:

- A pediatrician (a doctor who deals specifically with children) - who act as team leader and coordinator, and to collect and analyze information we get from other specialists.

- A physical therapist - they will work with you and your child create a unique exercise programs for their child the level of cerebral palsy to help improve their movement and power

- An occupational therapist - providing ideas to help your child learn basic skills for life

- A social worker - that are available to help you get any assistance from the community, education, training and programs that are appropriate for your child. Available options very much from one area to another so they are a great resource for wading through the bureaucracy!

- A speech therapist - are responsible for the diagnosis and treatment often communication problems throughout their child may have because of his cerebral palsy. They also often help with food and drink problems.

- A psychologist - who will be able to help you and your child deal with any behavior problems caused by cerebral palsy. Are also there for you and the rest of his family to help work through the efforts of dealing with a child diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

- An orthopedic surgeon - in some cases of cerebral palsy, surgery may be necessary. The orthopedic surgeon will help analyze the potential benefits of surgery in the child’s muscle and bone development.

It is important to know about living with cerebral palsy

When living with cerebral palsy in the family, one must realize that each child is unique, whether they have cerebral palsy or not.

It is also true that every case of cerebral palsy is also different from another. Nobody can accurately predict how Cerebral Palsy affect the daily lives of the afflicted children.

Cerebral palsy can have an impact on a child’s physical, brain function and sight and hearing. The degree of how each of these affects your daily life is largely dependent on the level of the child has cerebral palsy and the success of the treatments that are submitted.

We talked about the problems that a child because of his experience cerebral palsy, but what about the effects of living with cerebral palsy in the daily lives of people around them? This is probably the most underrated question about children with cerebral palsy - how it affects those around children, especially parents and other family members.

One thing that often occurs in families when a new baby arrives, regardless of whether the baby has cerebral palsy or not, is that the older child (s) can feel neglected. You can be more difficult to have a child with cerebral palsy is important that his other son (s) continues to receive the care they need from you, because they have a higher risk of developing behavioral and emotional problems.

All parents and caregivers go through a wide range of feelings after the birth of any child. They are more likely to have profound and sincere negative feelings because the child has cerebral palsy.

There is a theory about the different stages of feelings that people go to the hearing through a child who has cerebral palsy. These include:

- Shock and denial, anger and pain-Acceptance-Gremio

It is important that people face these feelings in a constructive way and find someone to help work with them through.

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Aug 14 2008

Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy

Published by pooch under Celebral Palsy Types

Cerebral palsy is the name of a group of chronic diseases that affect body movement and muscle coordination. Cerebral palsy can be caused by trauma to one or more specific areas of the brain, most likely to occur sometime between fetal development and childhood. The disorders associated with cerebral palsy are not caused by problems in the muscles or nerves, but by faulty development or damage to motor areas in the brain. This alters the brain’s ability to adequately control movement and posture. The area of the brain where the trauma occurred determine the effects of the disease.

The various forms has cerebral palsy and one of them is the form of spastic diplegia. Spastic diplegia is when both legs are affected by cerebral palsy. A patient may have difficulty walking due to muscle tightness in the hips and legs, causing the legs to turn inward and cross at the knees. This makes the legs to move rigid and uncomfortable walking pace causing a feature known as the scissors gait.

Spastic diplegia cerebral palsy is caused by brain damage in the outer layer of the brain, the cerebral cortex. Spastic diplegia cerebral palsy affects nearly 70 to 80 percent of patients and is the most common form of cerebral palsy. Spastic diplegia cerebral palsy symptoms include increased tone, or tension in a muscle. Normal muscles work in pairs and when a group of muscles contract, the other group relaxes, allowing uninhibited movement in the desired direction.

The complications in the brain-to-nerve-muscle communication prevent the normal level of muscle tension. The muscles affected by spastic diplegia cerebral palsy and is activated together effectively blocking the movement. This gives rise to muscles spastic diplegia cerebral palsy patients to be constantly tense, or spastic.

Cerebral palsy can be classified by how it affects the movement or the number of members involved. These classifications can be combined to describe the conditions as severe spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. In spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, the four limbs are affected, both legs, as well as mild affects weapons are present.

Spastic diplegia cerebral palsy tends to affect a patient’s legs over the arms. Spastic diplegia patients have broader participation of the lower extremities of the upper limb. Patients with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy might be able to walk. Patients with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy is characterized by a crouched walk. Andar analysis and appropriate treatment can correct toe on foot and knees bent, which are common attributes of spastic diplegia.

Individuals with spastic diplegia can be helped by teams of specialized treatment to decide which treatments are best suited for them. Leg braces, walking analysis, botox injections, hyperbaric oxygen treatment, and several other treatments can help manage spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. A specialized treatment team should include a physical therapist, pediatrician, physiatrist, neurosurgeon and a neurologist and orthopedic surgeon who can all aid in decision-making process.

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