The Problems of Prematurity: Cerebral Palsy

Health problems resulting from a premature birth can be many and varied. They range from hearing loss to asthma to mental retardation. One of the most common ailments in children born prematurely is cerebral palsy. This article serves as an overview of the condition, hopefully providing the reader with helpful information. I am not a doctor, and have no medical knowledge; however, I have researched cerebral palsy in books and on the Internet, and hope that I can share some of the information that I found helpful. In this article, I will provide general information, and in next week's I will give you a list of links to Web sites concerned with cerebral palsy.

The term cerebral palsy describes almost any condition wherein a person has difficulty with coordinated movement because of an injury to the brain. According to Helen Harrison's "The Premature Baby Book (St. Martin's Griffin, 1983)," around 500,000 people in the United States have cerebral palsy to some degree; about a third of those afflicted were born prematurely.

The most common types of cerebral palsy are athetosis, ataxia, and spasticity. Athetosis is characterized by involuntary writhing motions, and is caused by oxygen deprivation or by bilirubin's toxicity. Today, this type is becoming more uncommon as newborns' bilirubin levels are more carefully controlled. Ataxia results from damage to the cerebellum. Those with ataxia have difficulty with balance and depth perception, since those functions are controlled by the cerebellum. Spasticity is the most common form of cerebral palsy, and the one most often seen in children born prematurely. This type is characterized by poorly controlled movements: a child with mild spasticity in his legs may walk stiffly or on his toes, while one whose arms are affected may find difficulty buttoning a button or tying his shoelaces. When the mouth is affected, a child may mispronounce words and have trouble chewing and swallowing. A child with cerebral palsy may also experience hearing difficulties, strabismus (crossed eyes), and mental retardation. While there is no cure for cerebral palsy, some of its side effects can be overcome through surgery, communication devices, and certain types of therapy.

Cerebral palsy can be caused both within the womb and without. According to "What to Expect the First Year (Workman, 1996)" by Eisenberg, Murkoff and Hathaway, 50% of cases resulted from prenatal causes, such as maternal infection or illness, exposure to radiation, and malnutrition; 33% are related to the birth, such as prolonged or rapid labor, a prolapsed cord, or depressed maternal vital signs; 10% stem from post natal trauma (falls or accidents), brain infection, jaundice, or lack of oxygen; 7% stemmed from mixed causes. Except for a rare type, cerebral palsy is not inherited.

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