Principles of Neonatology - Chapter 94: Early Detection of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy (CP) originates from an injury or abnormality in the developing brain; the condition refers to a group of disorders that affect the ability to move and maintain balance and posture. Common clinical manifestations may include hyper- or hypotonia, involuntary movements, and/or exaggerated reflexes. Using standardized tools, these abnormalities may be detected in the first year of life. In this chapter, we have outlined the neurodevelopmental abnormalities, the impact of prematurity, and various other known causes of CP; clinical evaluation; guidelines for diagnosis; management; and what we know about the short- and long-term outcomes in these children.