Objective: To know the etiological factors of cerebral palsy (CP) incident during pregnancy and neonatal/perinatal periods. To know evolution of a child with a CP diagnosis.
Patients, material and methods: Bibliographical review of paediatric and rehabilitation texts and databases in Internet. Elaboration of a data collecting questionnaire for reviewing clinical records of patients treated in Paediatric Rehabilitation between 1996 and 2000.
Results: 250 patients records reviewed. Most frequent illnesses during pregnancy: first twelve weeks haemorrhages: 17.9% and diabetes 8.4%. Child birth: preterm births 32%, cephalic presentation 78.8%, caesarean operations 32%. Mean birth weight 2,714 g, low birth weight babies 27.2%. Needed hospitalary treatment 48%. Mean time in incubator: 46 days among preterm and 26.6 among full term. Mean time in intensive care units: 44.4 days among preterm and 22.7 among full term. Associated diagnoses: CRP 8%, birth asphyxia 24%, neonatal jaundice 27.2%, neonatal respiratory distress 24%, neonatal sepsis 10%, congenital cardiological illnesses 2.4%, dismorphia 2.4%, epilepsy in 40%. Diagnostic imaging: atrophy 38.8%, hydrocephalus 29.4%, ischemia 14.9%, haemorrhage 11.6%. No findings in 23.8%. Children were sent to Paediatric Rehabilitation at mean age of 8 months. Most frequent disorders: spastic quadriplegia (36.1%) spastic diplegia (26.5%) and hemiplegia (17%). Mental retardation 55%. School attendance 81.2%. CP postnatal in 5.2%.
Conclusions: Incidence of CP (2.5/1,000 alive new born) hardly avoidable for persistent rates of prematurity and complications in child births. Good quality of life and survival until adult ages.