Patient's question:
At birth, due to fetal distress, an inappropriate delivery method was used, resulting in hypoxia and asphyxia. The doctor diagnosed cerebral palsy. How should it be treated?Doctor's answer:
Hello, the goal of cerebral palsy treatment is to correct abnormal movement and posture through various comprehensive therapeutic measures, reduce the degree of disability, and promote normal development in children. The principles of treatment are early diagnosis, early intervention, and long-term rehabilitation. Treatment plans include:1. Rehabilitation Therapy – Assessing existing functional impairments in children with cerebral palsy and developing training programs tailored to their characteristics, with facilities available for training.
2. Surgical Orthopedics – Suitable for children whose gait is approaching maturity (6–10 years old). The main indication is for children with spastic cerebral palsy, aiming to correct deformities, improve muscle tone, and enhance limb balance. The surgery includes tendon surgery, nerve surgery, bone and joint surgery, etc.
3. Family Education – Encouraging family members to participate in rehabilitation treatment. Parents should be educated on functional training techniques and daily living skills training methods. Full attention should be given to the child, with attention to proper nutrition and care.
4. Medication – Currently, no specific medication has been found to treat cerebral palsy. It is only used for symptomatic relief. For example, small doses of Artane can be tried to relieve hyperkinetic symptoms in athetoid cerebral palsy. Baclofen, botulinum toxin A, dantrolene, and benzodiazepines can be used to relieve muscle spasms, reduce muscle tone, increase joint range of motion, and improve motor function. Antiepileptic drugs are used for children with epilepsy.