Cerebral palsy

The clinical pattern and etiology of 544 cases of cerebral palsy were studied retrospectively. Of these cases, 354 (65.1%) were males. Four hundred and ninety seven (91.4%) cases were of spastic type. Hypotonic, ataxic and athetoid cerebral palsy were observed in 5.5, 1.5 and 1.3% cases, respectively. There was one case each of tremor and mixed type. In the spastic group, quadriplegia comprised the maximum number of cases (34.9%). Hemiplegia (28.7%) and diplegia (21.9) were also common. Mental retardation was found in 47.2%, while speech impairment was observed in 37% cases. Other handicaps included visual (9%), seizures (8.8%), and auditory handicap (2.9%). The etiological factors were prenatal in 7.7% cases, natal in 43.8% cases and postnatal in 26.1% cases. More than one etiological factor was observed in 14.5% cases, while in 7.9% cases, no apparent cause could be found.