Multiple Cellular Therapies Along with Neurorehabilitation in Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Case Report

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a chronic childhood disorder that is characterized by a group of motor and cognitive impairments, resulting in abnormal movement patterns, loss of motor control, incoordination, and unbalanced posture. It can also have an impact on fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and oral motor functioning. Currently, the treatment of CP is palliative and does not cure the disease pathology. Hence, there is a need for an intervention that might be able to alter the core pathology. Autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) transplantation is one of the novel treatment strategies in recent years. In this study, we presented the case of a 4-year-old male child with spastic diplegic CP who underwent two intrathecal transplantations at interval of seven months with autologous BMMNC along with neurorehabilitation program. During an overall 16-month follow-up, significant improvements were observed in motor control, coordination, balance, sitting tolerance, and memory. The abnormal 'W' sitting posture and scissoring gait pattern of the patient resolved. Started sitting with good head, trunk, and pelvic alignment and attained regular gait pattern; the patient started to walk independently without support as well. On objective scale, Gross Motor Functional Measure score improved from 60.67 to 81.78. The patient's Gross Motor Functional Classification System grade improved from Level 3 to Level 2, and Functional Independent Measure score improved from 97 to 99. A comparative positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET CT) brain scan was performed before and seven months after the first intervention, which revealed improvement in the metabolism of the anterior cingulate lobe, parietal cortex, medial temporal cortex, thalamus, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. No adverse events were recorded throughout the study. Thus, multiple cellular therapies, along with neurorehabilitation, might be a novel safe, feasible option to enhance recovery in CP.