OVERVIEW
Overview of Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
Ataxic cerebral palsy is a type of cerebral palsy. It is mainly caused by cerebellar developmental disorders that result in abnormal movements and postures, showing hypotonia with tremor, mostly affecting the upper limbs, and relatively mild symptoms. It may be accompanied by intellectual backwardness and convulsive seizures, behavioral abnormalities, sensory disorders and other abnormalities.
Whether medical insurance
Yes
Department
Neurology, Pediatrics
Clinical symptoms
The clinical picture is characterized by balance disorders, and patients may present with backward motor development.
Hazards
The disease may lead to abnormal development of language and cognitive ability and motor ability.
Complications
Mental retardation, speech disorder, visual impairment, hearing impairment, epilepsy, etc.
Examination
Physical examination, CT, MRI, EEG, etc.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis can be made on the basis of the patient’s balance dysfunction and physical examination.
Treatment principle
Early diagnosis and treatment to promote the normal development of the nervous system. Clinical rehabilitation training is the main treatment to improve muscle tone and restore balance.
Curability
Active treatment can improve the symptoms.
Dietary advice
Diet should be nutritionally balanced.
Etiology
Epidemiology
The disease is most common in children. Ataxic cerebral palsy accounts for 4% of the incidence of cerebral palsy.
Etiology
The disease is mostly caused by abnormalities in the cerebellum and its pathways.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Typical Symptoms
1. Ataxic cerebral palsy mainly affects the cerebellum and brainstem and is characterized by balance dysfunction.
2. Patients generally have delayed psychomotor development, and walk independently at a later age, manifesting hypotonia, balance disorders, walking with feet apart, widening of the basal plane, gross swaying movements of the trunk, unsteady gait, and drunkenness, often accompanied by intentional tremor and nystagmus, and impaired ability to visually measure distances.
3. Delayed language development, incoherent spitting, intermittent speech, and mental retardation.
4. The patient has difficulty in completing the finger-nose test, the opposite finger test and the heel-knee-shin test.
Diagnostic basis
1. Clinical manifestations such as hypotonia, balance disorders, and delayed language development may be present.
2. The patient has a drunkard’s gait and is often unable to maintain a fixed position.
3. The patient has difficulty in completing the finger-nose test, the opposite finger test and the heel-knee-shin test.
4. Cranial CT showed enlargement of the fourth ventricle and cerebellar hypoabsorption area, and cerebellar atrophy and arachnoid cysts were seen.
Treatment
Treatment guideline
Clinical rehabilitation training is the main treatment to improve muscle tone and restore balance.
Other treatments
Clinical rehabilitation training is the main treatment, pay attention to the training of the affected limbs, correct the abnormal posture, and try to choose the narrow support surface for balance reaction training when walking.
Prognosis
After treatment, the prognosis can be improved.
Nursing care
Daily care
1. Keep the environment quiet and clean, with fresh indoor air, and open windows regularly for ventilation.
Pay attention to rest, live a regular life and ensure sufficient sleep.
Actively participate in the rehabilitation treatment, be persistent and do not give up halfway.
Motivate patients to communicate with others more often to avoid aggravating the condition due to emotional stimulation.
Dietary management
Parents should provide balanced meals for the children and correct their picky eating, partiality and other bad eating habits.