Information for Patients
From the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Cerebral palsy is a disorder of movement that is often associated with spasticity or other abnormalities of muscle tone resulting from an abnormality of the brain that occurred during fetal development or in the neonatal period. Although brain abnormalities in patients with cerebral palsy cannot be repaired, motor function can be altered via interventions in the extremities, thereby reducing motor deficits and improving the appearance and efficiency of gait. Such nonsurgical interventions include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and recreational therapy as well as the use of assistive devices and orthotic equipment. Surgery alone is insufficient for patients with cerebral palsy; proper therapy requires a multidisciplinary approach. General surgical principles for children with spastic diplegia are specifically discussed.