Cerebral is derived from Latin for brain and palsy is a mixture of Anglo-French, Latin and Greek meaning paralysis or weakness. In short, it is a brain condition, which impacts the person’s ability to control their muscles.
“CP can be as serious as causing major issues including paralysis, seizures, vision loss, hearing or speech problems, as well as conditions like scoliosis or kyphosis, or it can be milder, only slightly impacting a person’s walk or gait,” said Siambanes, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in scoliosis and cerebral palsy. “While there are always exceptions, a child with CP will typically have symptoms within the first three years of his or her life.”
Cerebral Palsy affects approximately 800,000 people in the United States. There are a multitude of classifications for cerebral palsy, ranging in symptoms and severity. It is typically diagnosed early in childhood, and if treated effectively, can drastically improve the quality of life for those who have the disease.
Ultimately treatment options change during the different stages of life and it is always best for parents and caregivers to work with their child’s physician to consider every option after a diagnosis has been made.
For children with cerebral palsy who are still able to walk, mobility can often be further complicated by growth and weight gain during early adolescence. If treated early, certain procedures can improve walking for those affected by cerebral palsy and keep them walking later in life.
A major misconception is often that kids confined to a wheelchair due of the disease can’t benefit from surgery, however, preventative procedures can stop health from further degrading.
“Treating children early is vital to achieving the best possible quality of life,” said Siambanes. “Sadly, those suffering with cerebral palsy are often left unattended to because it is hard to see ways to improve, when that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
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