Cerebral Palsy

While sometimes thought to be a condition of the nerves or muscles, cerebral palsy – or CP – is actually caused by abnormalities in the parts of the brain that control muscle movement. CP can include any one of a number of neurological disorders that permanently affects body movement and muscle coordination, but does not worsen over time. Common symptoms are:

• Axtaxia - Lack of muscle coordination
• Spasticity - Stiff or tight muscles and exaggerated reflexes
• Walking with one foot or leg dragging
• Walking on the toes
• A crouched gait or scissored gait
• Muscle tone that is either too stiff or too floppy

Symptoms can range from mild to severe, often appearing in infancy or early childhood, typically before age three. Cerebral palsy can be caused by developmental brain malformation, brain injury (before, during or after birth) or brain infections such as bacterial meningitis or viral encephalitis.

The Nemours Difference

• Children with complex conditions like CP often need to see many specialists, most of whom you’ll have access to here on one hospital campus. Usually a family can come and see orthopedic and other specialists on a single day.
   
• Our Cerebral Palsy Program offers the expertise of our wide array of pediatric medical and allied health professionals.
  • A team of neurologists, psychologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists
  • An on-site clinical nurse specialist to coordinate all services
  • A social worker and a nutritionist for consultation and treatment as needed
• While at Nemours, your child will receive coordinated support from both an orthopedic surgeon and a developmental pediatrician.
   
• We’ll be with you every step of the way, working with your family and your other physicians to ensure that your child is able to maintain maximum functionality while experiencing minimal pain and discomfort.
   
• We are prepared with a unified team of medical and support services for children of all ages and are recognized as one of very few programs in the Mid-Atlantic region solely dedicated to caring for children with cerebral palsy.
   
• As an area leader, we have cared for children from miles around, including New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, the Carolinas and beyond.
   
• Our Gait and Motion Analysis Laboratory was the first of its kind and offers comprehensive analysis of a child’s walk to help determine the best possible treatment options.
   
• For reducing muscle spasticity, many of our patients have benefitted from the use of a Baclofen pump.

Conditions We Treat

• Cerebral palsy
• Seizures
• Poor nutrition
• Spasticity
• Drooling
• Fractures

Services We Offer

• Speech therapy evaluation and treatment
• Occupational therapy evaluation and treatment
• Physical therapy evaluation and treatment
• Rehabilitation therapy evaluation and treatment
• Hearing tests
• Spasticity evaluation and treatment
• Bracing
• On-site wheelchair, splint and repair clinic