Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term used to classify conditions that impair motor coordination caused by brain damage. Cerebral palsy is caused by brain damage occurring before, during, or after birth. Any brain damage inflicted up until approximately the age of three can result in cerebral palsy. The part of the brain that is damaged is the determining factor on how the condition affects the patient.

Spastic cerebral palsy occurs when the brain damage occurs in the cerebral cortex, the outer layer of the brain. Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common form of cerebral palsy, affecting 70 to 80 percent of patients.
Spastic cerebral palsy has varying forms depending on the areas of the body it affects. Normal muscles work in pairs: when one group contracts the other group relaxes, allowing free movement in the desired direction. Due to complications in brain-to-nerve-to-muscle communication, the normal ebb and flow of muscle tension is disrupted. Muscles affected by spastic cerebral palsy become active together and block effective movement. This causes the muscles in spastic cerebral palsy patients to be constantly tense, or spastic.

Spastic cerebral palsy patients may have mild cases that affect only a few movements, or severe cases that can affect the whole body. Although spastic cerebral palsy is not thought to be a progressive disorder, as brain damage does not get worse over time, spasticity in muscles can increase over time. This increased muscle tone and stiffness can limit the range of movement in the joints. The effect may increase with anxiety or exerted effort, leading to excessive fatigue.

Spastic cerebral palsy negatively affects the patient’s muscles and joints of the extremities, causing abnormal movements, and can disrupt normal growth in children. It can inhibit normal motions in body movement, longitudinal muscle growth, and protein synthesis in muscle cells.It also limits stretching of muscles in daily activities and causes the development of muscle and joint deformities. Children born with spastic cerebral palsy do not have deformities of the extremities at birth but develop them over time due to joint contractures.

Treatments vary depending on the severity of the symptoms in the individual. Oral medications, such as Valium and baclofen, have been tried but the general consensus is that they do not reduce spasticity. Baclofen infusion, a relatively new procedure, has been slightly more effective. Using a pump inserted in the abdomen baclofen is distributed to muscles, reducing spasticity. However when baclofen treatment is stopped spasticity returns. Risks associated with baclofen include overdose, meningitis, and other complications, and since it is a relatively new treatment long-term affects are currently unknown.

Botox injections placed in the muscles of spastic cerebral palsy patients are also a relatively new treatment. When injected into affected muscles, botox weakens the group of muscles, reducing spasticity. Botox injections usually last 3 to 4 months and side effects appear to be minimal.