Spastic tetraplegia is a severe form of cerebral palsy that affects both arms, legs, and torso, causing muscle stiffness, weakness, and difficulty moving. The causes are not fully understood, but certain factors increase the risk. Treatment involves physical therapy, medication, and sometimes surgery. The outlook varies depending on the severity of the condition.
Spastic tetraplegia, or spastic tetraplegia, is a disorder that affects both arms, legs, and torso, causing muscle stiffness, weakness, and difficulty moving. It is the most severe form of cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is the name given to a set of conditions in which brain damage or abnormal brain development leads to problems with muscle movement. Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common form of the condition, and the term spastic describes muscles that are unusually stiff. Children with spastic tetraplegia may experience seizures, swallowing difficulties, and delayed mental development.
The causes of cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia are not fully understood, and it is not known why the brain develops abnormally in some cases. Certain factors are known to increase the risk of a baby being born with the condition. These include being a twin or triplet, being premature or having severe jaundice.
Mothers who smoke, drink excessively, or take illegal drugs are more likely to have a child with cerebral palsy. Infections during pregnancy, such as rubella, can also increase your risk. An infection can also affect the baby after birth and cause cerebral palsy, resulting in spastic quadriplegia. Birth difficulties, such as lack of oxygen, used to be considered a major cause, but are now thought to represent a minority of cases.
In addition to spastic tetraplegia, the most severe form of the disease, spastic cerebral palsy can give rise to spastic diplegia, which affects both legs, or spastic hemiplegia, in which an arm and leg on one side of the body are affected by spastic muscles . Spastic monoplegia, affecting only one limb, occurs rarely. Someone with a milder form of spastic hemiplegia may suffer only from minor mobility difficulties and might lead an independent life, while a person with severe spastic quadriplegia might be dependent on a wheelchair for getting around.
Treatment of spastic quadriplegia depends on the individual, as problems vary in each case. Although brain damage is not reversible, physical therapy can help prevent stiff muscles from progressing to permanently fixed limbs. Therapy can also improve speech and skills needed for daily activities, such as eating or moving on the floor where possible. Sometimes drugs are used to prevent seizures and to relax muscles, reducing spasticity. Surgery is occasionally done to correct deformities and lengthen tight muscles if this improves quality of life.
The outlook for children with spastic tetraplegia depends on the severity of the individual condition. A minority of children, less than a quarter of those with quadriplegia, may be able to walk and live independent lives. About half will require care from others and the remaining quarter, who have the most extreme disability, will be unable to walk and be completely dependent on others.
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