Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a syndrome resulting from a fixed neurological injury occuring within the first three years of life. The effects of this injury are widespread and include alteration in the skeleton as a result of growth in the presence of spasticity and other features of the neurological problem.

Often these children have restricted mobility as a result of their contractures and muscle abnormalities and a combination of therapies are required to sort the problem out.

A variety of treatments are available which are suited to some children and not others and often at specific times during growth and development. As well as providing conventional surgery I am part of the SDR team in Oswestry.

Because no child with cerebral palsy is exactly the same as another with regard to their weaknesses, contractures and handicaps, assessment of walking is important if the best treatment options are to be selected and gait analysis is necessary for this.