Cerebral Palsy and Spastic Quadriplegia

Spastic quadriplegia/quadriparesis

Spastic Quadriplegia refers to a type of Cerebral Palsy involving loss of use of the whole body. Seventy to eighty percent of people with cerebral palsy have spasticity. Spastic quadriplegia affects a person's whole body (face, trunk, legs, and arms).

The terms quadric means four and plegia or paresis, mean paralyzed or weak. Thus, spastic quadriplegia/quadriparesis means muscle stiffness which weakens all four quadrants of the body.

Spastic quadriplegia is the most severe of the three types of spastic cerebral palsy since the legs, arms and body are affected. Because of significant damage or malformations to the brain, most children with spastic quadriplegia cannot walk, have profound problems with talking and may have problems with seizures. They also have moderate to severe intellectual deficits, though this is difficult to access due to communication difficulties. While the limbs of these children are stiff, they often have floppy neck muscles. Problems with the muscles that control the mouth and tongue lead to problems with speaking, being understood and swallowing. Hemiparetic tremors, uncontrollable shaking of the arm and/or leg on one side of the body, may affect some children with spastic quadriplegia.

Complications arising from spasticity in the quadriplegic CP patient can include: limb deformities, scoliosis (curvature of the spine), foot deformities, a condition called foot drop (difficulty raising the front of the foot), respiratory complications if food is aspirated because of swallowing problems, and bladder and bowel issues.

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