A Comprehensive Guide To Diagnosing And Treating Cerebral Palsy

Medications For Treatment

Medications are often used to lessen the tightness of muscles and may be used to improve functional abilities, manage complications, and treat any pain cerebral palsy patients experience. Medication selection depends if the problem affects only certain muscles and if it is isolated or generalized. Drug treatments include isolated spasticity treatments such as botox injections directly into the affected muscle, nerve, or both. Treatment for generalized spasticity includes muscle relaxants such as diazepam, dantrolene, and baclofen. Medications that can help with drooling include trihexyphenidyl, scopolamine, or glycopyrrolate, as well as botox injections into the salivary glands.

Surgeries To Manage Cerebral Palsy

While surgery doesn't cure cerebral palsy itself, surgeries to manage it can address complications resulting from the disease. Some cerebral palsy patients manage with medication and physical therapy alone, but surgeries can confer certain benefits. Surgery might improve posture, mobility, range of motion, and physical alignment. Surgical treatment might help a child to become physically independent and have healthier physical development. In addition, it can prevent disease complications and body deformities.

Surgery can address curvatures of the spine, spasticity in the muscles, tremors, gastrointestinal issues, hearing loss, pain, spinal deformities, joint problems, hip dislocations, and contractures. Doctors recommend surgery when they judge the potential benefits are greater than the potential risks. Surgeries should be focused on improving the cerebral palsy patient's overall quality of life by enhancing mobility and reducing pain.