Spastic diplegia

This article deals with spasticity-based cerebral palsy chiefly affecting the lower extremities, which is the most common. For other types of cerebral-palsy-based spasticity affecting other limbs in varying combinations, see spastic cerebral palsy.

Spastic diplegia
Other namesLittle's disease
SpecialtyNeurology

Spastic diplegia is a form of cerebral palsy (CP) that is a chronic neuromuscular condition of hypertonia and spasticity — manifested as an especially high and constant "tightness" or "stiffness" — in the muscles of the lower extremities of the human body,[1][2] usually those of the legs, hips and pelvis.[3] Doctor William John Little's first recorded encounter with cerebral palsy is reported to have been among children who displayed signs of spastic diplegia.[4][5][6]

It primarily affects the legs, although there may be considerable asymmetry between the two sides. According to Gage (1991), most individuals with spastic diplegia are of normal intelligence. As its name suggests, spasticity is a particularly prominent element of this condition. The tension in the spastic muscles during development often leads to bony deformities, especially a torsion, or twisting, of the femur (femoral anteversion) and the tibia (external tibial torsion).[7]

  1. ^ "Spastic diplegia cerebral palsy". Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) – an NCATS Program. U.S. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Spastic diplegia". MedGen. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), U.S. National Institutes of Health. Concept ID: C0023882. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  3. ^ Brandenburg JE, Fogarty MJ, Sieck GC (May 2019). "A Critical Evaluation of Current Concepts in Cerebral Palsy". Physiology. 34 (3): 216–229. doi:10.1152/physiol.00054.2018. PMC 7938766. PMID 30968751.
  4. ^ Nourizadeh M, Shadgan B, Abbasidezfouli S, Juricic M, Mulpuri K (July 2024). "Methods of muscle spasticity assessment in children with cerebral palsy: a scoping review". Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research. 19 (1): 401. doi:10.1186/s13018-024-04894-7. PMC 11238363. PMID 38992701.
  5. ^ Emara HA, Al-Johany AH, Khaled OA, Al-Shenqiti AM, Ali AR, Aljohani MM, et al. (2024-01-30). "Effect of the Dynamic Orthotic Garment on Postural Control, and Endurance in Children with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial". Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare. 17: 419–428. doi:10.2147/JMDH.S438474. PMC 10838099. PMID 38314010.
  6. ^ Shamsoddini A, Amirsalari S, Hollisaz MT, Rahimnia A, Khatibi-Aghda A (August 2014). "Management of spasticity in children with cerebral palsy". Iranian Journal of Pediatrics. 24 (4): 345–351. PMC 4339555. PMID 25755853.
  7. ^ Whittle MW (2007). Gait assessment in cerebral palsy (4th ed.). Elsevier - Health Sciences Division. pp. 195–218. ISBN 9780750688833.