Tetraplegic forms

Abstract

The literature defines tetraplegia (quadriplegia), or tetraparesis, as those cases of cerebral palsy (CP) characterized by: Equivalent involvement of all four limbs Difficult somatic growth Often severe mental retardation Frequent visual disorders (gaze paralysis, reduced visual acuity, visual agnosia, etc.) Possible hearing deficiency (deafness, intolerance to particular types of noise) Oro-facial impairment, secondary to pseudobulbar palsy, with consequent disorders of mastication, deglutition, facial expression and speech Epilepsy with fits difficult to control (infantile spasms, etc.) Severe periventricular leukomalacia with poroencephalic cysts as typical cerebral lesion. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Milan.