Surgical management of spastic diplegia in cerebral palsy

SPASTIC diplegia is a form of cerebral palsy characterized by spastic weakness exclusively or primarily of the lower extremities.^{1 , 2} This disorder of movement and posture is particularly important because it afflicts the majority of patients with cerebral palsy, and its associated motor disabilities are almost invariably permanent.² Pathogenesis Spastic diplegia is directly related to premature birth and low birth weight.^{3 , 4} Cerebral palsy in premature children is manifested as spastic diplegia in about 70 percent of the cases.⁵ At least one third and perhaps 65 percent of all patients with spastic diplegia were born prematurely.³ The remainder are born at term.