Affiliations: UCSF Children's Hospital, University of California,
San Francisco, CA, USA | Department of Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital
& Research Center Oakland, CA, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Laurence Baskin, MD, UCSF Children's
Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, 400 Parnassus Ave. A640,
San Francisco CA 94143, USA. Tel.: +1 415 476 1611; Fax: +1 415 476 8849;
E-mail: lbaskin@urology.ucsf.edu
Abstract: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a non-progressive injury of the brain that
affects muscle movement and coordination secondary to anoxia that occurred
during the perinatal period. Babies who are premature, low birth weight, and
those who sustained perinatal infection, seizure, or intracranial hemorrhage
are at an increase risk of being affected. The injury mainly involves the motor
control center of the brain; therefore, presents clinically with variable
physical impairments, ranging from delayed gross or fine motor development to
altered muscle tone and gait. With public awareness and research, the full
spectrum of intelligence and capabilities of these children is now being
appreciated. Studies have shown that with supportive caretakers, many of these
children go on to enjoy near-normal adult lives. Therefore, it is imperative
that their physical disabilities are identified and managed properly. In this
review, we will focus primarily on urologic evaluation and management of
patients with CP, with a brief review of normal bladder physiology and voiding
pattern.
