Abstract :
Background: The clinical spectrum and associated factors of cerebral palsy (CP) may differ between developing and developed countries. Aim: To evaluate some predisposing factors, clinical spectrum, and some associated problems of cerebral palsy in children. Setting and Design: It is a retrospective study where data were extracted from patients file record which contains extensive historical and clinical data in a center for early diagnosis of childhood disabilities. Patients and Methods: One hundred and twenty two children with ages ranging from 7 months to 17 years were reviewed in a 32-month period between September 2007 and April 2010. A simple statistical analysis was used for a percentage calculation. Results and Conclusions: A spastic type was predominant (82.7%), with a quadriplegic subtype being the most common (34.4%). The other types were choreoathetoid (8.2%), mixed type (6.6%) and ataxic (2.5%) being the least. Speech delay was the most common associated problem (71.3 %) followed by mental retardation (61.5%), seizures (35.2%), hearing problems (26.2), and autism (4.9%) being the least. The clinical spectrum of CP in Jordan may differ from that reported in Western countries. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate the clinical spectrum and predisposing factors in Jordan.
