Back
Spasticity/Cerebral Palsy
St. Christopher’s Spasticity Clinic is a multidisciplinary care center that includes neurosurgeons, neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, physician assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers and a gait laboratory bioengineer. The spasticity team treats children and adolescents with spasticity as a result of cerebral palsy, brain trauma and spinal cord injury.
Spasticity may be controlled with appropriate physical and occupational therapy interventions, bracing and seating and by appropriate medications, such as oral baclofen, or by botulinum toxin injections of affected muscles. Neurosurgical procedures that are effective in spasticity control include insertion of a baclofen pump and dorsal rhizotomy.
Orthopedic surgery monitoring involves the prevention or relief of soft tissue contractures of the upper or lower extremities and serial monitoring for hip instability and for the development of spinal deformity. The surgical relief of contractures, hip instability or progressive spinal deformity is frequently provided by the orthopedic staff.
The Motion Analysis Laboratory allows the evaluation of complex motion disorders such as problems with walking, aids in the preoperative assessment of specific surgical procedures, and allows objective measurement of efficacy of surgical and non-surgical interventions.
While complex problems involving spasticity control are addressed with the multidisciplinary team at St Christopher’s Hospital for Children, the majority of our patients may be evaluated and followed by the orthopedic staff at any of our satellite offices.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (215) 427-3131.
Meet the Team
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia has a highly qualified team of board-certified experts who are specially trained to work with the individual and unique needs of infants and pediatric patients.
