Mixed Cerebral Palsy

Mixed cerebral palsy is a form of cerebral palsy in which one or more of the types of cerebral palsy—spastic, athetoid, or ataxic—are present at the same time. About 10 percent of people who have cerebral palsy have mixed cerebral palsy. Mixed cerebral palsy occurs when both the pyramidal and extra pyramidal areas of the brain suffer injury.

Characteristics of Mixed Cerebral Palsy

Characteristics will depend upon which forms of cerebral palsy comprise the mixed type. The most common mix is athetoid cerebral palsy and spastic cerebral palsy, which is characterized by the tight muscles and stiff jerky movements of spastic cerebral palsy, as well as the involuntary movements of athetoid cerebral palsy. Other combinations may occur, and it is also possible to have a combination of all three types of cerebral palsy.

Treatment of Mixed Cerebral Palsy

While mixed cerebral palsy is not considered a progressive disease because the brain injury that causes it does not worsen over time, symptoms can become worse over time without proper treatment.

Treatment is aimed at limiting and controlling symptoms, and may include oral medications, medications delivered via pump, injection, surgery, and a wide variety of both traditional and alternative therapies.