Marcie Ward

Lily Collison

Spastic hemiplegia is a very common subtype of cerebral palsy (CP), and CP itself is the most common cause of childhood-onset physical disability. An estimated 17 million people worldwide have CP. Spastic hemiplegia is also known as unilateral spastic CP or, simply, unilateral CP. Spastic hemiplegia affects the upper and lower limbs of one side of the body. The upper limb is usually more affected than the lower limb. This practical guide addresses spastic hemiplegia across the lifespan and the evidence-based, best-practice treatments. It also includes the lived experience of families.

The writing of Spastic Hemiplegia was led by Marcie Ward, MD, Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine Physician at Gillette Children’s, a world-renowned center of excellence for the treatment of brain, bone, and movement conditions. Spastic Hemiplegia is part of the Gillette Children’s Healthcare Series, a series of books for families who are looking for clear, comprehensive information. Health care professionals, educators, students, and extended family members will also benefit from reading Spastic Hemiplegia.

Other titles in the series include:

• Craniosynostosis 

• Idiopathic Scoliosis

• Spastic Quadriplegia–Bilateral Cerebral Palsy

• Spastic Diplegia–Bilateral Cerebral Palsy, second edition 

• Epilepsy 

• Spina Bifida 

• Osteogenesis Imperfecta 

• Scoliosis: Congenital, Neuromuscular, Syndromic, and Other Causes

Changes from previous edition

N/A

About the topic

Cerebral Palsy is a group of conditions caused by an injury to the developing brain, which can result in a variety of motor and other problems that affect how the child functions. As the injury occurs in a developing brain and growing child, problems often change over time, even though the brain injury itself is unchanging. 

Spastic hemiplegia affects the upper and lower limbs of one side of the body. The upper limb is usually more affected than the lower limb. Spasticity is the most common type of atypical tone present in individuals with hemiplegia although dystonia can be present as well.

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