Children's Hemiplegia

WHAT IS HEMIPLEGIA?

The technical definition of Hemiplegia is: paralysis of one side of the body.  Hemiplegia is paralysis on one full side of the body including the arm, trunk and leg.  The most common cause is stroke.  Hemiplegia occurs when there is a disruption of blood flow to the brain, causing part of the brain to die. Spastic Hemiplegia affects one side of the body with increased tendon reflexes and spasms occurring in the affected muscles. 

The side affected by Hemiplegia depends on which side the brain is affected.  If someone has a right side orientated stroke they will have left side Hemiplegia and vice versa.  The degree of disability depends on the degree of neurological damage.  In all cases of Hemiplegia if the brain damage occurs before, during or after birth up to the age of 2 it is then considered cerebral palsy.

TREATMENTS OF HEMIPLEGIA 

Treatment of spastic Hemiplegia (Hemiparesis) of the upper extremity generally follows a conservative to aggressive therapy schedule that starts physical therapy and occupational therapy and may progress to such treatments as serial casting, botox, and tendon lengthening or transfer.  Individual patient treatment for children with Spastic Hemiplegia take into consideration their developmental milestones, growth spurts and the severity of the disability.

CAUSES OF HEMIPLEGIA

• Brain Injury (car accidents, bike accident, ect...)
  Kidsource Online

• Blood clots
  The Blood Clot Center

• CVA - Cerebrovascular Accident   (Thrombus, Embolism, Hemorrhages)
  Medline Plus Health Information - CVA

• Infections - Encephalitis, Meningitis or Subdural Empyema (an abcess)
  TIA - Transient Ischemic Attack (Mini Stroke)
  NINDS TIA Information Page

• Vasculitis
  What is Vasculitis?

INFORMATIONAL SITES

• Cambridge Medicine - Congenital Hemiplegia

• Control of Functional Movement in Hemiplegia

• Family Practice Notebook

• Hemi-Help

• Hemi-Kids

• Hemiplegia - Patient UK

• Molson Medical Informatics Project

• Motor Unit Firing Patterns in Hemiplegia

• Project: Stability and flexibility in spastic Hemiparesis

• Society for Neuroscience

• Stroke Syndromes

DAILY LIVING ASSISTANTS

• EXN Flex International

• First Flex - For Children with Spastic Hemiplegia

• HandiCare Bilanx - The perfect Wheelchair for Hemiplegics

• Hemi-Glide

• Steering Devices - Driving & Hand Controls

• WALK EASY - Assistant for "Drop Foot"

• Wonder Buttons - Cuff Extenders

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