What Is Spastic Diplegia?

Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common form of cerebral palsy (CP), comprising approximately 80 percent of all cases. Spastic CP typically involves increased muscle tone and difficult or unusual movements.

Spastic diplegia (or diparesis) is a subtype of spastic cerebral palsy in which the legs are the most affected limbs. People with spastic diplegia often have a “scissor walk,” characterized by the knees turning inward/crossing. This is due to tightness in the hip and leg muscles. In some cases, the arms may also be affected, although usually to a lesser degree (1).

Spastic diplegic cerebral palsy: what does it mean?

The term “spastic diplegic cerebral palsy” can be understood by looking at each word individually:

  • Spastic/spasticity: describes increased muscle tone (hypertonia) and resultant spasms (stiff, jerky movements)
  • Diplegic/diplegia: describes the limbs involved, specifically the lower limbs.
  • Cerebral: to do with the brain; referring to the brain damage or abnormality underlying this condition.
  • Palsy: refers to muscle weakness or paralysis.
spastic diplegic cerebral palsy

How does spastic diplegia differ from other forms of cerebral palsy?

Although the signs and symptoms of spastic diplegia overlap with other forms of cerebral palsy, the following characteristics are especially common with this subtype:

  • Stiff or tight leg muscles
  • Exaggerated reflexes in the legs
  • Walking on toes
  • “Scissor gait”
scissor gait

What are the causes and risk factors for spastic diplegia?

As with other forms of cerebral palsy, spastic diplegia is caused by brain abnormalities or damage. In many cases, it stems from brain damage that occurs during or around the time of birth, i.e. a birth injury. Birth injuries do not necessarily have to involve blunt force trauma; rather, the term refers to many different sorts of harm to a baby around the time of birth, including issues like oxygen deprivation and infection. The following are some examples of medical issues and birth injuries that are associated with spastic diplegia (2, 3):

Unfortunately, these issues are often related to medical malpractice (either because they are caused by negligent actions, or because medical professionals fail to respond appropriately when complications arise). If this is the case, parents can consider pursuing a birth injury lawsuit.

What are the signs and symptoms of spastic diplegia?

Spastic diplegia tends to primarily affect the lower limbs. However, more severe cases can involve impairment of the upper limbs and other complications. Although the manifestations of this condition vary widely between individuals, signs and symptoms of spastic diplegic cerebral palsy may include (2, 4):

While newborns who experienced a birth injury (HIE, infection, brain hemorrhage, etc.) are often classified as “high-risk” for cerebral palsy, a formal diagnosis may take months or years. This is because the signs and symptoms may not be very apparent until the child begins to miss developmental milestones. (Click here for more information on how cerebral palsy is diagnosed.)

Spastic diplegic cerebral palsy must be distinguished from other conditions that cause spasticity, including neurodegenerative disorders.

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What treatment options are available for children with spastic diplegia?

The appropriate treatments will vary based on the child’s individual signs and symptoms. Among other things, treatment for spastic diplegia may include (2, 4, 5):

In addition to these treatment options, children with spastic diplegia may benefit from mobility equipment and other forms of assistive technology.

For more information on treatment and therapy options for children with cerebral palsy, please click here.

Birth injury attorneys helping children with spastic diplegia

If your loved one was diagnosed with spastic diplegia or another form of cerebral palsy due to an act of medical malpractice, we encourage you to reach out to the birth injury attorneys at ABC Law Centers (Reiter & Walsh, P.C.) today. Although our office is based near Detroit, Michigan, we serve clients throughout the U.S.

Pursuing a birth injury lawsuit can not only help families get justice, but also get the compensation needed to fund lifelong treatment, therapy, and other necessary resources. Please reach out today to learn more about our firm and birth injury cases. We offer free consultations; in fact, clients pay nothing throughout the legal process unless we obtain a verdict or settlement.

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Helpful resources

  1. What is Cerebral Palsy? | CDC. (n.d.). Retrieved May 8, 2019, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/cp/facts.html
  2. Spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. (n.d.). Retrieved May 8, 2019, from https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/9637/spastic-diplegia-cerebral-palsy
  3. Thornberg, E., Thiringer, K., Odeback, A., & Milsom, I. (1995). Birth asphyxia: incidence, clinical course and outcome in a Swedish population. Acta paediatrica84(8), 927-932.
  4. Glader, L., & Barkoudah, E. (n.d.). Cerebral palsy: Clinical features and classification. Retrieved May 8, 2019, from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/cerebral-palsy-clinical-features-and-classification
  5. Sussman, M. D., & Aiona, M. D. (2004). Treatment of spastic diplegia in patients with cerebral palsy. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics B13(2), S1-S12.