Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a movement disorder caused by damage to the developing brain. It affects self-help, family dynamics, and care costs. Data is lacking on its prevalence and characteristics in Thailand. Collection of this data may help to improve awareness and reduce treatment delay consequences.

Materials and Methods: Prevalence, characteristics, and time to rehabilitation data were collected from 50 CP patients, born at Thammasat University Hospital, Thailand between 2005 and 2014.

Results: CP prevalence was 1:1,000 live birth. There was no significant difference in gender (52% male) or in full-term versus preterm birth (48.8% preterm). Among the preterm, 22.45% had a gestational age of 32 to 36 6/7 weeks with spasticity (90%) as the most common motor control abnormality, while 72.34% showed diplegia. Age at first diagnosis averaged 11.79 months with 33.33% at high level IV, under the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), 50% of diagnoses were from hypertonia, followed by 23.17% from delayed development. Time post-diagnosis to first treatment averaged 4.12 weeks. Time after diagnosis before rehabilitation was 7.66 weeks, with 6.09 weeks before a visit to the rehabilitation team.

Conclusion: The CP rates fluctuated over time but tended to increase with diplegic spasticity as the most common symptom. GMFCS showed high disability with hypertonia being the major diagnostic clue. Delays hindered rehabilitation. Early surveillance of those at risk incorporating multidisciplinary team treatment management would improve outcomes.

Keywords: Cerebral palsy, Prevalence, Characteristics, Rehabilitation, GMFCS, Thailand

Received 30 Sep 2019 | Revised 14 Jan 2020 | Accepted 21 Jan 2020