Cerebral palsy: a podiatric overview.

Cerebral palsy is a nonprogressive neurologic lesion occurring during gestation or at birth with resultant motor deficit. It can be classified anatomically, according to the cerebral lesion, or functionally. In order to reach a diagnosis, and subsequently determine the correct treatment, a thorough evaluation of the patient must be performed including muscle testing, persistence of pathologic reflexes, and presence of infantile automatisms. The most frequently seen deformities of the lower extremity are equinus, equinovalgus, and equinovarus. The underlying goal of treatment is to stabilize the lower extremity and allow the patient to ambulate as independently as possible. The basic approach to therapy is conservative, but surgery, utilizing both osseous and soft tissue procedures, may be indicated to increase the efficiency of ambulation.