Cerebral Palsy Clinical Patterns in Dubai Pediatric Patients: A Retrospective Study

A retrospective observational study of pediatric patients at a specialist children’s hospital in Dubai has identified spastic diplegic cerebral palsy as the most prevalent motor type among the sampled population.

The research, which focused on clinical patterns within a tertiary referral setting, analyzed patients ranging in age from 1 to 17 years. The mean age of the participants was 7.7 years, with a standard deviation of 4.28.

According to the findings, spastic diplegic cerebral palsy accounted for 32% of the total motor types observed in the study group.

Regional Research Context

The data from Dubai contributes to a limited body of research regarding the condition in the region. A systematic review and meta-analysis focusing on children and adolescents in Arabic-speaking countries noted that studies regarding the prevalence, risk factors, motor types, and rehabilitation of cerebral palsy in these populations are scarce.

Historically, clinical studies in the region have sought to identify the primary causes of the condition to improve pediatric outcomes. A study conducted in Saudi Arabia between 1980 and 1983 analyzed 102 children with severe cerebral palsy to determine etiology and clinical features.

In that specific cohort, 91 of the children were under the age of two, and the male-to-female ratio was 3:2.

Etiology and Preventability

The Saudi Arabian study categorized the causes of cerebral palsy into three primary periods of development:

• Perinatal causes, which were the most frequent at 48% of cases.
• Postnatal causes, accounting for 28.4% of cases.
• Prenatal causes, representing 23.5% of cases.

The analysis from that study indicated that cerebral palsy was considered medically preventable in at least 30% of the cases. This preventability was linked to potential improvements in neonatal care services, obstetric care, and the control of infection.

The researchers emphasized the necessity of establishing integrated interdisciplinary teams to ensure effective diagnosis and the complete habilitation of patients.