Etiology of cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy has a complex and multifactorial etiology, with perinatal ischemic hypoxia responsible for only approximately 10% of cases. Preconceptional, antenatal, perinatal, and postneonatal influences can interact to result in permanent damage to the developing central nervous system. This article examines the epidemiology of the condition and discusses the risk factors and causal pathways that have been defined for cerebral palsy. It goes on to describe preventative measures and potential areas of intervention.