What is Cerebral Palsy (CP)?
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of permanent movement and posture disorders caused by non-progressive disturbances in the developing fetal or infant brain. CP affects motor function, muscle tone, coordination, balance, and in many cases, speech, cognition, and sensation.
Eber Medical Group, ranked #1 in China for comprehensive CP care, treats all major types: spastic (most common, ~80%), dyskinetic, ataxic, and mixed. Treatment is tailored to the child's age, CP subtype, severity, and functional goals, combining surgical intervention where appropriate with intensive neurorehabilitation and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Symptoms by CP Type
- Spastic CP: Increased muscle tone (hypertonia), stiff/jerky movements, scissors gait, difficulty with fine motor tasks
- Dyskinetic CP: Involuntary, uncontrolled movements; fluctuating muscle tone (hypotonia/hypertonia)
- Ataxic CP: Poor balance and coordination, unsteady gait, tremor
- Mixed CP: Combination of above types — spastic-dyskinetic is most common mixed form
Associated conditions include intellectual disability (30–50%), epilepsy (25–35%), speech and language disorders, visual impairment, and feeding difficulties.
Diagnosis at Eber Medical Group
| Diagnostic Method | Purpose | Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Philips MRI 3.0T (Brain + Spine) | Identify cortical/white matter lesions, malformations | Western Medicine |
| EEG / Video-EEG Monitoring | Rule out or characterize epilepsy (25–35% of CP) | Western Medicine |
| Neurological Examination | Muscle tone, reflexes, cranial nerves, coordination | Western Medicine |
| Neuropsy Testing (Bayley, WPPSI) | Cognitive, motor, language development assessment | Western Medicine |
| Gait Analysis / EMG | Quantify spasticity and movement pattern for surgical planning | Western Medicine |
| Tongue & Pulse Diagnosis | Identify TCM syndrome pattern (Qi deficiency, kidney essence) | TCM |
| TCM Constitution Assessment | Guide acupuncture, herbal treatment protocol | TCM |
Treatment Methods: Western Medicine + TCM
Our multidisciplinary approach combines targeted surgical procedures with intensive rehabilitation and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for comprehensive outcomes.
| Method | Key Effect | Indicative Cost (CNY) |
|---|---|---|
| FSPR (Functional Selective Posterior Rhizotomy) | Reduces limb/hand spasticity; restores fine motor function | Inquire for estimate |
| DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) | Controls dyskinesia, dystonia in mixed/dyskinetic CP | Inquire for estimate |
| Baclofen Pump Implantation | Continuous intrathecal baclofen for severe spasticity | Inquire for estimate |
| Orthopedic Correction Surgery | Corrects deformities of limbs, spine (scoliosis, hip dislocation) | Inquire for estimate |
| Robotic Rehabilitation (Lokomat) | Restores gait pattern, improves walking endurance | Included in rehab |
| TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) | Improves motor cortex excitability, reduces spasticity non-invasively | Included in rehab |
| Acupuncture + Tuina (TCM) | Improves Qi circulation, reduces tone, stimulates motor points | Included in TCM program |
| Moxa Therapy (TCM) | Warms meridians, tonifies kidney essence, promotes development | Included in TCM program |
FSPR for Cerebral Palsy — Eber's Signature Procedure
FSPR — Functional Selective Posterior Rhizotomy — is a microsurgical procedure developed and refined by Dr. Sun Chenyan at Eber Medical Group. Unlike conventional SDR (Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy), FSPR specifically targets the dorsal nerve rootlets responsible for pathological spasticity while preserving sensory function.
In 2016, Dr. Sun Chenyan performed the first FSPR for a paralyzed hand in the world — a landmark achievement. After surgery, patients who previously had a non-functional hand regained the ability to perform fine motor tasks: cutting vegetables, tying shoelaces, and brewing tea. This breakthrough was later replicated internationally.
FSPR Procedure Steps
- Preoperative EMG mapping to identify overactive nerve rootlets
- Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) — continuous electromyography
- Microsurgical laminectomy at targeted spinal levels under Carl Zeiss microscope
- Selective rootlet stimulation — only pathological rootlets are sectioned
- Postoperative neurorehabilitation: weeks 1–4 in hospital; months 2–6 outpatient/inpatient program
Multidisciplinary Approach: Western Medicine + TCM
Eber's CP care exemplifies the "integrated Western + Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)" treatment model that consistently distinguishes our outcomes. The multidisciplinary team includes:
- Functional Neurosurgeon — FSPR, DBS, baclofen pump (Dr. Sun Chenyan)
- Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon — limb, spine, hip correction (Dr. Chen Qiu)
- Neurorehabilitation Team — robotic therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy
- TCM Physicians — acupuncture (scalp + body), tuina, moxa, herbal medicine
- Speech Therapist — communication, feeding, swallowing
- Child Psychologist — behavioral support, family education