Pyramidal insufficiency in children and adults

Pyramidal( pyramidal) deficiency is a combination of symptoms associated with disorders of the nervous system. In general, the syndrome of pyramidal insufficiency occurs in children under one year and adults who have had cardiovascular disease or who have oncological diseases.

Despite the fact that there is no such disease on the international list of diagnoses, medical workers still make such a diagnosis, it is a ballerina symptom, walking on tiptoes / tiptoes, equinus stop, central paralysis or paresis.

Why the pyramid?

The medulla oblongata is one of the five parts of the brain. It connects the brain to the dorsal and is responsible for performing simple and complex reflexes.

The medulla oblongata consists of a large number of anatomical cells - pyramids, hence the name - pyramidal. And if at least one part of the pyramidal cells breaks down, then there will be a violation of coordination of movements.

Development of violation

Features of the development of pyramidal insufficiency depends on the change in muscle tone and level of damage to the nervous system( HC).

For example, in central paralysis( incomplete loss of voluntary movements - central paresis), the neuron is disinhibited in the spinal cord. The pyramidal system begins to send a huge number of nerve impulses to the muscles, thereby increasing reflexes and muscle tone. In addition, there is a tremor.

With regard to flaccid paralysis( paresis) or peripheral, it is formed when the neuron and its processes in the spinal cord have been affected. Muscle tone is reduced, until the muscle is completely immobilized. Reflexes go to a decline or completely disappear, after which the hypotrophy of the innervated area is formed.

Clinical paralysis( paresis) in the lower extremities - tremors and tension appear in the legs, the tone rises, the gait becomes different. The leg is difficult to unbend, the foot is placed on the toe, and the impression of a stepping( "cock-like gait") is created.

Clinical paralysis( paresis) of the upper limbs - a tremor arises in the hands to raise something, a tremendous effort is required because of increased muscle tone. Begins to develop hypotrophy or atrophy.

Causes of the disease in adults:

• inflammation in the brain( meningitis, encephalitis);
• changes in hemodynamics in the brain( infarction, stroke);
• head trauma, which become the cause of impairment in the transmission of nerve impulses;
• benign and oncological tumors.

Causes of the disease in children:

• hypoxia;
• infectious diseases;
• inflammatory processes;
• birth injury;
• intrauterine growth anomalies.

Do neurologic problems occur in children?

With the diagnosis of "pyramidal insufficiency", the following neurological problems may occur:

• various lesions occurring during labor;
• congenital diseases of the HC( cerebral palsy, spinal dysphasia, pediatric hydrocephalus, etc.);
• brain hypoxia;
• diseases caused by the penetration of pathogens and viruses into the body;
• tumors;
• purulent inflammation in the spinal cord or brain;
• disturbances in the production and outflow of liquor( cerebrospinal fluid);
• encephalitis and meningitis.

Each of the above pathology has its own characteristic symptoms and methods of treatment.

Features of clinical picture

Symptoms of pyramidal insufficiency in children:

• shakes hands, feet and chin;
• tilting the head back;
• has difficulty holding
• objects in the "standing" position, the fingers on the
• legs are pressed on the socks;
• inefficiently operate the fingers;
• impaired gait, coordination and movement of the eyes;
• speech disorder;
• low intelligence.

Symptoms of pyramidal insufficiency syndrome in adults:

• muscular hypertension of the extremities;
• arterial hypertension;
• partial or complete immobilization of individual body parts;
• convulsions, spasms;
• reduction of reflex activity;
• is overweight;
• sexual disorders.

Dr. Komarovsky explains what pyramidal insufficiency is:

Diagnosis of

Methods for diagnosing pyramidal insufficiency:

• MRI ( if there is convulsions / spasms or a doctor suspected of epilepsy);
• CT of the brain ( used as an additional method of investigation);
• electromyography ( the neuromuscular system is checked by means of registration of potentials of muscles);
• ultrasound of the brain ( helps detect tumor processes);
• EEG ( reveals the hidden convulsions that happen in a dream).

In addition to the above methods will require the submission of tests to confirm the syndrome.

How to treat children with this diagnosis?

In general, children diagnosed with pyramidal insufficiency, the doctor prescribes different physiotherapy procedures. Orthopedic drugs may also be required, with which parts of the body are given a physiological position, and balneotherapy( wellness baths).

To reduce tonus and strengthen muscles, doctors recommend acupressure and relaxing massage, the course of which is held every 6 months.

Every day parents should do special preventive and preventative exercises with the child.

If necessary, doctors can prescribe vitamins, vasoactive drugs( for microcirculation) and drugs that improve the metabolic degradation process.

Operations are resorted only when the physician diagnoses:

• trauma / brain or spinal cord tumor ;
• acute disorders of cerebral circulation , which can not be cured by chemical, physical and biological methods( eg, thrombosis or intracerebral hematoma).

Is it dangerous?

The diagnosis of pyramidal insufficiency of any person suggests the serious lesions of the National Assembly. After all, this can lead to complete or partial immobility.

When the permeability of the pyramidal path is broken, the body observes:

• state of increased muscle tone ;
• hypertension of flexor muscles in the upper limbs, and in the lower extensors;
• hyperreflexion ( segmental reflexes are increased as a result of weakening of inhibitory influential processes of the cerebral cortex by a segmental reflex apparatus);
• synkinesis ( involuntary movement of the hand or foot parallel to the arbitrary movement of the other arm or leg).

In case of incomplete lesion of pyramidal cells, for example, right-sided pyramidal failure can occur, which manifests itself:

• impaired visual function;
• by involuntary vibrational movements of one or both eyes predominantly in one direction( nystagmus);
• reduced mental abilities.

As for toddlers, it is far from everyone who is diagnosed with this, there are noticeable deviations. Moreover, most of them, after a while, everything goes by itself.

The whole point is that cases of delayed process of myelin( a special membrane that improves conductivity) of nerve fibers are not uncommon in newborns. The reason is oxygen starvation during childbirth and cardiopulmonary insufficiency. But nevertheless it is not necessary to forget, that under the diagnosis "pyramidal deficiency" serious enough problems causing full or partial immobilization disappear.

Excellent prevention for the body as a whole is swimming, gymnastics, massage and exercises for coordination of movements.