Drugs can exert major effects on the developing central nervous system (CNS). In the broadest sense, drugs may disturb specific developmental events in the brain and, in turn, produce teratogenic effects. In addition, maternal ingestion of certain drugs can result…
In this chapter, space-occupying lesions including brain tumors, vein of Galen malformations, and arachnoid cysts are discussed. These disorders are considered in the same chapter because they represent important intracranial mass lesions and share certain clinical features. We do not…
INTRODUCTION This chapter is focused on injuries of extracranial, cranial, intracranial, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system structures. In particular, the emphasis is on those disorders that appear to be related primarily to mechanical trauma. Adverse mechanical events occur principally…
Bacterial infections of the central nervous system (CNS) in the newborn are common and are of major clinical importance. By far the most frequent of these infections is neonatal bacterial meningitis, and this chapter deals with this disorder in detail.…
The central nervous system (CNS) and its covering membranes may become involved in a variety of infectious processes, with devastating effects on structure and function. Infections may occur during intrauterine development, in association with the birth process, or in the…
Muscle, the final component of the motor system, is the site of abnormalities with those essential clinical manifestations of hypotonia and weakness that unify the other disorders of the motor system (see Chapter 36 ). In this chapter, we deal…
An effective means of attaining an understanding of the major disorders of the neonatal motor system is to organize the approach to these disorders on the basis of the major affected anatomical site within the motor system. Thus in this…
Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita refers to a syndrome, apparent at birth, characterized by fixed positions of multiple joints and an associated limitation of movement. The term arthrogryposis is derived from the Greek and literally means bent joint . Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita…
Neuromuscular disorders may cause dramatic disability in the neonatal period. The dominant features of these disorders are muscle weakness and hypotonia. In this context, I consider neuromuscular disorders those that predominantly involve the motor system, from its origins in the…
Certain degenerative disorders of the developing nervous system may be clinically manifested in the neonatal period. Because most of these disorders are related to a disturbance in the metabolism of a lipid or some other compound, they are discussed most…