Cerebral palsy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: I. Aetiological factors.

Aetiological factors predisposing to cerebral palsy were investigated in 190 children with this condition seen in Riyadh , Saudi Arabia since January 1980. Ninety-four (49.5%) of the cases were natal in origin, 63 (33.1%) prenatal and 33 (17.4%) postnatal. Anoxia was the most common aetiological factor, accounting for 38 cases (20%), followed by prematurity in 18 (9.5%). These two factors combined accounted for 29.5% of all cases and 59.5% of those in the natal group. Idiopathic cases, the third largest group, accounted for 9.0%. Certain factors were shown to predispose to specific neurological deficits, the majority of the 190 patients being spastic diplegic (31%) or quadriplegic (26.3%). Saudi Arabia is going through a process of massive economic, social and medical progress. In view of improvements in all these areas and of other factors, a change in the pattern of incidence of cerebral palsy in Saudi Arabia is expected in the future.