There may be change in clinical spectrum of cerebral palsy (CP) due to improvement in maternal and child care health service. The clinical profi le, aetiological factors and comorbidities of children with CP attending Department of PMR, VMMC & Safdarjang Hospital during the years 1981- 1989 and 2008 - 2012 were therefore compared and analysis done.

Four hundred and ten (group B) children with CP registered in last 4 years (2008 - 2012) at PMR Department of VMMC & Safdarjang Hospital were compared with previous study of 544 (group A) children during year 1981 - 1989 from same centre.

Spastic CP remained most common in both the groups. Diplegia is commonest type of CP (38.78%) as compared to previous group where quadriplegia (34.9%) was most common. The mixed type showed a statistical signifi cant increase in percentage (group A: 0.18 % versus group B: 3.7 %).

In aetiology, there is decrease in prenatal and postnatal causes and increase in natal causes which were statistically signifi cant. Birth asphyxia (50.3 %) remains the main aetiological factor as earlier (24.5%). Speech problems (59.7%), mental retardation (31.7%) and seizures (26.8%) are common comorbidities as compared to previous studies where mental retardation (47.2 %) was found to be most common followed by speech impairment (37%), visual impairment (9%) and seizures (8.8%).

Clinical profile of CP has evolved with an increase in diplegic and a decrease in quadriplegic CP.