Aim The aim of this study is to reveal demographic, etiological and clinical characteristics of our cerebral palsy cases and to underline differences peculiar to Thrace region of Turkey.

Methods One hundred and thirty five cerebral palsy cases, followed by Medical Faculty of Trakya University, Department of Pediatrics, Division Pediatric Neurology, were evaluated retrospectively. Data were obtained through out patient clinic files and patient discharge forms. Interviews by the phone were carried on in order to complete the necessary information. Demographic, etiological, laboratory and clinical characteristics of the cases were recorded.

Results The mean age of the cases was 112.65±47.02 months (2–18 years) and boy/girl ratio was 1.8. The majority of the case etiologies were perinatal risk factors accounted for 61.5%. Forty per cent of the cases were term AGA. Spastic type cerebral palsy constituted 91.9% of all cases with cerebral palsy while 46% of them were quadriplegic. Quadriplegic type was encountered most (46.2%) in term deliveries, while diplegic type was the most common form in preterms (47.4%). Speech problems (77.8%) and mental retardation (75.6%) were the most accompanying problems. Epilepsy accompanied 72.6% of the cases. An increasing rate of malnutrition was detected parallel to increasing age groups.

Conclusions Cerebral palsy cases showed certain differences in terms of demographic, etiological and clinical characteristics in Thrace region comparing to other regions.