Neonatal Encephalopathy Neonatal encephalopathy due to perinatal hypoxia occurs in 1-3 per 1000 births at term and is associated with high mortality, morbidity, and life-long chronic disability, including cerebral palsy. Currently, the primary treatment for global brain injury in neonates is therapeutic hypothermia. However, hypothermia is generally most effective for infants with mild to moderate..