Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders. Damage to the brain does cause cerebral palsy, and along with cerebral palsy, the movement is impaired. One to two out of 1000 are born with cerebral palsy in our country. Some cases are mild and others are severe.
How brain damage causes cerebral palsy is not fully understood by doctors. They do know, however, cerebral palsy is due to damage sustained at these times:
*During the development of the fetus
*During the birth process
*In the first few months after birth
Research has found factors that boost the risk of cerebral palsy and some of these could have been avoided.
The Forms of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy manifests in the following primary types:
Spastic Cerebral Palsy - Characterize by muscle stiffness, this is the more common type. It can affect both legs, one side of the body, or all four limbs and the upper body.
Athetoid Cerebral Palsy - In about 20% of the individuals cerebral palsy shows up inthis form. It affects the entire body and is characterized by slow uncontrollable movements.
Ataxic Cerebral Palsy - This less common form of cerebral palsy is characterized by impaired coordination and steadiness.
Mixed Cerebral Palsy - Another kind of cerebral palsy in which a child can show two or more symptoms of the other cerebral palsy types.
Symptoms that Show Up With Cerebral Palsy
There are different types of cerebral palsy depending on the severity such as:
*Tremors
*Controlling muscles is difficult
*Spasticity - reflexes are exaggerated and muscles exhibit stiffness
*Stiffness in the muscles
Uneven gait due to dragging of a leg or foot
*Swallowing is difficult
These symptoms differ according to how severe the child's condition. There are cerebral palsy cases where mental retardation and other complications accompany the condition.
Assistive equipment is available for children with severe cases. A child with less severe cerebral palsy will most likely not need this equipment.
Cerebral Palsy Causes and Risk Factors
Some of the risk factors and known causes of cerebral palsy are:
*Baby was born premature and birth weight low
*Infections - maternal and/or fetal
*Oxygen deprivation
*Brain develops abnormally
*Severe jaundice
*Birth injury
Although not every incident is preventable, there are cases of cerebral palsy where negligence is the cause. If proper precaution were being followed, the injury would have been prevented. If you suspect medical malpractice is the cause of your child's condition speak with an attorney to find out your legal options.
Diagnosing and Treating Cerebral Palsy
If a child shows any symptoms, they should be taken in for a medical evaluation. A doctor will check the tone of their muscles, reflexes and movement. This is usually followed up with a series of tests like MRIs, CT scans and other related tests.
If cerebral palsy is the diagnosis, a specialist will be assigned to the child to figure out their treatment options. Because cerebral palsy is not curable, treatments are given to help manage the condition. The quality of a child's life will be improved with these treatments.
Commonly seen treatments are:
*Therapy related to physical, speech or occupational concerns
*Surgical procedures
*Medicines
Assistive technoligies include:
*Hand Rails
*Wheelchairs
*Braces
*Splints
*Devices for communication such as vision and hearing aids.
There is ongoing research into therapies such as dolphin and spacesuit therapy as hopeful therapies for cerebral palsy.
Be sure to speak with a medical malpractice attorney if you believe that medical negligence played a part in your child's cerebral palsy. The attorney will help you understand your legal rights and options.
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