Medical Malpractice – Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy is a term used to describe a group of disorders caused by brain damage that affect body movement and muscle coordination. It is a non-progressive disorder which means it will not worsen over time, nor will it be cured. Brain damage that causes Cerebral Palsy can happen during pregnancy, the birth, or shortly after birth; and can be attributed to illness during pregnancy, pre-term birth, or a lack of oxygen to the baby during birth. In the early childhood years it can develop due to certain types of infection, a lack of oxygen to the brain, severe jaundice and other factors. Over 750,000 children and adults in the US suffer from some form or show one or more symptoms of Cerebral Palsy. About 8,000 babies are diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy every year. Cerebral Palsy patients are often diagnosed with the disorder before 18 months of age, usually after parents notice infants have not reached certain developmental milestones such as crawling or rolling over.
Effects/Symptoms
Some of the effects of Cerebral Palsy are involuntary muscle spasms, awkward gait, poor balance, difficulty swallowing, sight or speech impairment, seizures, abnormal sensation and perception, or mental retardation. Additionally patients with Cerebral Palsy may experience difficulty with bladder and bowel control, difficulty eating, skin disorders, breathing problems because of poor posture, or learning disabilities.
Types of Cerebral Palsy
There are three main types of Cerebral Palsy: spastic, athetoid, or ataxic. Spastic cases, the most common, affect 70 to 80 percent of Cerebral Palsy patients, and are further broken down into three categories. Patients whose lower extremities are affected more so than upper are classified as spastic diplegia; patients who experience difficulty with only one side of the body are classified as spastic hemiplegia; and patients whose whole body is affected are classified as spastic quadriplegia. Cases of athetoid Cerebral Palsy affect roughly 20 percent of Cerebral Palsy patients. Its characterized by involuntary motions, trouble holding a steady position, or slow, writhing movements. Such patients often have difficulty getting their hands to a certain spot or holding on to objects. Ataxic cases are far less common, affecting less than 10 percent of Cerebral Palsy patients. Affecting balance and depth perception, ataxic Cerebral Palsy patients have difficulty walking steadily or when trying to execute a swift movement. Basic motor skills may also present difficulty.
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