| |
Cerebral Palsy Is Not A Disease
Cerebral palsy is often mistakenly called a disease, however the term refers to
a group of chronic disorders that affect a person’s motor skills, muscle tone
and muscle movement. Cerebral refers to the brain and palsy to muscle weakness
or poor control. An estimated 764,000 children and adults nationwide exhibit one
or more of the symptoms of cerebral palsy (CP).
About 70% of those diagnosed with CP were affected by damage to one or more
areas of the brain during fetal development, while other children’s with
cerebral palsy experienced brain injury during the birthing process. While
muscles are affected, the abnormalities that characterize CP originate in the
brain. Most people are able to move their muscles in a smooth and coordinated
way, with their brain controlling the complex interactions between muscle and
nerves. The cerebral palsy brain has problems controlling these interactions.
There are three types of cerebral palsy. Spastic CP is the most common form and
affects the body’s ability to relax muscles, causing tightness and difficulties
in movement. Athetoid cerebral palsy affects the ability to control muscles,
leading to involuntary and uncontrolled movements in the affected muscles.
Children with Ataxic CP have a disturbed sense of balance and depth perception,
characterized by tremors or shaky movements. Each case of cerebral palsy affects
a child differently, and some have more than one form of CP (Mixed cerebral
palsy).
Some individuals with CP experience only mild impairment of their motor
abilities, while others are more profoundly affected by neurological problems
that include epilepsy, learning disabilities and attention deficit-hyperactivity
disorder. While cerebral palsy is not progressive, secondary conditions such as
difficulty eating, bladder/bowel problems and learning disabilities may develop
or get worse over time. There is no “cure” for CP in the traditional sense;
however training, medicine, support and therapy can help to improve function.
Cerebral Palsy Treatment Options >
The Cause Is Usually Unknown
In the majority of cases, the causes of cerebral palsy are unknown and develop
in the baby’s brain during their mother’s pregnancy. Others with CP were injured
during the birth process or soon after. Small, premature babies and babies who
require a ventilator to help breathing are at the highest risk for developing
cerebral palsy. Although today’s prenatal care and improved obstetrics have
significantly reduced the number of birth injuries, it is doubtful that they
will ever be eliminated.
Many physicians are reluctant to make a diagnosis of cerebral palsy until a
child is 18 to 24 months old. Babies with CP often are developmentally delayed
or slow to reach developmental milestones such as learning to roll over, sit,
crawl, smile, or walk. By the time the child is two years old, the doctor can
determine whether the child has hemiplegia (one side of the body is affected),
diplegia (both arms or both legs are involved), or quadriplegia (all four limbs
are affected). Based on the type of involvement, the physician can make certain
predictions about the prognosis.
There are no specific tests to identify CP – tests are usually performed to rule
out other causes of problems. Doctors rely on a combination of developmental
observations by the parents, infant’s and mother’s medical histories and the
infant’s muscle tone, strength and dexterity to make a CP diagnosis. Many of the
normal developmental milestones are based on motor functions such as reaching
for toys (3-4 months), sitting (6-7 months), and walking (10-14 months). Parents
are often the first to suspect that their baby’s motor skills are not developing
normally. Parents concerned about their baby's development for any reason should
contact their physician, who can help distinguish normal variation in
development from a developmental disorder.
Learn More About Cerebral
Palsy Diagnosis >
Living With CP
Approximately 90% of children with cerebral palsy survive into their 20s and
beyond (compared with 98% of the general population of children). Quadriplegic
children with CP have a lower survival rate largely due to respiratory illnesses
and distress.
There are a large group of physicians, therapists, psychologists, educators,
healthcare and social workers who help children with cerebral palsy reach their
maximum potential including. Management of cerebral palsy includes training,
therapy, medication, special equipment (including braces) and sometimes surgery.
Once diagnosed, physical and speech therapy, learning, speech, hearing and
developmental therapy should begin. Medication can help with severe muscle
spasticity and those with dislocated hips or scoliosis (curvature of the spine)
are candidates for surgery. As those with CP mature, they may require support
services including assistance, educational and vocational training as
appropriate to provide more function.
Cerebral palsy usually does not stop children from going to school, making
friends or playing. Children with cerebral palsy face greater challenges in
performing everyday tasks that other parents and children may take for granted.
They may need to approach life differently or with assistance. The family plays
an integral role in helping in the management of the condition of cerebral
palsy. As with anyone, strong support and love go a long way in helping a family
member with cerebral palsy live their life to the fullest. Many individuals with
cerebral palsy go to school, work, get married and have homes and families of
their own.
A
Parents' Guide for Care >
Your Legal Concerns
While most doctors, nurses, midwives, and
hospital technicians provide a high standard of care for their patients,
unfortunately, many families are harmed by medical mistakes. A physician may
have misread fetal monitoring equipment, failed to diagnose fetal distress
during labor, waited too long to perform a C Section, administered too much
Pitocin, or failed to act in a timely manner. Parents of a child suffering with
cerebral palsy should
contact an
experienced cerebral palsy lawyer to research the cause of their child’s
condition.
A statute of limitations applies to cerebral palsy medical malpractice claims,
placing time limits on the amount of time families have to pursue a CP medical
malpractice case. These time limits vary from state to state, to learn what the
time requirements for your state are,
contact us.
For a FREE Online Case Evaluation,
click here.
Click here to read our
Legal FAQs
See our
Representative CP Cases
| |
OBGYN on staff
