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Cerebral Palsy Cerebral palsy can cause lifelong hardship to those who suffer from it. At the law offices of Susan R. Green,
based in Baltimore, Maryland, our cerebral palsy attorneys fight to get compensation for children who suffer from cerebral palsy
caused by negligent doctors. Every year, 8,000 babies and infants are diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Caused by damage to the brain, cerebral palsy is incurable,
though some types of therapy can help improve function. The specific origins of the brain injuries that cause cerebral palsy difficult
to determine, but many things that occur before, during, or immediately after birth can increase the risk that a child may suffer from
the disorder. If brain damage was caused, or could have been prevented, by the actions of a doctor, that doctor may be guilty of
medical malpractice. Contact our Baltimore, Maryland cerebral palsy attorneys to discuss the specifics of your case. [Back to top] Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy The way cerebral palsy manifests depends upon which area of the brain was injured. Four main broad categories of
cerebral palsy, characterized by different symptoms, are generally recognized.
- Spastic cerebral palsy is characterized by muscles that are permanently contracted and stiff,
severely restricting movement of the limbs. It can affect anywhere from one limb (called monoplegia)
to all four limbs (quadriplegia). Spastic cerebral palsy makes up between 70 and 80 percent of cases.
- Athetoid cerebral palsy, also known as dyskinetic cerebral palsy, causes uncontrollable writhing movements
of the hands, arms, legs, feet, and occasionally the face, causing speech difficulties, grimacing, and drooling.
Symptoms often increase during periods of emotional stress and disappear during sleep.
- Ataxic cerebral palsy is the rarest of the forms, affecting a child's balance and depth perception. People
who suffer from this type of cerebral palsy frequently have trouble doing things that require fine movements,
such as writing or buttoning a shirt. They also tend to walk with an unsteady, wide-based stride.
- Mixed forms of cerebral palsy also occur. Most commonly, this is a combination of the muscle contraction and
movements of spastic and athetoid forms, though other combinations are not unheard of.
Any of these types can be caused by medical negligence. Contact our Baltimore, Maryland cerebral palsy
attorneys if your child has cerebral palsy that you believe was caused by a physician. [Back to top] Cerebral Palsy Risk Factors There are a number of factors that can increase the risk that a child will suffer from cerebral palsy.
Many of these factors can occur if the attending physician does not pay sufficient attention during delivery. Some may even
be the result of accidents and mistakes in the delivery room. Any of these can be considered medical malpractice. Our Baltimore,
Maryland cerebral palsy attorneys litigate cases involving cerebral palsy risk factors such as: If your child has cerebral palsy, and these or other risk factors were present
during the delivery, contact our office in Towson, Maryland, near Baltimore. The cerebral palsy
attorneys at the law offices of Susan R. Green work to gain restitution for victims of negligent
health care providers. [Back to top] Treatment of Cerebral Palsy Though there is no cure for cerebral palsy, a comprehensive program of therapy can help the
child in achieving better day-to-day functioning, aiding them in coping with the effects the disorder. The
form that these treatments take depends on the type and extent of the brain injury, but they generally require
a diverse team of specialists, from physicians, therapists and nurses to specially trained educators and social workers.
Ideally, this broadly-based program should begin to be enacted as soon as a child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
Programs to helping a child cope with cerebral palsy can be difficult, time consuming and expensive. Fortunately,
you may be able to recover damages from those responsible for your child's disability. Contact the Baltimore, Maryland
cerebral palsy attorneys at the law offices of Susan R. Green to find out how. [Back to top] |
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