Cerebral Palsy - Brain Damage
Finch McCranie, LLP has represented many families
and victims of cerebral palsy and brain damage.
Our commitment is to the future of both.
Infants
and parents should be compensated for any injuries
cause by the negligence of doctors or medical
staff during pregnancy and birth.
Our firm has successfully handle cerebral palsy
cases for many years. We have obtain settlements
that ensured that the infant receives
proper medical treatment and assistance for as long
as it is necessary.
Cerebral Palsy Injuries and Treatment
Cerebral Palsy, a range of neuromuscular disorders
caused by injury to an infant's brain sustained
during late pregnancy, birth, or any time during
the first two years of life. People with cerebral
palsy have a wide range of difficulties, from a
clumsy walk to an inability to speak or swallow,
caused by faulty messages sent from the brain to
the muscles. In the mid-1800s, William Little, an
English physician, first described cerebral palsy
in connection with birth injuries .
Approximately 2 per 1000 individuals in the United
States have cerebral palsy. Other countries have
reported higher rates. Improved obstetric techniques
over the past few decades have reduced the likelihood
of brain injury during birth. But increased survival
of premature infants-those born after only 25 to
37 weeks of pregnancy and weighing less than 2500
grams (5.5 lbs)-some of whom develop cerebral palsy,
has kept the incidence in the United States fairly
stable.
Types
From birth, a year or more may pass before the
signs of cerebral palsy are recognized and diagnosed.
The three most common forms of cerebral palsy are
spastic, athetoid, and ataxic. An individual may
exhibit a combination of these forms, called the
mixed type.
Spasticity occurs in about 60 percent of all individuals
with cerebral palsy. Symptoms typically include
reduced movement due to stiff or permanently contracted
muscles. Spasticity is associated with damage to
nerve fibers in the brain that carry messages for
voluntary motor control.
Twenty percent of individuals with cerebral palsy
have the athetoid type, characterized by uncontrolled
movements. This form of cerebral palsy is caused
by injury to brain nerve fibers that are responsible
for inhibition of muscle movement.
The ataxic type of cerebral palsy is unusual, occurring
in only 1 percent of cases. It results when the
cerebellum (an area at the base of the brain) is
injured. Since the cerebellum maintains balance
and precision of body movements, affected individuals
have difficulty with coordination while walking
and moving the upper limbs.
Although the term cerebral palsy refers primarily
to problems with muscle tone and movement, other
disorders may be present. Mental retardation is
common but does not necessarily result in all cases.
Other associated problems include epilepsy, visual
disturbances, hearing impairment, language difficulty,
and slow growth.
Causes
Advances in diagnostic technology have led to a
much better understanding of the causes of cerebral
palsy. Over half of the cases are now thought to
be due to prenatal causes such as an infection that
spreads from the mother to the fetus, maternal stroke
that prevents proper blood supply to the fetus,
exposure to environmental toxins, or problems in
brain development.
The remaining cases are due to adverse events such
as traumatic birth delivery, premature birth and
its complications, meningitis (infection of the
brain or its protective coverings), or head injury
due to child abuse. Very rarely, heredity plays
a role. In some cases, it is difficult to pinpoint
a single event that may have caused cerebral palsy.
Treatment and Prevention
Injury to the brain in individuals with cerebral
palsy is permanent, and full recovery is not possible.
Damaged brain tissue does not regenerate, but to
some extent, normal nerve cells and nerve pathways
can take over some function from injured areas,
with some limitations. The degree of severity varies
so greatly from case to case that it is difficult
to make a general prognosis.
Successful treatment of cerebral palsy requires
input from a variety of professionals. Physicians
address health issues such as poor eyesight or restrictions
in joint motion. Physical and occupational therapists
help the child develop skills necessary to the activities
of daily living. Speech pathologists deal with swallowing
and speech dysfunction. Psychologists and educators
work with emotional or learning difficulties. Nutritionists
ensure normal growth. These professionals and numerous
others work together as a team with the child or
adult to help the individual achieve as much independence
and competence as possible. In addition, family
involvement in treatment, especially with children,
is an essential component. With therapy, training,
and community support, most individuals with cerebral
palsy can lead meaningful and productive lives.
Many causes of cerebral palsy are preventable,
especially those that occur at or after birth. Good
prenatal care has been shown to minimize the likelihood
of premature birth; new vaccines against Hemophilus
influenzae have reduced the incidence of meningitis;
and family support programs have reduced the number
of cases of severe child abuse. Such preventive
measures are cost-effective in that they reduce
the expense of supporting individuals with cerebral
palsy.
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