Portland Cerebral Palsy Lawyers Explain Spastic Cerebral Palsy Due to Oregon Birth Injuries
Cerebral palsy, or CP, can be a devastating diagnosis for a child and his or her family. This is because cerebral palsy is a condition or group of conditions which result in a disorder how a person can movement. This inability is due to damage to the developing brain which results in lesions which cause weakness, dysfunction, or an inability to properly function. Due to these lesions, it can be incredibility difficult if not impossible for an individual to move properly and function on a daily basis. There are four types of cerebral palsy, including spastic cerebral palsy due to Oregon birth injuries. Whenever a child is diagnosed with any form of cerebral palsy it is important to ask for a free case review from Portland cerebral palsy lawyers to protect your child and your family’s rights.
This is not only because of the difficulty that you loved one will have as he or she gets older. But according to the CDC, the lifetime costs of cerebral palsy average over 1 million dollars in 2003 dollars, which is almost $1.5 million today with inflation. Therefore, it is imperative to hire an Oregon medical malpractice lawyer to help assess whether your child suffered Oregon birth injuries due to preventable medical errors. While many healthcare providers do a good job protecting the health of our children, unfortunately too many healthcare providers make reckless, careless, and negligent mistakes.
Four Types of Cerebral Palsy: Portland Cerebral Palsy Lawyers
Generally, there are four types of cerebral palsy. Each type of cerebral palsy is classified based on the location of the damage, extent or severity of the damage, and mean type of movement disorder involved. Each type of cerebral palsy could be mild, moderate, or severe. Depending on the severity and the type of cerebral palsy, an individual diagnosed with this type of birth injury could have significant and catastrophic disability. The four types of cerebral palsy are the following:
Spastic cerebral palsy – this is the most common type of cerebral palsy and results in stiff and rigid movements caused by stiff and rigid joints. There are several subsets of spastic cerebral palsy which similarly clause awkward movement due to rigid joints and muscles.
Dyskinetic cerebral palsy, also known as athetoid, choreoathetoid, and dystonic CP – this type of cerebral palsy causes individuals to have difficulty controlling the movement of their limbs due to involuntary and uncontrollable tremors, shakes, jerks, or rapid movements. Often times, individuals with this type of CP also have slow and writhing movements.
Ataxic cerebral palsy – this type of cerebral palsy causes problems with balance and coordination. This means that most victims suffering from this type of CP will have unsteady movements when they walk and may have difficulty running, if any ability to run. Individuals with this type of cerebral palsy also have a difficult time with quick movements or fine motor movements such as buttoning a shirt, typing on the computer, or writing.
Mixed cerebral palsy – individuals who have a combination of one or more of the following types of cerebral palsy maybe classified to have mixed cerebral palsy. This is particularly devastating because individuals with mixed cerebral palsy may be battling many different symptoms of all types of cerebral palsy which are constantly shifting for evolving.
What is Spastic Cerebral Palsy?
Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type of cerebral palsy. Spastic cerebral palsy due to Oregon birth injuries should be reviewed by Portland cerebral palsy lawyers. This is because spastic cerebral palsy can cause a range of disability which can be very difficult to manage without medical assistance.
Generally, spastic cerebral palsy forms hypertonia or increased muscle tone and buildup. This makes muscles and joints very stiff and difficult to move, sometimes being impossible to move. A person’s muscles may become stiff and rigid due to incorrect messages from the brain which unnecessarily and improperly increased muscle tone. Not only does this clause rigid joints, but this may cause faster limb movement due to the increased muscle tone and damage to the neurons of the brain and spinal cord.
Spastic cerebral palsy is generally caused by damage to the motor cortex of the brain during the labor and delivery process for birthing process. Due to spastic cerebral palsy, a person may have difficulty standing upright, sitting upright, walking, running, shifting from one position to another, getting in and out of a chair or bed, and many other movements. In some instances, spastic cerebral palsy can affect speech because it affects the way smaller muscles such as the tongue, facial muscles, vocal cords and vocal folds, and other muscles of the mouth can be moved.
Three Types of Spastic Cerebral Palsy
There are three general types of spastic cerebral palsy. These types each result in different disability base on where the damage is on the brain and how it affects the body. The three types of spastic cerebral palsy include the following:
- Spastic Diplegia/diparesis – this type of subset of spastic CP causes muscle stiffness and rigidity mostly in the legs. This causes difficulty for a person to walk because of rigid leg muscles including the hips. Individuals with this subset of CP will have trouble walking, sitting, running, standing, and otherwise moving.
- Spastic hemiplegia/hemiparesis – this subset of spastic CP causes muscle stiffness and rigidity to only one side of the person’s body. This is because damage to the developing brain was locations to only one side. Thus, only one side of the body will have muscle rigidity to the arm, leg, and torso on that side.
- Spastic quadriplegia/quadriparasis – this is the most severe subset of spastic CP and results in damage to all four limbs. Individuals with this form of spastic CP due to Oregon birth injuries should always have Portland birth injury lawyers review the medical records. This is because individuals with this subset will have severe disability including an inability to walk, some with speech problems, issues with vision, cognitive disability, seizures, and other problems with hearing, movement, or general daily activities.
Families with a Child Who Has Spastic Cerebral Palsy Due to Oregon Birth Injuries Should Ask Our Portland Birth Injury Lawyers to Review the Medical Records
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.