Understanding Cerebral Palsy: What Our Oregon Birth Injury Lawyers Want You to Know
Cerebral palsy is one of the most disabling debilitating birth injuries that a newborn could suffer. According to the CDC, cerebral palsy is a disorder or a group of disorders affecting a person’s ability to move voluntarily including maintaining balance and posture. The CDC further estimates that one in 345 children in United States will be diagnosed with cerebral palsy. As Oregon birth injury lawyers we understand how devastating cerebral palsy can be for a newborn and his or her family. We also understand how shocking it can be many family receives the diagnosis for their newborn child. This is why understanding cerebral palsy is imperative to learning how families can help their loved one.
One of the most common questions is what causes cerebral palsy. Unfortunately, the answer is not always a simple one. There are many potential causes of cerebral palsy, including natural complications of giving birth. However, there’re also many potential causes of cerebral palsy caused by Oregon medical malpractice. Further, many times natural complications of the labor and delivery process could be entirely avoided with the proper care and treatment required of healthcare providers such as family care practitioners, OB/GYNs, and nurses. This means that even if a child’s cerebral palsy is caused by natural complications in labor and delivery process, a competent or skilled healthcare provider may have been able to avoid these complications. This is why understanding cerebral palsy is very important to caring for loved ones.
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a disorder or group of disorders caused by damage to the developing brain. The damage caused to the brain which results in cerebral palsy is generally to the cerebellum or basal ganglia. These two vital structures in the human brain affects movement, coordination, dexterity, and even strength against gravity. This means that damage to the structures is the primary cause of cerebral palsy. Due to the damage to the structures, individuals may have difficulty voluntarily moving, controlling involuntary movements, or having great difficulty with balance and coordination.
The actual damage to the structures and the rest of the brain is caused by lesions to the brain. Usually the lesions are formed due to the oxygen deprivation or oxygen insufficiency while the brain is rapidly developing. The lesions are areas of brain tissue which did not receive adequate oxygen and sustain damage, almost like scar tissue after a muscle suffers damage. Areas of the brain with lesions will not develop normally and will not create the necessary nor on connections that required for the brain to function properly.
Types of Cerebral Palsy
There are four general types of cerebral palsy. The type of cerebral palsy that individual suffers from depends on the location of the damage in the brain and the extent of the damage in the brain. The four most common types of cerebral palsy our Oregon birth injury lawyers could handle for you and your family include the following:
- Spastic cerebral palsy – this is the most common type of cerebral palsy which is characterized by exaggerated, jerky, or a regular movements. The main cause of this type of cerebral palsy is due to hypertonia which is a form of increased muscle tone resulting in rigidity of the joints and muscles. Individuals with this type of cerebral palsy generally have difficulty with voluntary movement due to rigidity. This means that people with spastic cerebral palsy will have stiffness to one or more parts of their body, abnormal gait when walking or standing, difficulty standing up from a chair or laying down, and other types of awkward movements or reflexes.
- Athetoid cerebral palsy – this is the next most common type of cerebral palsy and it is characterized by fluctuations in muscle tone which includes excessive muscle (hypertonia) and flaccid muscle (hypotonia). Individuals with athetoid cerebral palsy also have involuntary movements to almost all parts of their bodies particularly their face, limbs, and sometimes their torso. Individuals with athetoid cerebral palsy have significant issues with posture, walking, coordination, balance, and issues even such as eating or drinking.
- Ataxic cerebral palsy – this type of cerebral palsy is rare but it can be devastating. It is characterized tremors and in muscle tone which makes balance and coordination very difficult. Voluntary movement is very difficult including speaking, eating, walking, or even sitting comfortably in a bed. Individuals with this type of cerebral palsy generally have tremors and shaking.
- Mixed cerebral palsy – this type of cerebral palsy as a mixture of the three above based on the location and severity of the damage to the brain. Individuals may have a fluctuation between the different types of cerebral palsy or remain primarily in one type of cerebral palsy. This can make treatment and assisting with occupational for Physical therapy very difficult because needs are constantly changing. Our Oregon birth injury lawyer knows how devastating this type of cerebral palsy can be and may be able to help victims and their families.
Was a Children Diagnosed With Cerebral Palsy? Our Oregon Birth Injury Law Firm Reviews Cases for Free
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.
