Understanding What is Athetoid Cerebral Palsy: Important Facts
Cerebral palsy is a disorder or group of disorders which affects how the brain functions. Also known as CP, cerebral palsy is a very devastating condition which could result in catastrophic personal injury to an individual. These conditions could have long-lasting effects. The damage from cerebral palsy is permanent and irreversible, although it can be managed with some physical therapy and occupational therapy. There are many different types of cerebral palsy, with one type being athetoid cerebral palsy. Our athetoid cerebral palsy lawyer in Portland explains what is athetoid cerebral palsy and how it can affect your loved one in Oregon.
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy caused by damage to the brain. The damage to the brain occurs when the brain is rapidly developing. This usually means during gestation and the labor and delivery process, but can also occur in the months after birth. The damage to the brain is caused by a lack of oxygen. The lack of oxygen could be caused by a variety of causes, including national consequences or medical malpractice. Birth injuries caused by severe medical malpractice could result in life-threatening and changing consequences.
There are generally four types of cerebral palsy. These types of cerebral palsy are all due to the areas of the brain which are damaged. The damaged areas are what causes the different disabilities. The four types of cerebral palsy are the following:
- Spastic cerebral palsy – the most common and characterized by overly rigid muscles and joints
- Dyskinetic cerebral palsy – characterized by fluctuations in muscle tone and twisting, writhing movements
- Ataxic cerebral palsy – usually cased by involuntary tremors or shaking
- Mixed cerebral palsy – a combination of one or more types depending on the location of the damage.
What is Athetoid Cerebral Palsy?
Athetoid cerebral palsy is a type of dyskinetic cerebral palsy. It is characterized by abnormal, involuntary movement. Individuals with athetoid CP usually have either an increased muscle tone known as hypertonia, or a decreased muscle tone known as hypotonia. Many times individuals with athetoid cerebral palsy will have fluctuations between increased and decreased muscle tone. This makes handling a victim with this type of cerebral palsy more difficult because of the differing needs.
Types of Athetoid Cerebral Palsy
There are several different subsets of athetoid cerebral palsy. These include some of the following:
- Dystonia athetoid CP – affecting the torso, arms, or legs by causing slow, rotational movements
- Chorea athetoid CP – sudden, involuntary movements in the fingers and toes, sometimes other places
- Athetosis athetoid cerebral palsy – slow, writing movements usually in the face or fingers
- Choreoathetoid athetoid CP – a mix of chorea and athetosis above
- Ataxic athetoid CP – tremors and shaky movement, usually resulting in a loss of coordination including balance
- Rigidity athetoid CP – hypertonia which results in movement restrictions (like spastic CP), and
- Other subsets that are less common.
Ask Our Athetoid Cerebral Palsy Lawyer in Portland What is Athetoid Cerebral Palsy and How We Can Help
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.
