Spastic Dilegia Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is made up of chronic conditions affecting an infant's body movement and muscle coordination. It is typically caused by trauma to one or more specific areas of the brain, which most likely occurs during fetal development; before, during, or shortly after birth; or during infancy. These types of disorders are not caused by problems in the muscles or nerves but, instead, are caused by faulty development or damage to motor areas in the brain that disrupt the brain's ability to properly control movement and posture. The affects of the condition, cerebral palsy, vary and often depend on the area of the brain in which the actual trauma occurred.

A form of cerebral palsy, called spastic cerebral palsy, is caused when brain damage occurs in the outer layer of the brain, which is known as the cerebral cortex. The most common form of cerebral palsy is referred to as spastic cerebral palsy, and affects 70% to 80% of patients. Symptoms of spastic cerebral palsy include increased tone, or tension, in a muscle. Normal muscles work in pairs, that is, if one group of muscles contract, then the other group relaxes. This team work permits uninhibited movement in the desired direction. But, when complications in brain-to-nerve-to-muscle communication takes place, the normal degree of muscle tension or action can be disrupted. Muscles affected by spastic cerebral palsy become active together and, essentially, blocks effective movement. This causes the muscles in spastic cerebral palsy patients to be constantly tense, or spastic.

Cerebral palsy can be classified by the way it affects movement or by the number of limbs affected. These classifications can be combined to describe severe conditions, including spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. The condition known as spastic diplegia cerebral palsy is when four limbs are affected: both legs, in addition to mild affects in the arms. During the 1860s, William Little, an English surgeon, wrote the first medical descriptions of a puzzling disorder that affected children in the first years of life, causing stiff, spastic muscles in their legs, and to a lesser degree in their arms. These children had difficulty grasping objects, crawling, and walking. The surgeon noted that the children did not get better as they grew up, however, they did not become worse. Their condition, which was called Little's disease for many years, is now known as spastic diplegia cerebral palsy.

Spastic diplegia cerebral palsy tends to affect the legs of a patient more than the arms. Spastic diplegia cerebral palsy patients have more extensive involvement of the lower extremity than the upper extremity. This allows most people with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy to eventually walk. The gait of a person with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy is typically characterized by a crouched gait. Toe walking and flexed knees are common attributes and can be corrected with proper treatment and gait analysis. In many cases, the IQ of a person with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy may be normal. But, other side effects, such as strabismus, are common. Strabismus, the turning in or out of one eye, commonly called cross-eye, affects three quarters of people with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. This is due to weakness of the muscles that control eye movement. In addition, these individuals are often nearsighted. If not corrected, strabismus can lead to more severe vision problems over time.

Specialized treatment teams for individuals with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy can help decide which treatments are best suited for them. Treatments, including but not limited to leg braces, gait analysis, botox injections, hyperbaric oxygen treatment, and several other treatments can help to manage spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. Treatment teams are typically comprised of a physical therapist, pediatrician, physiatrist, neurologist and neurosurgeon, and an orthopedic surgeon that can all aid in the decision making process.

If a diagnosis of cerebral palsy is confirmed, then you should consult with a Kentucky birth injury lawyer to discuss whether medical malpractice is behind your child's disorder. If so, you may be able to recover compensation for your child's ongoing medical care. Your baby may have suffered cerebral palsy because of medical malpractice, and you shouldn't have to pay for expensive medical bills that were caused by another person's mistake or negligence.

If you suspect that you, or a person you care about, may have been the victim of a medical malpractice regarding a birth injury or brain damage, then you should contact our law firm immediately. Gray and White Law has successfully helped many families throughout Kentucky whose loved ones have suffered injuries as a result of a medical or doctor mistake or hospital negligence. Our team of experienced lawyers is ready to learn more about your case and to address any questions or concerns you might have. Simply contact us at any time for your free legal consultation via confidential e-mail or by toll-free call at 1-800-634-8767.